RAINWATER

HARVESTING

ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE
PROJECT REPORT
TOPIC RAINWATER HARVESTING
SUBMITTED BY:NAME - SAMRAT DATTA
EMAIL SAMRATDATTA7@GMAIL.COM
MOBILE 7278091417
CU REGSTRATION NUMBER 224-1121-1645-14
CU PART II ROLL NUMBER 1224-41-0304
COURSE B.COM (HONS) IN ACCOUNTING AND FINANCE
COLLEGE 3RD YEAR ROLL NUMBER 0091 SHIFT DAY

SUBMITTED TO:PROF. PROSANTA KUMAR MANDAL

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
I owe a great many thanks to a great many people who helped and
supported me to realise the completion of this project and shared
their opinions and experiences through which I have gathered
information crucial for my report. I express my thanks to the
Principal for extending his support. I would also thank my Institution
and my faculty members without whom this project would have
been a distant reality. I also extend my heartfelt thanks to my family
and well-wishers.

Samrat datta
b.com (h) 3rd Year
Seth Anandaram Jaipuria College

CONTENTS
1. Introduction..4
2. Need for Rainwater
Harvesting....7
3. Reasons for Rainwater
Harvesting.10
4. Advantages and
Disadvantages..12
5. Objectives.15
6. Methods18
7. Current Status.21
8. Conclusion24
9. Suggestions.25
10. Bibliography..26

INTRODUCTION
Millions of people throughout the world do not have access to clean water
for domestic purposes. In many parts of the world conventional Piped
water is either absent, unreliable or too expensive. One of the biggest
challenges of the 21st century is to overcome the growing water shortage.
Rainwater harvesting (RWH) has thus regained its importance as a
valuable alternative or supplementary water resource, along with more
conventional water supply technologies. Much actual or potential water
shortages can be relieved if rainwater harvesting is practiced more widely.
People collect and store rainwater in buckets, tanks, ponds and wells. This
is commonly referred to as rainwater harvesting and has been practiced for
centuries. Rainwater can be used for multiple purposes ranging from
irrigating crops to washing, cooking and drinking
Rainwater harvesting is a simple low-cost technique that requires
minimum specific expertise or knowledge and offers many benefits.
Collected rainwater can supplement other water sources when they
become scarce or are of low quality like brackish groundwater or polluted
surface water in the rainy season. It also provides a good alternative and
replacement in times of drought or when the water table drops and wells
go dry. One should, however, realize that rainfall itself cannot be managed.
Particularly in arid or semi-arid areas, the prevailing climatic conditions
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make it of crucial importance to use the limited amount of rainfall as

efficiently as possible. The collected rainwater is a valuable supplement
that would otherwise be lost by surface run-off or evaporation.

During the past decade, RWH has been actively reintroduced by local
organizations as an option for increasing access to water in currently
underserved areas (rural or urban). Unfortunately decision-makers,
planners, engineers and builders often overlook this action. The reason that
RWH is rarely considered is often simply due to lack of informal
introduction on feasibility both technical and otherwise. During the past
decade the technology has, however, quickly regained popularity as users
realize the benefits of a relatively clean, reliable and affordable water source at
home.
In many areas RWH has now been introduced as part of an integrated water
supply, where the town water supply is unreliable, or where local water

sources dry up for a part of the year. But RWH can also be introduced as the
sole water source for communities or households.

The technology is flexible and adaptable to a very wide variety of

conditions. It is used in the richest and the poorest societies, as well as in
the wettest and the driest regions on our planet.
Table 1. Worldwide distribution of water :S.

Water type

Volume

Percentage

(1000 km3) of Total Global

No.

Volume
1

Ocean

1,370,323

94.200

Ground water (fresh &

saline)

60,000

4.100

Glaciers

24,000

1.650

Lakes and reservoirs

280

0.019

Soil moisture

85

0.006

Atmospheric water

14

0.001

River water

1.2

0.001

1,454,703.2

100.000

Total

NEED FOR RAINWATER

HARVESTING
Due to pollution of both groundwater and surface waters, and the overall
increased demand for water resources due to population growth, many
communities all over the world are approaching the limits of their
traditional water resources. Therefore they have to turn to alternative or
new resources like rainwater harvesting (RWH). Rainwater harvesting
has regained importance as a valuable alternative or supplementary water
resource. Utilization of rainwater is now an option along with more
conventional water supply technologies, particularly in rural areas, but
increasingly in urban areas as well.
RWH has proven to be of great value for arid and semi-arid countries or
regions, small coral and volcanic islands, and remote and scattered human
settlements.
Rainwater harvesting has been used for ages and examples can be found in
all the great civilisations throughout history. The technology can be very
simple or complex depending on the specific local circumstances.
Traditionally, in Uganda and in Sri Lanka rainwater is collected from trees,
using banana leaves or stems as gutters; up to 200 litres may be collected
from a large tree in a single rain storm. With the increasing availability of

corrugated iron roofing in many developing countries, people often place

a small container under their leaves to collect rainwater. One 20-litre
container of clean water captured from the roof can save a walk of many
kilometres to the nearest clean water source. Besides small containers,
larger sub-surface and surface tanks are used for collecting larger amounts
of rainwater.

POTENTIAL OF RAINWATER HARVESTING:The total amount of water that is received in the form of rainfall over an
area is called the rain water endowment of that area. Out of this, the
amount that can be effectively harvested is called rain water harvesting
potential.
All the water which is falling over an area cannot be effectively harvested,
due to various losses on account of evaporation, spillage etc. Because of
these factors the quantity of rain water which can effectively be harvested
is always less than the rain water endowment. The collection efficiency is
mainly dependent on factors like runoff coefficient and first flush wastage
etc.
Runoff is the term applied to the water that flows away from catchments
after falling on its surface in the form of rain. Runoff from a particular area

is dependent on various factors i.e. rainfall pattern and quantity,

catchment area characteristics etc. For determining rainfall quantity, the
rainfall data preferably for a period of at least 10 years is required. This
data can be collected from meteorological department. For determining
the pattern of rainfall, the information may be collected either from
meteorological department or locally. The pattern of rainfall in a particular
catchment area influence the design of rain water harvesting system. In
areas where rainfall is more but limited to very short period in a year, big
storage tanks would be required to store rain water, if we are collecting
rain water in storage tanks for direct use. In such areas, it is preferable to
use rain water for recharging of ground water aquifers, if feasible, to
reduce the cost of rain water harvesting system.
Runoff depends upon the area and type of catchment over which it falls as
well as surface features. Runoff can be generated from both paved and
unpaved catchment areas. Paved surfaces have a greater capacity of
retaining water on the surface and runoff from unpaved surface is less in
comparison to paved surface. In all calculations for runoff estimation,
runoff coefficient is used to account for losses due to spillage, leakage,
infiltrations catchment surface wetting and evaporation, which will
ultimately result into reduced runoff. Runoff coefficient for any catchment
is the ratio of the volume of water that run off a surface to the total volume
of rainfall on the surface.

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REASONS FOR RAINWATER

HARVESTING
The reasons for collecting and using rainwater for domestic use are
plentiful and varied:

Increasing water needs/demands

The increased need for water results in lower groundwater tables and
depleted reservoirs. Many piped water supply systems fail. The use of
rainwater is a useful alternative.

Variations in water availability

The availability of water from sources such as lakes, rivers and shallow
groundwater can fluctuate strongly. Collecting and storing rainwater can
provide water for domestic use in periods of water shortage. Rainwater
may also provide a solution when the water quality is low or varies during
the rainy season in rivers and other surface water resources (for example
in Bangladesh).

Advantage of collection and storage near the place of use

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Traditional sources are located at some distance from the community.

Collecting and storing water close to households improves the accessibility
and convenience of water supplies and has a positive impact on health. It can
also strengthen a sense of ownership.

Quality of water supplies

Water supplies can become polluted either through industrial or human
wastes or by intrusion of minerals such as arsenic, salt (coastal area) or
fluoride. Rainwater is generally of good quality.

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ADVANTAGES AND
DISADVANTAGES
When considering the possibility of using rainwater catchment systems for
domestic supply, it is important to consider both the advantages and
disadvantages and to compare these with other available options. RWH is
a popular household option as the water source is close by, convenient and
requires a minimum of energy to collect. An advantage for household
systems is that users themselves maintain and control their systems
without the need to rely on other members of the community. Since
almost all roofing material is acceptable for collecting water for household
purposes, worldwide many RWH systems have been implemented
successfully.
However, RWH has some disadvantages. The main disadvantage of RWH is
that one can never be sure how much rain will fall. Other disadvantages, like
the relatively high investment costs and the importance of maintenance, can
largely be overcome through proper design, ownership and by using as

much locally available material as possible to ensure sustainability (and

cost recovery). The involvement of the local private sector and local
authorities can facilitate upscaling of RWH. Some advantages and
disadvantages are given.

ADVANTAGES OF RAINWATER HARVESTING: Relatively cheap materials can be used for construction of containers
and collecting surfaces

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 Construction methods are relatively straightforward

Low maintenance costs and requirements
Collected rainwater can be consumed without treatment providing a
clean collecting surface has been used
Provides a supply of safe water close to homes, schools or clinics,
encourages increased consumption, reduces the time women and
children spend collecting water, reduces back strain or injuries from
carrying heavy water containers.
Simple construction: Construction of RWH systems is simple and
local people can easily be trained to build these themselves. This
reduces costs and encourages more participation, ownership and
sustainability at community level.
Good Maintenance: Operation and maintenance of a household
catchment system are controlled solely by the tank owners family.
As such, this is a good alternative to poor maintenance and
monitoring of a centralized piped water supply.
Relatively good water quality: Rainwater is better than other
available or traditional sources (groundwater may be unusable due
to fluoride, salinity or arsenic).
Low environmental impact: Rainwater is a renewable resource and
no damage is done to the environment.
Convenience at household level: It provides water at the point of
consumption
Not affected by local geology or topography: Rainwater collection
always provides an alternative wherever rain falls.
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 Flexibility and adaptability of systems to suit local circumstances

and budgets, including the increased availability of low-cost tanks
(e.g. made of Ferro cement, plastics or stone/bricks).

DISADVANTAGES OF RAINWATER HARVESTING: Supplies can be contaminated by bird/animal droppings on

catchment surfaces and guttering structures unless they are
cleaned/flushed before use.
Poorly constructed water jars/containers can suffer from algal
growth and invasion by insects, lizards and rodents.
High investment costs: The cost of rainwater catchment systems is
almost fully incurred during initial construction. Costs can be
reduced by simple construction and the use of local materials.
Usage and maintenance: Proper operation and regular maintenance is a
very important factor that is often neglected. Regular inspection,
cleaning, and occasional repairs are essential for the success of a system.
Water quality is vulnerable: Rainwater quality may be affected by
air pollution, animal or bird droppings, insects, dirt and organic
matter.
Supply is sensitive to droughts: Occurrence of long dry spells and
droughts can cause water supply problems.
Limited supply: The supply is limited by the amount of rainfall and
the size of the catchment area and storage reservoir.

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OBJECTIVES

Rainwater harvesting is a way of capturing and storing water during rainy

periods for use in times when there is little or no rain available. In certain
regions of the world, rainwater harvesting can be the difference between
having a plentiful crop and dried up vines. There are several objectives
behind rainwater harvesting.

Increase Available Water during Dry Season

Many ecosystems have wet and dry seasons. Because the dry seasons can
consist of weeks or months of little to no rain, it is important to capture
during the rainy season and have it available for use during the dry season.
Rainwater harvesting enables you to store rain when it is prevalent to be
used when there is no rain.

Reduce Flooding and Erosion

By capturing and storing large amounts of rainwater in reservoirs, it is
possible to reduce the amount of runoff and limit the impact on the land
of large rainfalls. By capturing rainwater you are basically reducing the
amount of water that is flowing across the land, which reduces flooding
chances and the impact of erosion.

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 Prevent Over use of Aquifers

As cities and towns grow the need for water increases. Many municipalities
rely upon aquifers deep below the ground for this water supply. The problem
is it takes a long time to replenish an aquifer if it is quickly drained. By
harvesting rainwater for later use, the demand on aquifers is reduced, which
enables them to remain full.

Save Money
Pumping water up from underground aquifers can be a fairly expensive
operation. It is estimated that for every one meter rise in water level, there is a
reduction of 0.4 KWH of electricity usage. So by having water closer to the
surface, or at the surface in reservoirs, less electricity is needed to pump it so
less money is spent.

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18

METHODS OF RAINWATER
HARVESTING
Catchment:

Any surface or the paved areas can be treated as catchment. Even the
footpaths and roads can act as the catchment, as these areas too receive the
direct rainfall. Rooftops are the best among them because of the large
coefficient of run off generated from them and there are less chances of
contamination of water.

Conveyance:
Conveyance system basically includes rain gutters and down pipes which
collects the rain water from catchment to the storage tank. These rain gutters
are usually built during the time of construction. They need to be designed
appropriately as to avoid the loss of water during the conveyance process.
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Storage:
The most important part of the rain water harvesting is the storage system.
The storage system is designed according to the amount of water that is to be
stored. The design and site (location) of the storage or the recharge system
should be properly chosen. The areas which receives the rainfall frequently,
there a simple storage system could be constructed, to meet the daily water
requirements. Otherwise the areas which receive the lesser rainfall, there the

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storage systems are quite essential. Rain barrels, underground or open

slumps are mostly used to collect rain water. Make sure that the storage
system is properly sealed and does nor leak. Use Chlorine from time to time
to keep the water clean.

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CURRENT STATUS
Currently in China and Brazil, rooftop rainwater harvesting is being
practiced for providing drinking water, domestic water, water for livestock,
water for small irrigation and a way to replenish ground water levels.
Gansu province in China and semi-arid north east Brazil have the largest
rooftop rainwater harvesting projects ongoing.
In Bermuda, the law requires all new construction to include rainwater
harvesting adequate for the residents.
The U.S. Virgin Islands have a similar law.
In Senegal and Guinea-Bissau, the houses of the Diola-people are
frequently equipped with homebrew rainwater harvesters made from local,
organic materials.
In the Irrawaddy Delta of Myanmar, the groundwater is saline and
communities rely on mud-lined rainwater ponds to meet their drinking
water needs throughout the dry season. Some of these ponds are centuries
old and are treated with great reverence and respect.
Until 2009 in Colorado, water rights laws almost completely restricted
rainwater harvesting; a property owner who captured rainwater was

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deemed to be stealing it from those who have rights to take water from the
watershed. Now, residential well owners that meet certain criteria may
obtain a permit to install a rooftop precipitation collection system (SB 09080). Up to 10 large scale pilot studies may also be permitted (HB 09-1129).
In India, rain water harvesting was first introduced by Andhra Pradesh exChief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu. He made a rule that every house
which is going to build in cities of that state must have a percolation
pit/rainwater harvesting system. This rule increased the ground water
level in good phase. After his term as Chief Minister, the next leaders
neglected this system.
In the state of Tamil Nadu, rainwater harvesting was made compulsory for
every building to avoid ground water depletion. It proved excellent results
within five years, and every other state took it as role model. Since its
implementation, Chennai saw a 50 percent rise in water level in five years
and the water quality significantly improved.
In Rajasthan, rainwater harvesting has traditionally been practiced by the
people of the Thar Desert. There are many ancient water harvesting
systems in Rajasthan, which have now been revived.
Traditional methods of rain water harvesting Pits: - Recharge pits are
constructed for recharging the shallow aquifer. These are constructed 1 to 2

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m, wide and to 3 m. deep which are back filled with boulders, gravels,
coarse sand.
Trenches:- These are constructed when the permeable stream is available at
shallow depth. Trench may be 0.5 to 1 m. wide, 1 to 1.5m. deep and 10 to 20
m. long depending up availability of water. These are back filled with filter
materials.
Dug wells:- Existing dug wells may be utilised as recharge structure and
water should pass through filter media before putting into dug well.
Hand pumps :- The existing hand pumps may be used for recharging the
shallow/deep aquifers, if the availability of water is limited. Water should
pass through filter media before diverting it into hand pumps.
Recharge wells :- Recharge wells of 100 to 300 mm. diameter are generally
constructed for recharging the deeper aquifers and water is passed through
filter media to avoid choking of recharge wells.
Recharge Shafts :- For recharging the shallow aquifer which are located
below clayey surface, recharge shafts of 0.5 to 3 m. diameter and 10 to 15 m.
deep are constructed and back filled with boulders, gravels & coarse sand.

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CONCLUSION
It is no denying that sustaining and recharging the groundwater along with
judicious use of the limited fresh water resources is the need of the hour. If
sufficient measures are not taken up immediately, we will face a crisis
which will be detrimental to the very survival of mankind. Efficient
management of water resources and education about judicious utilization
of water resources along with measures of harnessing, recharging and
maintaining the quality of water and water bodies has to be taken up on
war footing. One of the most logical steps towards this goal would be
acknowledging the importance of rainwater harvesting. This should not
only encompass rooftop rainwater harvesting but also storm water
harvesting systems. Storm water harvesting is yet to be acknowledged as a
better alternative over rooftop water harvesting. One of the major hurdles
in storm water harvesting is the poor state of storm water drain systems in
India. A planned approach is hence needed in order to fully utilise the
potential of rainwater to adequately meet our water requirements. Hence,
an equal and positive thrust is needed in developing and encouraging both
the types of water harvesting systems. We have to catch water in every
possible way and every possible place it falls.

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SUGGESTION
The system now functions with very little water, and serves as an example
to community members as well as visitors to the reserve of appropriate
irrigation and water management techniques. As the trees grow older and
need less assistance, it is agreed that the community will locate the tank
under the roof of the Visitors Center, harvesting rains that fall upon the
large surface.

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BIBLIOGRAPHY
1. A Water Harvesting Manual for Urban Areas: Case Studies from
Delhi. 2003. New Delhi: Centre for Science and Environment.
2. Centre for Science and Environment. 2003. Site dedicated to
Rainwater Harvesting. Accessed on various dates.
3. http://www.rainwaterharvesting.org/
4. http://www.teriin.org/energy/waterhar.htm
5. A Water Harvesting Manual, Centre for Science and Environment
http://www.cgwaindia.com/suo/home.htm
6. http://www.rainwaterharvesting.org/urban/Components.htm
7. A Water Harvesting Manual, Centre for Science and Environment
8. www.wikipedia.org

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