International Journal of Civil Engineering and Technology (IJCIET)

Volume 8, Issue 2, February 2017, pp. 309315 Article ID: IJCIET_08_02_033

Available online at http://www.iaeme.com/IJCIET/issues.asp?JType=IJCIET&VType=8&IType=2
ISSN Print: 0976-6308 and ISSN Online: 0976-6316

IAEME Publication Scopus Indexed

RAIN WATER HARVESTING SYSTEM FOR

DOMESTIC USE IN SBIT ENGINEERING COLLEGE,
KHAMMAM, TELANGANA
Mohammad M J
Associate Professor, Department of Civil Engineering, SBIT Engineering College,
Khammam, Telangana, India

Ravi Kumar T
Assistant Professor, Department of Civil Engineering, SBIT Engineering College,
Khammam, Telangana, India

Sashidhar Reddy P, Prathyusha P, Ashok P, Kiran T, Varaprasad YKL

Students, Department of Civil Engineering, SBIT Engineering College,
Khammam, Telangana, India,

ABSTRACT
India is a land of versatile whether where in consistency in rain is frequent. So as an option
of having a back up for water demands and needs, so there is a necessary system is needed
which provides much savings of water; would be help full in reducing wastage and recharging
ground water and use for domestic needs. Nowadays implementation of Rain water harvesting
system is only the remedy to challenge the future problems of water scarcity. So we are going
design an effective plan by collection, recharge ground water, and use it for domestic needs.
Present paper majorly focuses on roof top Rain Water Harvesting (RRWH) of the study area as
SBIT Engineering college campus, Khammam. The prime objective of is to fulfill the scarcity of
the water in campus and then need to use it domestic use like horticulture, washing floors, and
busses in campus.
Key words: Rain Water Harvesting, Domestic needs Catchment, Collection and Storage.
Cite this Article: Mohammad M J, Ravi Kumar T, Sashidhar Reddy P, Prathyusha P, Ashok
P, Kiran T and Varaprasad YKL, Rain Water Harvesting System for Domestic Use in SBIT
Engineering College, Khammam, Telangana. International Journal of Civil Engineering and
Technology, 8(2), 2017, pp. 309315.
http://www.iaeme.com/IJCIET/issues.asp?JType=IJCIET&VType=8&IType=2

1. INTRODUCTION
Water is life. No life can exist without water. Water resources are critical importance to both natural
ecosystem and human development [1].Water is a most important renewable natural resource which
plays an important role in the survival of living organisms. It is a vital factor of life and it is
considered as precious compound on the earth. Water occupied 71% of our earths

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 Rain Water Harvesting System for Domestic Use in SBIT Engineering College, Khammam, Telangana

Surface, in this 97% of water available in the form of saline water in oceans, 2% in polar ice caps
and only 1% of water in Ground water and surface water resources [2].
Although water is an important for survival of human being as much as food, air etc, but hardly
any attention is paid for its economical use and conservation of this precious resource. Due to
indiscriminate pumping of ground water, the water table is going down abnormally and if the problem
is not given a serious look then the future generations may have to face severe crisis of water. Rains
are the main source of water and if rain water is harvested the scarcity of water can be eliminated
together [3].
Water is one of the core essential and basic necessities. Fresh water today is a scarce resource, and
it is being felt the world over. More than 2000 million people would live under conditions of high
water stress by the year 2050, according to the UNEP (United Nations Environment program me),
which warns water could prove to be a limiting factor for development in a number of regions in the
world. About one-fifth of the worlds population lacks access to safe drinking water and with the
present consumption patterns; two out of every three persons on the earth would live in water-stressed
conditions by 2025 [4].
About 97.5% of all water on earth is salt water, leaving only 2.5% as fresh water, which can be
found in various forms such as glaciers and permafrost and groundwater and surface as well as
atmospheric water. Whereas 1.8 billion people are predicted to live in regions with absolute water
scarcity by 2025. This has happened due to unplanned management of water resources, insufficient
planning, and insufficient political will. Water scarcity is, therefore, thought to be a serious problem
throughout the world and mitigating this problem is one of the biggest challenges of the 21st century
[5].
When compare with few decades during the past, the draught condition in all over the world have
been doubled. The rainfall has been changed during the current years and catchment of rainwater is
decreasing in several countries. More than 650 million people in almost 40 countries suffer from water
scarcity. Among them particularly, 36 countries face extremely high water stress, including several
countries in the Sub-Saharan region, Middle East, Indian deserts contributes to the looming crisis from
African and Asian continents [6].

2. RAIN WATER HARVESTING

On the planet water is continuously moving through the hydrological cycle involving evaporation,
transpiration, precipitation condensation and runoff to the sea [7]. Rain water harvesting is a simple
low-cost technique that requires minimum specific expertise or knowledge and offers many benefits.
Rainfall is a very important natural mechanism for purification of atmospheric air. Roof top rain water
harvesting is a good practice to collect rain water and inject it directly in the ground without much
contamination. Roof top rain water harvesting is basically use for direct augmentation of ground water
from roof top catchment without having any major loses and contamination. Roof water directly falls
on building roof top catchment area and with help of pipe lines can be directly inserted into the ground
after passing through suitable filtration unit. Roof top rain water harvesting system have various
components like catchment area, coarse mesh, drain pipes, gutter, flush pipes, filter unit, storage tank,
collection sump, pump unit etc [8].

2.1. Types of Rain Water Harvesting

The categorization of rain water harvesting systems depends on factors like size and nature of the
catchment areas and weather the systems are in urban or rural settings of the systems.1. Simple roof
water collection systems, 2. larger systems for educational institutions, stadiums, airports, and other
facilities 3. Roof water collection systems for high rise buildings in urbanized areas 3.land surface
catchments 4. Collection of storm water in urbanized catchments.

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 Mohammad M J, Ravi Kumar T, Sashidhar Reddy P, Prathyusha P, Ashok P, Kiran T and Varaprasad YKL

3. MATERIALS AND METHODS

3.1. Study area
3.1.1. Research site
Swarna Bharathi Institute of Science & Technology is an engineering college located in Khammam
city, which is one of the major city located in the Indian state of Telangana. It is located about 193
Kilometers to the east of the state capital of Telangana (Hyderabad). The Average elevation of
Khammam city is about 107 meters (351.05 feet) and its geographical area is about 94.37 square
kilometers. The city is situated in north latitude 1645 to 1835 and east longitude 7947 to 8147.

3.1.2. Methodology
Rain water harvesting is usually classified into two types 1.harvesting for agriculture (irrigation) needs
and 2. Harvesting for domestic and other needs [9].

3.2. Domestic Water Demand in Study Area

Estimating domestic water demand, in reality, is not so easy .Children and adults use different
amounts of water and seasonal water use varies, with more water being used in the summer season. In
this study report we estimated approximately 18,500 liters are using for Drinking, Laboratories,
Washing flours, Labs, Horticulture and for toilet needs by the students, faculty of teaching,
nonteaching staff.

Table 1 Daily water usage of SBIT College, Khammam.

Use Consumption in litre/ day
Drinking 6000
Laboratories 500
Washing flours, Labs 1000
Horticulture 5000
Toilets 6000
Total 18,500
Source: Design, Construction and Evaluation of Rain Water Harvesting System for SBIT
Engineering College, Khammam, Telangana [10].

4. DESIGN AND MAINTAIN FACILITIES FOR RAIN WATER UTILIZATION

4.1. Components of RWH System
4.1.1. Catchment Area
The catchment of water harvesting system is the surface that receives rainfall directly and drains the
water system. Any roofing material is acceptable for collecting of water. The effective catchment area
and the material used in constructing the catchment surface influence the collection efficiency and
water quality. Catchment surfaces and collection devices should be cleaned regularly to remove dust,
leaves and bird droppings so as to minimize bacterial contamination and maintain the quality of
collected water. In this study period FIGURE 1 area was taken for collection of rainwater.

4.1.2. Collection System

The roof top water collection through delivery system from the roof top catchment usually consists of
gutters hanging from the side of the roof sloping towards adown pipe and tank. This delivery system is

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 Rain Water Harvesting System for Domestic Use in SBIT Engineering College, Khammam, Telangana

used to transport the rain water from the rainwater from to the storage reservoir. As much as 90
percent of or more of the rain water collected on the roof will be drained to the storage tank if the
gutter and down pipe system is properly fitted and maintained [11].

Figure 1 Rain water Roof top collection area of SBIT Engineering College (meters).

4.1.3. Storage Tank

To maintain the quality of harvested rain water a simple and convenient discharge system is very
important. It is essential that the first rain water can be discharged outside the storage tank easily
through flushing system. The cover of the tank should be tightly fitted to prevent evaporation and
mosquito breeding and to keep spiders, lizards and other insects from entering the tank. In this study
2000 liter FIGURE 2 capacity of plastic round shaped tank were placed which is with the height of 7
feet and width of 1.5 feet, which is containing of closed lid for avoid the entering of insects and
lizards and bird droppings in to the tank .

Figure 2 Rainwater harvesting storage tank, SBIT campus.

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 Mohammad M J, Ravi Kumar T, Sashidhar Reddy P, Prathyusha P, Ashok P, Kiran T and Varaprasad YKL

4.1.4. Advantages and Disadvantages with Collected Rain Water

Table 2 Advantages and Disadvantages of Rainwater Harvesting

Advantages Disadvantages
Simple construction: Rainwater harvesting systems High investment costs: The cost of rainwater
is simple and easy to construct. People can easily be catchment systems is almost fully incurred during
trained to build these themselves. This reduces cost initial construction. Costs can be reduced by
and encourages people for effective participation. simple construction and the use of local materials.
Good maintenance: Operations and maintenance of Usage and maintenance: Proper operations and
a household catchment system are controlled solely regular maintenance is very important factor that is
by the tank owners family. Once the system is all set often neglected. Regular inspection, cleaning and
up and running, you really dont need to invest much occasional repairs are essential for the success of a
money in keeping it running. system.
Relatively good water quality: Rainwater is better Water quality is vulnerable: Rainwater quality
than other available or traditional sources (ground may be affected by air pollution, animal or bird
water may be unusable due to fluoride, salinity or droppings, insects, dirt and organic matter.
arsenic). Supply is sensitive to droughts: Occurrence of long
Low environmental impact: Rainwater is a dry spells and droughts can cause water supply
renewable resources and no damage is done to the problems.
environment. High energy maintenance: Rainwater harvesting
Convenience at household level: It provides water at tanks will take a lot of looking after, and even if
the point of consumption. this does not cost much in terms of money, it can
Not affected by local geology or topography: become a chore. Systems can be infiltrated by
Rainwater collection always provides an alternative rodents, algae, and insects, and can become
wherever rain falls. breeding grounds for all sorts of creatures if not
Great for irrigation: Rainwater is not subjected to properly maintained.
any chemicals found in groundwater and therefore is Chemical roof seepage: Some kinds of roof
ideal for irrigation as well as for watering plants in coverings will seep chemicals which will prove
the garden. harmful to plant life if the water is used to sustain
Reduces ground water demand: As our population it.
increases, so does the demand for water. In many
areas, groundwater is extracted to keep up with
demand and this has lead to low levels of ground
water being left over.
Multipurpose: Rainwater harvesting can be used for
flushing toilets, washing clothes, cars etc., gardening,
reduces floods, soil erosion etc.,
Source: Rain water harvesting for domestic use, ttps://journeytoforever.org/farm_library/AD43.pdf
[12].
According to [9] Water is available at house hold, time and energy is saved on collecting water and
it have simple technology and easy to maintain and also water collected can be kept in high quality
and safe with simple precautions. Along with it have some disadvantages like high initial cost, water is
mineral free, the quantity of available water depends on size of the rain fall catchment area and storage
capacity and inadequate management and maintenance can lead to contamination of water.

5. CONCLUSION
The present study demonstrates the collection of rain water from roof top area of SBIT Campus and
storage the collected water in a hygienic way and use for domestic use only for washing the flour of
laboratories, class rooms, toilets, College busses and for horticulture needs in campus.

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 Rain Water Harvesting System for Domestic Use in SBIT Engineering College, Khammam, Telangana

The concept of Rain water harvesting has a long history. Evidences indicate domestic RWH
having been used in the Middle East for about 3000 years and in other parts of Asia for last 2000
years. Collection and storages of rain water in earthen tanks for domestic and agricultural uses is very
common in India since historical times [13]. Rain water harvesting offers advantage in water quality
for both irrigation and domestic use; it can be done at individual as well as in a community level. This
way we can be self sufficient in terms of domestic water requirements and not just dependent on the
actions intimated by government or other local body [14].
There is a rapid decrease in ground water level in several parts of the world. In view of increasing
demand of water for various purposes like agricultural, domestic and industrial etc., as well as
unpredictable monsoon rain fall, a greater emphasis is being laid now a- days for re-use of waste
water. It has become an urgent need of this century [15].
Rain water harvesting is adaptation to climate change, especially in urban areas where water
resources are fast depleting due to rapid increases in population and unrestricted use of water. Studies
of historical societal ad potations to climate fluctuations provide insights in possible responses of
modern societies to future climate change and sustainable management of water resources [16].

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