RAIN WATER

HARVESTING
 INTRODUCTION

Rainwater harvesting is the collection of raindrops. In

most cases, a roof is used for this purpose. The rainwater
then flows through the gutters, into a collection tank. The
collected water can be used for small scale irrigation (of
vegetable gardens etc.), clothes washing, bathing and
after treatment also for drinking and food preparation.

u  Rainwater offers advantages in water quality for both

irrigation and domestic use. Rainwater is naturally soft
(unlike well water), contains almost no dissolved
minerals or salts, is free of chemical treatment, and is
a relatively reliable source of water for households.
u  A rooftop rainwater harvesting system consists the following elements: ƒ
Collection area,
Conveyance system,
Filtration /treatment ƒ
Storage
Usage/ Recharge

u  The collection area in most cases is the roof of a house or a building. The effective roof area and the
material used in constructing the roof influence the efficiency of collection and the water quality.
u  A conveyance system usually consists of gutters or pipes that deliver rainwater falling on the rooftop to
cisterns or other storage vessels. Both drainpipes and roof surfaces should be constructed of chemically
inert materials such as wood, plastic, aluminum, or fiberglass, in order to avoid adverse effects on water
quality.
u  The water ultimately is stored in a storage tank or cistern, which should also be constructed of an inert
material. Reinforced concrete, fiberglass, or stainless steel are suitable materials. Storage tanks may be
constructed as part of the building, or may be built as a separate unit located some distance away from
CATCHMENT AREA

u  The catchment area is the first point of contact for rainfall. For the vast
majority of tank-based rainwater harvesting systems, the catchment area
is the roof surface.
 CONVEYANCE

u  The conveyance system is a fancy

term for the gutters and
downspouts. These are basically
the networks of pipes that move
the water from the roof surface to
the storage containers. When
selecting gutters and downspouts,
it’s important to consider three
factors: sizing, proper installation,
and aesthetics.
STORAGE

u  The storage container (cistern, tank) is

often the most visible or recognizable
component of a RWH system. It is where
the captured rainwater is diverted to
and stored for later use. The main goal
of the storage tank is safety. It should
store water that is safe to use, and it
should be secure so that children or
animals cannot access the tank. There
are several topics related to storage
containers and you should go through
each before making a decision on
purchasing one.
TREATMENT

u  Treatment of rainwater ensures that the water will be safe to use. This
section is divided into three sections to better help you understand the
treatment of rainwater. The first section, Roof water Quality, discusses
potential contaminants in rainwater, which explains what we are trying to
treat for. The second sections discusses pre-storage treatment, which
makes the water cleaner before it enters the storage tank. The final
sections will discuss after-storage treatment, which filters and disinfects the
water so that it can be used safely.
 PRE-TREATMENT

u  The goal of pre-storage treatment is

to clean the rainwater runoff as
much as possible before it enters
the storage tank. This helps to
reduce organic matter from
collecting in the tank, and it
reduces the amount of treatment
needed after storage. Pre-storage
treatment targets “large” debris
that can easily be seen. It is done by
two different methods: diversion or
screening
 DOWN PIPE FIRST FLUSH

u  Downpipe First Flush Water Diverters improve water quality and

reduce tank maintenance by preventing the first flush of water,
which may contain roof contaminants, from entering the tank.
They help ensure cleaner water is  available for use, which protects
rainwater pumps and internal household appliances such as
clothes washing machines, toilets, hot water systems, etc.
u  Downpipe First Flush Diverters, such as the 90mm, 100mm and
150mm kits, are installed at each downpipe that supplies water to
the tank. They utilise a dependable ball and seat system – a simple
automatic system that does not  rely on mechanical parts or
manual intervention. As the water level rises in the diverter
chamber, the ball floats, and once the chamber is full, the ball
rests on a seat inside the diverter chamber preventing any further
water entering the diverter. The subsequent flow of water is then
automatically directed along the pipe system to the tank.
RECHARGE
STRUCTURE
S
RECHARGE STRUCTURES

u  Rainwater may be charged into the groundwater aquifers through any

suitable structures like dug wells, Borewells, recharge trenches and
recharge pits.

u  Various recharge structures are possible - some which promote the

percolation of water through soil strata at shallower depth (e.g., recharge
trenches, permeable pavements) whereas others conduct water to
greater depths from where it joins the groundwater (e.g. recharge wells).
At many locations, existing structures like wells, pits and tanks can be
modified as recharge structures, eliminating the need to construct any
structures afresh. Here are a few commonly used recharging methods:
 ADVANTAGES OF RAIN WATER
HARVESTING
u  ƒ One of the beauties of rainwater harvesting systems is their flexibility. A system can be as
simple as a barrel placed under a rain gutter downspout for watering a garden or as complex as
an engineered, multi-tank, pumped and pressurized construction to supply residential and
irrigation needs.
u  ƒ Rainwater harvesting systems are integrated with the house, which makes the water easily
accessible.
u  ƒ Rainwater harvesting systems are personal, which prevents arguments about who should
take care of maintenance.
u  ƒ One time Installation cost, roughly some 2500 to 5000 Rs per system including a slow sand
filter while sustainability of the construction is larger than that of a pump or well.
u  ƒ The used materials can be kept simple, are obtainable nearly everywhere at local (low) cost
price.
u  ƒ The construction is easy and cheap in maintenance.
THANK YOU

BY: RASHMITHA
SINCHANA