Rainwater harvesting is the answer to solve India’s water scarcity problems.
Today every part of India is facing water crisis and there is enormous unmet demand for water. Even as clean water sources are being viciously attacked by pollution and over explotation. The rural areas too are facing water crisis be it quantity or quality of water. Traditional water bodies like eries, ooranis, ponds, lakes, baolis and tanks have been filled up to construct houses. And the storm-water drains in the city fail to hold the extra runoff generated from the emerging urban areas. Rainwater harvesting can be the solution for all the above problems.
Rainwater harvesting means simply catching the rain wherever it falls. Rain water is the purest form of water and it can be harvested anywhere (see “Water Replishing Technologies,” p. 34). The runoff from different areas can be stored and reused or can be recharged to the ground to increase the groundwater availability. Storing rain from rooftops for potable and non-potable use can solve water scarcity problems at the individual level. In cities, the runoff from the stormwater drains can be intercepted and can be used later. Rainwater harvesting can help an individual to manage the rain intelligently and become water independent.
Sustainability of a source of water is possible only through a decentralized system such as rainwater harvesting. Only a community-managed water system will be able to meet most of the water demands in the long run. Centralized water systems will face many problems due to financial requirements and mismanagement of the present infrastructure. In India rainwater harvesting is now mandatory for new buildings in 18 states and four union territories. For the first time in India a Wetland Act has also been introduced to protect the waterbodies. This is the time to redefine the role of states, individuals and communities on rainwater harvesting. If we get our acts together then there is no reason why anyone should go thirsty or any land to remain perched.
Sushmita Sengupta is deputy coordinator of the water programme unit of Centre for Science and Environment, New Delhi.
Today every part of India is facing water crisis and there is enormous unmet demand for water. Even as clean water sources are being viciously attacked by pollution and over explotation. The rural areas too are facing water crisis be it quantity or quality of water. Traditional water bodies like eries, ooranis, ponds, lakes, baolis and tanks have been filled up to construct houses. And the storm-water drains in the city fail to hold the extra runoff generated from the emerging urban areas. Rainwater harvesting can be the solution for all the above problems.
Rainwater harvesting means simply catching the rain wherever it falls. Rain water is the purest form of water and it can be harvested anywhere (see “Water Replishing Technologies,” p. 34). The runoff from different areas can be stored and reused or can be recharged to the ground to increase the groundwater availability. Storing rain from rooftops for potable and non-potable use can solve water scarcity problems at the individual level. In cities, the runoff from the stormwater drains can be intercepted and can be used later. Rainwater harvesting can help an individual to manage the rain intelligently and become water independent.
Sustainability of a source of water is possible only through a decentralized system such as rainwater harvesting. Only a community-managed water system will be able to meet most of the water demands in the long run. Centralized water systems will face many problems due to financial requirements and mismanagement of the present infrastructure. In India rainwater harvesting is now mandatory for new buildings in 18 states and four union territories. For the first time in India a Wetland Act has also been introduced to protect the waterbodies. This is the time to redefine the role of states, individuals and communities on rainwater harvesting. If we get our acts together then there is no reason why anyone should go thirsty or any land to remain perched.
Sushmita Sengupta is deputy coordinator of the water programme unit of Centre for Science and Environment, New Delhi.
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