Suggestions Invited For Large-Scale Rainwater Harvesting

Did you know that if Bangalore manages to recharge even 30% of the rainwater it gets, it will have more that what the Cauvery River is supplying currently to the city, while also cutting down on the huge energy bill!

Water. So often taken for granted until those shortages hit home.This monsoon, instead of just playing the waiting game and anxiously watching the horizon, here’s how you can gather those precious drops by making your own rainwater harvesting system at home.

Another ​benefit of ​rainwater ​harvesting is ​that the ​catchment, ​conveyance and ​storage can be ​suitably ​modified to the ​needs of the ​area. So both ​paved and ​unpaved ​surfaces as ​well as ​rooftops can be ​used as ​catchment and ​simple pipes or ​existing ​drainage used ​for conveyance ​to underground ​storage tanks, ​recharge ​aquifers or ​natural sinks ​like ponds for ​storage. This ​flexibility ​makes it ​suitable for ​the different ​terrain and ​landscape of ​the cities and ​towns

​Testimonials ​from cities ​like Pune, with ​widespread use ​of large-scale ​rainwater ​harvesting ​technologies, ​has indicated ​considerable ​monetary ​savings for ​residents ​within a year ​after ​installation of ​the systems as ​they did not ​have to buy ​water from ​tankers. This ​also translates ​to considerable ​savings in ​carbon ​emissions from ​the constant ​plying of water ​tankers from ​distant areas ​to the cities ​as well as ​better trafiic ​management.​ ​

Utilizing ​existing ​technology for ​rainwater ​harvesting ​could be very ​useful for ​Assam because ​of abundant ​rainfall. It ​can be ​installed on ​rooftops of ​buildings in ​cities like ​Guwahati for ​recharge of ​aquifers and ​these would ​provide the ​residents with ​ample water ​supply during ​the dry season.

Most ​natural streams ​disappeared ​after the ​deforestation ​of the hills ​and the ​rainwater ​gushes down ​adding to the ​flooding ​problem. By ​construction of ​sink wells, ​rainwater can ​be used to ​recharge the ​underground ​aquifers in ​these cities ​that also face ​acute water ​shortage during ​the dry season.​ ​

Many of the ​large and small ​cities get ​flooded after a ​few hours of ​precipitation ​as most ​wetlands, which ​were the ​natural sinks ​for drainage, ​have been ​filled-up for ​construction ​and development ​by short-​sighted urban ​planners. The ​landscape is ​dotted with ​hills which ​have been ​encroached, ​leading to ​mushrooming of ​buildings where ​there were ​abundant ​forests

In cities like ​Guwahati, the ​main commercial ​centre of Assam,​ rainwater ​harvesting ​could provide ​the additional ​benefit of ​quickly ​draining areas ​prone to ​flooding after ​heavy downpours.​ ​

One of the ​most important ​technologies ​that is relevant to ​Assam, an ​Indian province ​with seasonal ​water scarcity ​and falling ​water tables ​despite ​abundant ​precipitation, ​is rainwater ​harvesting. ​

The Future of Rainwater Harvesting in the UK
The UK industry is beginning to grow, particularly in the commercial arena where the benefits are much greater and the chance of a return on investment over a short period is much more likely than in the domestic market. With increasing demand we can expect to see more innovation in the rainwater harvesting arena as we attempt to make the most of our dwindling resources.

In Berlin they have gone for a collective approach at the DaimlerChrysler Potsdamer Platz. A combined roof top area of 32,000 m² collects rainwater off 19 buildings to provide potable water from a 3,500 cubic metre tank.