Housing and Space Management

Housing And Space Management 3(2+1)

Lesson 26 : Water Management And Conservation

Rain Water Harvesting

Rain water harvesting is the process of accumulating and storing of rainwater used for drinking water, water for livestock, for irrigation and refilling aquifiers.

Essentials of Rain Water Harvesting:
Surface water is adequate to meet our demand and we have to depend on ground water.

1. Due to rapid urbanization infiltration of rain water into the sub – soil has decreased drastically and recharging of ground water has diminished.
2. Over – exploitation of ground water resources has resulted in decline of water levels in most part of the country
3. To enhance availability of ground water at specific place and time
4. To arrest sea water ingress
5. To improve the water quality in aquifers
6. To improve the vegetation cover
7. To raise the water levels in wells & bore wells that are drying up
8. To reduce power consumption

Benefits of Rain Water Harvesting:

• An ideal solution to the water problem in areas having inadequate water resources.
• The ground water level rises.
• Mitigates the effect of drought & achieves drought proofing.
• Reduces the runoff which chokes the storm water drains.
• Flooding of roads is reduced.
• Quality of water improves.
• Soil erosion is reduced.
• Saves energy per well for lifting of ground water – one meter of rise in water level saves about 0.40 KWH of electricity.
• Provides a solution to the water crisis in India.
• Accumulation of natural water and then after some treatment can be utilized as a drinking water substitute.