Rainwater
Harvesting
The
rainwater harvesting practices are better tools for watershed development
related to water source regeneration.
Introduction
Most
of us still live in the dream era of plenty of water through backyard
ponds and wells. For most of us water is no problem. Why worry? Problems
related to water sources however, are heading towards organized attempts
to control water source areas by resorting to physiplenish and recharge
water-resources through a simple technology that can be utilized everywhere
and by everyone.
Rainwater Harvesting is one such simple technology useful in rural,
urban and industrial areas.
Water resource sustainability is re- cal, financial and political
force. In addition, water sources are threatened with pollution. It
is a reality that we are in a situation wherein continuous increase
in population will not allow ‘water need fulfillment’ plant
to be successful. Now is the time to take steps to re-lated to terrain,
environment, social and financial aspects. Attempts are being made
to expand physically, the availability of water across terrain, both
from surface and below ground surface. It is difficult to continue
to obtain water by providing for more dams (dam structures restrict
water availability to a selected tract only). To expand physically,
the availability of groundwater sources in hard rocks is a challenge.
In central and southern states, the over exploitation of ground water
resources has reached a stage from where it is just not possible to
revive them under conditions of natural process of recharge. In particular,
the shallow- depth ground water resources regeneration by natural
processes would take several years. By that time the area will surely
be abandoned. Watershed development works did not help the purpose
of water source regeneration in areas areas under over exploitation.
The faster method could be through rainwater harvesting.
Need for Rainwater Harvesting
The rainwater harvesting practices are better
tools for watershed development related to water source regeneration.
This is feasible because rainwater harvesting provides solution to
overcome the shortfall in water supply by using local conditions.
The earlier approaches to rainwater harvesting were underestimated.
It was considered as a theoretical solution. Elite class and experts
considered it as a second rate solution. But, it is worth remembering
that the mighty oceans are made from droplets of rainwater. There
are confused ideas about the meaning and scope of rainwater harvesting.
However, as on today, Rainwater Harvesting is the only method to regenerate
water sources or to makeup the shortfall in water supply in less time.
Rainwater harvesting is perceived to be a simple but an important
technological development. Development of rainwater harvesting network
would bring solidarity in water supply. A network of rainwater harvesting
technology application would help to exchange experience and promote
technology transfer. Socially, rainwater harvesting technology application
is feasible as each rainwater harvesting unit can manage the distribution
system to balance the share of water supply across several units (for
this, a social interaction is necessary!).Rainwater harvesting could
be operated on industrial scale. Its potential is as big as any large
industry e.g. petroleum industry.
Environment gives us all that is required for quality life. Life depends
on environmental conditions in which water plays a bigger role besides
air. Both water and air are under heavy pollution. Each one of us
can do their bit. This means indulging in ‘water care’ by:
Encouraging rainwater harvesting individually
Helping people to respect ‘water bodies’ and water sources
Helping agriculturists and industries to take-up ‘water care’
to realize the goal of water availability.
The need and relevance of this concept is of grave importance in this
era. Monsoon rainwater is a significant contributor of water. However,
it is available with intermission. It is this intermission that takes
away the benefits of rain. We are poised for the heaviest shortfall
if the intermission between rains grows to the size of a major drought.
....contd.
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