SARDAR VALLABHBHAI NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY , SURAT- 395007 GUJARAT (INDIA)

A Report Submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements For the Degree of

Bachelor OF TECHNOLOGY
On

RAIN WATER HARVESTING : AN ALTERNATE SOURCE OF WATER

by Pradeep Limani (U09CE077)

Mentor Mr. B.N.Tandel Assistant Professor

CERTIFICATE

This is to certify that the seminar report untitled RAIN WATER HARVESTING submitted by Mr. Pradeep Limani of B.Tech IVth Semester 7th in partial fulfillment of the requirement for the award of the degree in B.Tech. Of Sardar Vallabhbhai National Institute of Technology, Surat is record of his own work carried out under my supervision and guidance.

Mr. B.N.Tandel
Assistant Professor, Civil Engineering Department SVNIT, SURAT.

Dr. J.N.Patel
Professor & Head, Civil Engineering Department SVNIT, SURAT.

EXAMINER:

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Acknowledgement
I take opportunity to express my deep sense of gratitude and indebtedness to Mr. B.N.Tandel in Civil Engineering department, SVNIT, Surat for his valuable guidance, useful comments and co-operation with kind and encouraging attitude at all stages of the experimental work for the successful completion of this work. I would also like to thank our head of department Dr. J.N.Patel. I am also thankful to SVNIT, Surat and its staff for providing this opportunity which helped in gaining knowledge and to make this Seminar report successful.

Thank You Pradeep Limani (U09CE077)

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INDEX
No.
1. 2.
INTRODUCTION SOURCES OF WATER 2.1. RAIN WATER

Topic

Page
5 6

3.

RAIN WATER HARVESTING 3.1. NECESSITY 3.2. ADVANTAGES OF RAIN WATER HARVESTING 3.3. DISADVANTAGES OF RAIN WATER HARVESTING

4. 5.

WATER SUPPLY AND DEMAND. RAIN WATER HARVESTING TECHNIQUES. 5.1. ROOF TOP RAINWATER HARVESTING (RTRWH)

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5.2. SURFACE RUN OFF HARVESTING

6.

SOCIO-ECONOMICAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONSIDERATIONS IN RAIN WATER HARVESTING.

17

7.

SUMMARY REFERENCE WEBOGRAPHY

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1. Introduction
Water is the most common or major substance on earth, covering more than 70% of the planets surface. The total amount of water on earth remains constant. The rapid growth in population together with the extension of irrigated agriculture and industrial development, are putting stress on the natural ecosystems. In the face of growing problems, society has begun to realize that it can no longer subscribe to a use and discard philosophy with any natural resource. One such resource is WATER. Water is an integral part of land/soil productivity. Its misuse can cause both degradation and erosion of soils. Management of water resource is considered to necessary for well-being of human life as well as crop yields. There is a gap between the seasonal availability of water and its equitable supply throughout the year. Accordingly the storage of water and passage through soils is very important. It is well known area in this country is subject to varying degree of water stress. There are areas with heavy rainfall but water problems become predominant during nonmonsoon periods. Communities around the world are suffering more and more from water shortages- water tables are dropping as more underground water is pumped out; and droughts are becoming more frequent. There is a solution, though, and it is within the grasp of every community- rainwater harvesting. Its not a new technology- it was practiced centuries ago, but went out of fashion. Rain water flows down the hills in the form of small streams which join together to form rivers and lakes. And this is the important and the natural source of water for the living beings. Some of the rain water percolates down the earth until it reaches the hard surface. There it collects to form a large underground water reservoir. Such water is obtained on digging wells and it is called subsoil water or ground water. To deal with Water, a technique called RAIN WATER HARVESTING was introduced where rain water is used to meet some of our daily needs.

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2. Sources of water Hydrologic cycle

The never-ending exchange of water from the atmosphere to the oceans and back is known as the hydrologic cycle. This cycle is the source of all forms of precipitation (Hail, rain, sleet and snow) and thus of all the water. Precipitation stored in streams, lakes and soil evaporates while water stored in plants transpires to form clouds which store the water in the atmosphere. Currently, about 75% to 80% of conventional water supply is from lakes, rivers and wells. Making the most efficient use of these limited and precious resources is essential. Otherwise, scarcity of water will be faced by our future generations. This includes using appliances and plumbing fixtures that conserve water, not wasting water, and taking advantage of alternative water sources such as grey-water reuse and rain water harvesting.

Major Sources of Water on Earth are in the form of:1. Rainfall 2. Snowfall 3. Groundwater
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2.1. RAIN WATER

Rainwater is a necessary part of the water cycle on planet Earth and vital to a balanced ecosystem. Rain falling from the sky allows water to reenter lakes, rivers and oceans after being cycled via evaporation. Rainwater is harvested for use on gardens and provides drinking water for humans and other animals. Rainfall is variable and unpredictable, especially in dry climates that are susceptible to droughts. The rain waters environmental advantage and purity over other water options makes it the first choice, even though the precipitation cycle may fluctuate from year to year. In India rain water is the Basic source.

Rain

Surface sources
Lakes, impounding reservoirs, rivers, streams, irrigation canals

Ground sources
Springs, Wells, Infiltration wells

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3. RAIN WATER HARVESTING

i. Rainwater harvesting is the accumulating and storing of rainwater for reuse before it reaches the aquifer. It has been used to provide drinking water, water for livestock, water for irrigation, as well as other typical uses. Rainwater collected from the roofs of houses and local institutions can make an important contribution to the availability of drinking water. ii. The principle of collecting and using precipitation from a catchments surface. Rain water harvesting means to make optimum use of rain water at the place where it falls i.e. conserve it and not allow draining away and causing floods elsewhere.

iii.

3.1. Necessity
Water is one of the most essential requirements for existence of living beings Due to over population and higher usage levels of water in urban areas, water supply agencies are unable to cope up demand from surface sources like dams, reservoirs, rivers etc. Replenishment of ground water is drastically reduced due to paving of open areas. Water should never be wasted and allowed to flow out of any village or community facing a drinking water shortage. It costs less to collect rainwater than to exploit groundwater.

Surface water is inadequate to meet our demand and we have to depend on ground water. Due to rapid urbanization, infiltration of rain water into the sub-soil has decreased drastically and recharging of ground water has diminished. The cost of water increases day by day and to make it more economical water need to be reserve. Some other reasons are Planning conditions Infrastructure restriction due to which proper ground recharge is not possible.

Natural replenishment of ground water reservoir is slow and is unable to keep pace with the excessive continued exploitation of ground water resources in various parts of the country. This has resulted in declining ground water levels and depleted ground water resources in large areas of the country.

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3.2.

ADVANTAGES OF RAIN WATER HARVESTING

Rainwater harvesting systems are simple to install, operate, and maintain. It is convenient in the sense that it provides water at the point of consumption and operating costs are negligible. Few more points are given below: Promotes adequacy of underground water. Rainwater harvesting provides a buffer for use in times of emergency or breakdown of the public water supply systems, particularly during natural disasters. Reduces soil erosion as surface run-off is reduced. Improves ground water quality / decreases salinity (by dilution).

It uses local construction materials and labor. Sources of energy are not needed to operate the systems. Technology is based on traditional methods and relatively simple to construct, install and operate. The owner/user can easily maintain the systems. The water is convenient and accessible; valuable time and effort are saved in collecting and/or hauling water. It provides a supply of water to meet future agricultural needs. Operation and maintenance costs are also almost negligible.

3.3.

DISADVANTAGES OF RAIN WATER HARVESTING

Rain water harvesting system has some limits as it is not available throughout the year and the following are some other disadvantages of it: Seasonal nature and uncertainty of rainwater supply depending on the region in the world. Capital costs required to construct and install a rainwater harvesting system may still be high for the end users. Regular maintenance and cleaning is essential for successful operation. Potential breeding grounds for mosquitoes if storage tanks are not properly covered and maintained. Requires a "bottom up" rather than the traditional "top down" approach often used by Government and international organizations in other water resource development Projects.
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4. Water Supply and Demand

Water Demand
Residents in developed countries use significantly more water on a daily basis than hose living in developing countries. Per capita domestic water consumption in North America (about 350 litres per day) and Europe (about 200 litres per day) are high compared to 50-150 litres per day in developing countries in Asia, Africa and Latin America.

Domestic water demand includes Drinking, Food Preparation and cooking, washing dishes, Personal Hygiene (e.g. hand washing, bathing, and brushing teeth), toilet flushes, washing clothes etc.

Non-Domestic demand of water are Watering gardens (e.g. trees, flowers, vegetables), Water for animals (e.g. pets, chickens, small livestock), washing vehicles, Water for construction (e.g. repairing mud walls).

Demand for domestic and non-domestic purposes is increasing day by day. Surface water is not adequate for meeting the demands so we have to depend on ground water.

Water Supply
The quantity of available rainwater supply depends on the: Amount of rainfall Catchment area Runoff coefficient

The following equation is used to calculate of the maximum amount of water that can be supplied by a particular catchment area: Supply (m3/year) = Rainfall (m/year) x Catchment Area (m2) x Runoff Coefficient.

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5. Rainwater Harvesting Techniques

There are two main techniques of rain water harvestings. 1. Rooftop Rainwater harvesting System (RTRWH). 2. Surface Run off harvesting.

The storage of rain water on surface is a traditional techniques and structures used were underground tanks, ponds, check dams, weirs etc. Recharge to ground water is a new concept of rain water harvesting.

5.1Roof top rainwater harvesting (RTRWH)

In rooftop harvesting, the roof becomes the catchments, and the rainwater is collected from the roof of the house/building. It can either be stored in a tank or diverted to artificial recharge system. This method is less expensive and very effective and if implemented properly helps in augmenting the ground water level of the area.

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The system mainly constitutes of following components: Catchments Transportation First flush Filter

1. Catchment
The surface that receives rainfall directly is the catchment of rainwater harvesting system. It may be terrace, courtyard, or paved or unpaved open ground. The terrace may be flat RCC/stone roof or sloping roof. Therefore the catchment is the area, which actually contributes rainwater to the harvesting system.

Catchment area

2. Transportation
Rainwater from rooftop should be carried through down take water pipes or drains to storage/harvesting system. Water pipes should be UV resistant (ISI HDPE/PVC pipes) of required capacity. Water from sloping roofs could be caught through gutters and down take pipe. At terraces, mouth of the each drain should have wire mesh to restrict floating material.

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3. First flush
First flush is a device used to flush off the water received in first shower. The first shower of rains needs to be flushed-off to avoid contaminating storable/rechargeable water by the probable contaminants of the atmosphere and the catchment roof. It will also help in cleaning of silt and other material deposited on roof during dry seasons Provisions of first rain separator should be made at outlet of each drainpipe.

4. Filters
There is always some skepticism regarding Roof Top Rainwater harvesting since doubts are raised that rainwater may contaminate groundwater. There is remote possibility of this fear coming true if proper filter mechanism is not adopted. Secondly all care must be taken to see that underground sewer drains are not punctured and no leakage is taking place in close vicinity. Filters are used for treatment of water to effectively remove turbidity, colour and microorganisms. After first flushing of rainfall, water should pass through filters. There are different types of filters in practice, but basic function is to purify water.

Components of Rain water harvesting system

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5.2 Surface Run off harvesting.

In urban area rainwater flows away as surface runoff. This runoff could be caught and used for recharging aquifers by adopting appropriate methods. Surface runoff is the water flow that occurs when the soil is infiltrated to full capacity and excess water from rain, melt water, or other sources flows over the land. This is a major component of the water cycle, and the primary agent in water erosion.

Runoff that occurs on surfaces before reaching a channel is also called a nonpoint source. If a nonpoint source contains man-made contaminants, the runoff is called nonpoint source pollution. A land area which produces runoff that drains to a common point is called a drainage basin. When runoff flows along the ground, it can pick up soil contaminants including, but not limited to petroleum, pesticides, or fertilizers that become discharge or nonpoint source pollution.

Surface Run-off Harvesting

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5.2.1Applications of Ground catchment in India:

Ground catchment systems are more commonly used for farming and irrigation than for drinking water purposes. The exception is in India where there is a long history of rainwater harvesting for domestic use.

1. Kundis
The villagers of the Thar Desert have evolved an ingenious system of rainwater harvesting, known as kunds or kundis, to tackle their drinking water problems. They are more prevalent on the western arid regions of Rajasthan and in areas where the limited groundwater is moderate to highly saline. Kundis are owned by communities or privately, with the wealthy having one or more of their own. The catchment size varies from 20 m2 to 2 ha depending on the runoff needed and land availability. The ground surface area is treated to reduce infiltration and increase the amount of rainwater runoff collected. The kundi storage tanks are generally circular in shape with a depth and diameter ranging from 3 to 4.5 m.

Kunds at the thar desert

2. Ooranis
Ooranis are constructed tanks or ponds which are designed to harvest and store rainwater to meet the drinking needs of a community. There are as many as 39,000 ooranis in Tamilnadu State alone, and almost every village in the Ramanathapuram

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District has an oorani. The pond is created by excavating the soil which is then used to form bunds around the area. Ooranis are generally located in an area with impermeable soil so that water loss due to infiltration is minimized.

Ooranis

3. Paar System
Paar is a common water harvesting practice in the western Rajasthan region of India. In this system, the rainwater flows from the agar (catchment area) and in the process percolates into the sandy soil. Traditional wells, known as kuis or beris, are dug 5 to 12 m deep to access the water. Using traditional masonry technology, six to ten of the kuis or beris are constructed in a paar. Rainwater harvested through the paar technique is known as patali paani.

Kuis
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6. Socio-economic and Environmental consideration in Rain Water Harvesting

Social, economic and environmental factors are important considerations in the selection, development and implementation of an appropriate technology. India has a long tradition of water harvesting. Many of the traditional water harvesting systems have either fallen to disuse due to a variety of physical, social, economic, cultural and political factors that have caused their deterioration. For a successful rainwater harvesting project it must be integrated and holistic. Socio-economic consideration includes social issues, gender issues, political issues, Cost implications, Health issues. Social Considerations The needs, desires, beliefs, perceptions, experiences, and existing practice of a Community influences the social acceptability of a project. Conducting a social assessment is a worthwhile exercise to understand the communitys current perceptions and practices with respect to rainwater harvesting. The social structure, organization, administration and leadership of a community are also important factors that can influence the success of a project. Communities with a history of cooperation are more likely to successfully implement a project than a community with no such history.

Economic Considerations It is often difficult to take economic considerations into account when implementing a water supply project. There is usually an inverse relationship between the cost of water and the ability to pay. The cost of installation, maintenance, Affordability and financing also comes under economic considerations.

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7. Summary
Rain water harvesting is one of the best way to solve the world faced burning issue i.e. water scarcity. Rain water harvesting is an ideal solution to water problems in areas having inadequate water resources. It helps in raising Ground water level as well as improvement in its quality. It mitigates the effects of drought and achieves drought proofing. Rain water harvesting reduces the runoff which chokes the storm water drains. Flooding and Soil erosion can be reduced effectively. It results in saving of energy per well for lifting of ground water. It also helps in saving water bills. Need of transporting water from one place to another in tanks is also reduced. RWH techniques are economical and it can be easily installed to meet the basic demands like daily household needs. Rain water harvesting installation cost is recovered in 2-3 years time. This water can be used for watering gardens and washing cars etc. The important thing that we have to keep in mind its not a permanent solution because rainwater is not available throughout the year. Last but not least WATER is a very important resource we should save it up to the last drop of water. Rainwater harvesting is a noble goal and its a common responsibility of all of us.

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References
(1) CAWST Manual, Household Rain water harvesting, a CAWST (Centre for Affordable
water and Sanitation Technology),Canada.(November 2011) (2) Padre Shree, Rain water harvesting Published by Altermedia, Brahmaswom Madam building, M G Road thrissur 680001, India ISBN 81-87612-03-7. (September 2003) (3) Indian Railways Institute of Civil engineering Pune, Rain water harvesting. (August 2006) (4) School of Engineering, and University of Warwick, UK, Domestic Roof water Harvesting Research Program, Development Technology Unit.

Webography
www.rainwater-toolkit.net/index.php?id=75 http://www.waterharvesters.com/index.php/rainwaterharvesting http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rainwater_harvesting. http://mppcb.nic.in/RWH.htm http://www.k4rd.org/water_rainwtr_harveting.htm

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