RAIN WATER HARVESTING

Rainwater harvesting is the process of collecting, filtering and storing water from roof
tops, paved and unpaved areas for multiple uses. The harvested water can also be used
for potable purposes after testing and treatment. The surplus water after usage can be
used for recharging ground water aquifer through artificial recharge techniques. This can
also result in improving the quality of the ground water e.g. lower fluoride content in
ground water. Rainwater harvesting mechanisms are designed after assessing the site
conditions such as incident rainfall, subsurface strata and their storage characteristics,
infiltration test and by building suitable structures to collect and store rainwater.
Rainwater harvesting system provides a source of soft, high quality water, reduce
dependence on wells and other sources, and, in many contexts, are cost effective.
Rainwater harvesting system can range in size from a simple PVC tank to a contractor
designed and built sump - costing thousand of rupees. Rainwater system are inherently
simple in form. Harvesting rainwater is not only water conserving, it is also energy saving
since the energy input required to operate a centralized water system can be bypassed.
A range of filters for different filtration rates have also been designed using different filter
media.
Benefit

To harness good quality water resource now being wasted

To prevent groundwater depletion

To augment the expensive piped water supply

To save expenditure on water

To prevent soil erosion and urban flooding

Inexpensive and simple technology

Aids ecological conservation

Components of Rainwater Harvesting System

Catchment area

Conveyance system

First rain separator

Filter unit

Storage

Delivery system

Usage

Recharge

Harvesting

System

Broadly rainwater can be harvested for two purposes

Storing rainwater for ready use in containers above or below ground

Charged into the soil for withdrawal later (groundwater recharging)

Source: A Water Harvesting Manual For Urban Areas

From

where

to

harvest

rain

Rainwater harvesting can be harvested from the following surfaces

Rooftops: If buildings with impervious roofs are already in place, the
catchment area is effectively available free of charge and they provide a supply at the
point of consumption.
Paved and unpaved areas i.e., landscapes, open fields, parks, stormwater
drains, roads and pavements and other open areas can be effectively used to harvest
the runoff. The main advantage in using ground as collecting surface is that water can be collected from
a larger area. This is particularly advantageous in areas of low rainfall.
Waterbodies: The potential of lakes, tanks and ponds to store
rainwater is immense. The harvested rainwater can not only be used to meet
water requirements of the city, it also recharges groundwater aquifers.
Stormwater drains: Most of the residential colonies have proper
network of stormwater drains. If maintained neatly, these offer a simple and cost effective means for
harvesting rainwater.

Whether

to

store

rainwater

or

use

it

for

recharge:

The decision whether to store or recharge water depends on the rainfall pattern and the potential to do
so, in a particular region. The sub-surface geology also plays an important role in making this decision.

WHAT IS RAIN WATER HARVESTING :

The principle of collecting and using precipitation from a catchments surface.
An old technology is gaining popularity in a new way. Rain water harvesting is
enjoying a renaissance of sorts in the world, but it traces its history to biblical times.
Extensive rain water harvesting apparatus existed 4000 years ago in the Palestine
and Greece. In ancient Rome, residences were built with individual cisterns and
paved courtyards to capture rain water to augment water from city's aqueducts. As

early as the third millennium BC, farming communities in Baluchistan and Kutch
impounded rain water and used it for irrigation dams.
ARTIFICAL RECHARGE TO GROUND WATER :
Artificial recharge to ground water is a process by which the ground water reservoir is
augmented at a rate exceeding that obtaining under natural conditions or
replenishment. Any man-made scheme or facility that adds water to an aquifer may
be considered to be an artificial recharge system.
WHY RAIN WATER HARVESTING :
Rain water harvesting is essential because :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.
As you read this guide, seriously consider conserving water by harvesting and
managing this natural resource by artificially recharging the system. The examples
covering several dozen installations successfully operating in India constructed and
maintained by CGWB, provide an excellent snapshot of current systems.
RAIN WATER HARVESTING TECHNIQUES :
There are two main techniques of rain water harvestings.
Storage of rainwater on surface for future use.
Recharge to ground water.
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 and the structures generally used are :Pits :- Recharge pits are constructed for recharging the shallow
aquifer. These are constructed 1 to 2 m, wide and to 3 m. deep which
are back filled with boulders, gravels, coarse sand.
Trenches:- These are constructed when the permeable stram is
available at shallow depth. Trench may be 0.5 to 1 m. wide, 1 to

1.5m. deep and 10 to 20 m. long depending up availability of water.

These are back filled with filter. materials.
Dug wells:- Existing dug wells may be utilised as recharge structure
and water should pass through filter media before putting into dug
well.
Hand pumps :- The existing hand pumps may be used for
recharging the shallow/deep aquifers, if the availability of water is
limited. Water should pass through filter media before diverting it into
hand pumps.
Recharge wells :- Recharge wells of 100 to 300 mm. diameter are
generally constructed for recharging the deeper aquifers and water is
passed through filter media to avoid choking of recharge wells.
Recharge Shafts :- For recharging the shallow aquifer which are
located below clayey surface, recharge shafts of 0.5 to 3 m. diameter
and 10 to 15 m. deep are constructed and back filled with boulders,
gravels & coarse sand.
Lateral shafts with bore wells :- For recharging the upper as well
as deeper aquifers lateral shafts of 1.5 to 2 m. wide & 10 to 30 m.
long depending upon availability of water with one or two bore wells
are constructed. The lateral shafts is back filled with boulders,
gravels & coarse sand.
Spreading techniques :- When permeable strata starts from top
then this technique is used. Spread the water in streams/Nalas by
making check dams, nala bunds, cement plugs, gabion structures or
a percolation pond may be constructed.
DIVERSION OF RUN OFF INTO EXISTING SURFACE WATER BODIES
Construction activity in and around the city is resulting in the drying up of water
bodies and reclamation of these tanks for conversion into plots for houses.
Free flow of storm run off into these tanks and water bodies must be ensured. The
storm run off may be diverted into the nearest tanks or depression, which will create
additional recharge.

Urbanisation effects on Groundwater Hydrology :

Increase in water demand
More dependence on ground water use
Over exploitation of ground water
Increase in run-off, decline in well yields and fall in water
levels
Reduction in open soil surface area
Reduction in infiltration and deterioration in water quality
Methods of artificial recharge in urban areas :
Water spreading
Recharge through pits, trenches, wells, shafts
Rooftop collection of rainwater
Roadtop collection of rainwater
Induced recharge from surface water bodies.
Computation of artificial recharge from Roof top rainwater
collection :
Factors taken for computation :
Roof top area 100 sq.m. for individual house and 500
sq.m. for multi-storied building.
Average annual monsoon rainfall - 780 mm.
Effective annual rainfall contributing to recharge 70% 550 mm.

Individual
Houses

Multistoried
building

Roof top area

100 sq. m. 500 sq. m.

Total quantity available

forrecharge per annum

55 cu. m

275 cu. m.

Water available for 5

member Family

100 days

500 days

Benefits of Artificial Recharge in Urban Areas :

Improvement in infiltration and reduction in run-off.
Improvement in groundwater levels and yields.
Reduces strain on Special Village Panchayats/ Municipal / Municipal
Corporation water supply
Improvement in groundwater quality
Estimated quantity of additional recharge from 100 sq. m. roof top
area is 55.000 liters.

HARVESTING RAINWATER HARNESSING LIFE :

A NOBLE GOAL - A COMMON RESPONSIBILITY
Ground water exploitation is inevitable is Urban areas. But the
groundwater potential is getting reduced due to urbanisation resulting
in over exploitation. Hence, a strategy to implement the groundwater
recharge, in a major way need to be launched with concerted efforts by
various Governmental and Non-Governmental Agencies and Public at
large to build up the water table and make the groundwater resource, a
reliable and sustainable source for supplementing water supply needs
of the urban dwellers.
Recharge of groundwater through storm run off and roof top water
collection, diversion and collection of run off into dry tanks, play
grounds, parks and other vacant places are to be implemented by

Special Village Panchayats/ Municipalities /Municipal Corporations and

other Government Establishments with special efforts.
The Special Village Panchayats /Municipalities/Municipal Corporations
will help the citizens and builders to adopt suitable recharge method in
one's own house or building through demonstration and offering
subsidies for materials and incentives, if possible.
Rainwater harvesting is simply collecting rain which falls onto roofs, then
storing it and using it as a free resource.
The advantages of rainwater harvesting are that it,

Saves money by reducing your water usage,

A volume of water is kept out of the storm-water management
system, thereby helping to reduce flooding risks,
Gains Eco-homes rating points for your property,
And rainwater is better for your garden as it has a balanced ph and
is free of chemicals such as chlorine.

Rainwater Harvesting Systems can be very simple such as a water butt

located under a down pipe from your guttering that you use to fill a
watering can or connect to an inexpensive syphon hose to water your
garden.
At the other end of the scale these systems have large above or
underground tanks, filters and pumps which will not only feed to your
garden irrigation and car wash but also into all the non-potable uses inside
your home such as toilets, washing machines and even showers and
baths.
Some of the larger systems even have PV panels to generate the power to
drive the pumping and water management systems that ensure that the
system is topped up by mains water when rainwater is scarce.
These systems can be subdivided into two types; Header Tank Systems
and Direct Pump Systems.
Header Tank Systems as the name suggests require a header tank to be
installed in the loft, have a high reliability, can easily revert to mains
supply if rainwater is scarce and the control system is simple and
inexpensive. However the pressure may be too low for some washing
machines and flush toilets may take a while to fill.
The majority of commercially available systems are Direct Pump
Systems that do not require a loft tank and generate a good pressure
suitable for washing machines that are used to the pressure from a direct
mains feed and suitable for car wash equipment and garden hoses.

However, the control mechanism is likely to be more complex (and

expensive).
The Environment Agencys Water Resources section has a useful overview
of Rainwater Harvesting including Alan Titchmarshs tips for saving water
in the garden. http://www.environmentagency.gov.uk/subjects/waterres/287169/?version=1&lang=_e

Rainwater Harvesting
The capture and storage of rainwater for subsequent utilization is called rainwater
harvesting. Rainwater harvesting is often one component of a water management
strategy in which a various water sources satisfy a spectrum of demands.
Rainwater is directly harvested for domestic (household) consumption in more than
one hundred countries, both in arid regions where water is scarce, and in humid
regions where precipitation is easily captured. Rainwater harvesting systems reflect
the diversity of Earth's many societies, climates, and regions. Systems can be
designed quite differently, use a variety of materials, satisfy an array of performance
requirements, and have different cultural impacts.
Archaeological excavations document ancient rainwater harvesting in
Mesoamerica , the Mediterranean, and the Orient. Today, rainwater is harvested by
both traditional technologies and optimally engineered facilities. Traditional rainwater
harvesting systems include a rooftop and adjacent cistern. Improved systems include
paved hillsides, airport runways, subterranean reservoirs, disinfection, and
automated monitoring. Computercontrolled systems are used in parts of Japan and
Scandinavia.

Common Components of Harvesting Systems

Regardless of their sophistication, rainwater harvesting systems generally have four
common components:

A catchment area for rainfall interception;

A cistern for rainwater storage;
A conveyance between the catchment and cistern; and
Some method to draw upon the storage for consumptive use .

Catchments.
A rooftop is the most common rainfall catchment. A 100 square-meter (930 squarefoot) roof intercepting 1 meter (3.28 feet) of rainfall per year provides, on average,
274 liters (71.2 gallons) of water per day. This amount is roughly 75 percent of a
typical North American person's domestic consumption, 180 percent of a French
person's average, and nearly seven times the per capita average in some developing
regions. Alternatives to roof catchments include airport runways in the Pacific Islands,
paved hillsides in the Caribbean, and earthen courtyards in China.

Cisterns.
The cistern, whether a clay pot in Thailand or a reinforcedconcrete community
reservoir in Kenya, provides the rainwater system the capacity to function through
droughts. Not all storage is in tank cisterns. Hand-dug mortared subterranean vaults
are found in the Middle East. Japanese construct rock-filled containments beneath
ground to serve as artificial aquifers into which intercepted rainwater is directed for
subsequent pumping.
The less uniformly that rainfall occurs over a year, the greater the required storage
volume. It is not uncommon for cisterns to be sized to hold a 30-day water supply.
Cisterns in Australia can store a half-year's supply accumulated in the monsoon
season. Cisterns of only a week's capacity may be sufficient in the tropics. Because
droughts are unpredictable, rainfall harvesting always carries with it some degree of
risk.

Catchment-Cistern Conveyances.
Roof gutters are the most common conveyances between catchment and cistern.
Rainwater harvesting often fails to achieve its potential yield because an adequate
catchment is linked to an adequate cistern by an inadequate water trough that is
undersized or poorly maintained.

Withdrawal Methods.
Cisterns from which water is hand-drawn by a dipper are prone to human
contamination . Better systems are elevated so that water may be drawn down to
the user by gravity. Urban Singapore has systems in which rainwater is pumped into
an elevated tank for pressurized distribution.
Where drinkable water is available from another source, but in limited quantity,
rainwater can be employed as greywater . A separate rain-fed pipe network services
toilets, laundry facilities, and lawn irrigation.
Not all rainwater harvesting is for domestic supply. Traditional aridland agriculture
captures infrequent rainfall through landscape improvement. Iranian farmers
construct berms in the shape of an uphill "v" in order to funnel rainfall to individual
trees. Native Americans terrace cornfields to capture infrequent summer
thunderstorms.

Quality of Harvested Rainwater

Water quality issues change with each rainwater harvesting system component.
Some harvesting systems are biologically contaminated on the catchment surface,
particularly at the "first flush" of storm runoff. Moreover, no effective shield can guard
against airborne particulates or occasional bird droppings. But although catchment
runoff may violate some quality standards for modern urban water supply, it is rarely
pathogenic (diseasecausing) and may be less of a health hazard than the pollution in
local surface waters.
If pollution does occur, it most likely originates in the cistern. Uncovered reservoirs
can breed algae or mosquitoes and can be contaminated by humans. In rare
instances, minerals may leach from cistern walls. Where technology permits, in-line
disinfection (typically chlorination) protects potable quality.

Inasmuch as a high-quality water supply is a challenge to every society, rainwater

harvesting is experiencing a revival in the economically developed world. Public
agencies are increasingly promoting construction standards and water quality criteria
in order to appropriately utilize rainwater as an additional water resource.
ainwater harvesting is a technology used for collecting and storing rainwater from rooftops, the land surface or
rock catchments using simple techniques such as jars and pots as well as more complex techniques such as
underground check dams. The techniques usually found in Asia and Africa arise from practices employed by
ancient civilizations within these regions and still serve as a major source of drinking water supply in rural
areas. Commonly used systems are constructed of three principal components; namely, the catchment area,
the collection device, and the conveyance system.
A) Catchment Areas

Rooftop catchments: In the most basic form of this technology, rainwater is collected in simple vessels
at the edge of the roof. Variations on this basic approach include collection of rainwater in gutters which
drain to the collection vessel through down-pipes constructed for this purpose, and/or the diversion of
rainwater from the gutters to containers for settling particulates before being conveyed to the storage
container for the domestic use. As the rooftop is the main catchment area, the amount and quality of
rainwater collected depends on the area and type of roofing material. Reasonably pure rainwater can
be collected from roofs constructed with galvanized corrugated iron, aluminium or asbestos cement
sheets, tiles and slates, although thatched roofs tied with bamboo gutters and laid in proper slopes can
produce almost the same amount of runoff less expensively (Gould, 1992). However, the bamboo roofs
are least suitable because of possible health hazards. Similarly, roofs with metallic paint or other
coatings are not recommended as they may impart tastes or colour to the collected water. Roof
catchments should also be cleaned regularly to remove dust, leaves and bird droppings so as to
maintain the quality of the product water (see figure 1).

Land surface catchments: Rainwater harvesting using ground or land surface catchment areas is less
complex way of collecting rainwater. It involves improving runoff capacity of the land surface through
various techniques including collection of runoff with drain pipes and storage of collected water.
Compared to rooftop catchment techniques, ground catchment techniques provide more opportunity for
collecting water from a larger surface area. By retaining the flows (including flood flows) of small creeks
and streams in small storage reservoirs (on surface or underground) created by low cost (e.g., earthen)

dams, this technology can meet water demands during dry periods. There is a possibility of high rates
of water loss due to infiltration into the ground, and, because of the often marginal quality of the water
collected, this technique is mainly suitable for storing water for agricultural purposes. Various
techniques available for increasing the runoff within ground catchment areas involve: i) clearing or
altering vegetation cover, ii) increasing the land slope with artificial ground cover, and iii) reducing soil
permeability by the soil compaction and application of chemicals (see figure 2).

Clearing or altering vegetation cover: Clearing vegetation from the ground can increase surface runoff
but also can induce more soil erosion. Use of dense vegetation cover such as grass is usually
suggested as it helps to both maintain an high rate of runoff and minimize soil erosion.
Increasing slope: Steeper slopes can allow rapid runoff of rainfall to the collector. However, the rate of
runoff has to be controlled to minimise soil erosion from the catchment field. Use of plastic sheets,
asphalt or tiles along with slope can further increase efficiency by reducing both evaporative losses and
soil erosion. The use of flat sheets of galvanized iron with timber frames to prevent corrosion was
recommended and constructed in the State of Victoria, Australia, about 65 years ago (Kenyon, 1929;
cited in UNEP, 1982).
Soil compaction by physical means: This involves smoothing and compacting of soil surface using
equipment such as graders and rollers. To increase the surface runoff and minimize soil erosion rates,
conservation bench terraces are constructed along a slope perpendicular to runoff flow. The bench
terraces are separated by the sloping collectors and provision is made for distributing the runoff evenly
across the field strips as sheet flow. Excess flows are routed to a lower collector and stored (UNEP,
1982).
Soil compaction by chemical treatments: In addition to clearing, shaping and compacting a catchment
area, chemical applications with such soil treatments as sodium can significantly reduce the soil
permeability. Use of aqueous solutions of a silicone-water repellent is another technique for enhancing
soil compaction technologies. Though soil permeability can be reduced through chemical treatments,
soil compaction can induce greater rates of soil erosion and may be expensive. Use of sodium-based
chemicals may increase the salt content in the collected water, which may not be suitable both for
drinking and irrigation purposes.

B) Collection Devices

Storage tanks: Storage tanks for collecting rainwater harvested using guttering may be either above or
below the ground. Precautions required in the use of storage tanks include provision of an adequate
enclosure to minimise contamination from human, animal or other environmental contaminants, and a
tight cover to prevent algal growth and the breeding of mosquitos. Open containers are not
recommended for collecting water for drinking purposes. Various types of rainwater storage facilities
can be found in practice. Among them are cylindrical ferrocement tanks and mortar jars. The
ferrocement tank consists of a lightly reinforced concrete base on which is erected a circular vertical
cylinder with a 10 mm steel base. This cylinder is further wrapped in two layers of light wire mesh to
form the frame of the tank. Mortar jars are large jar shaped vessels constructed from wire reinforced
mortar. The storage capacity needed should be calculated to take into consideration the length of any
dry spells, the amount of rainfall, and the per capita water consumption rate. In most of the Asian
countries, the winter months are dry, sometimes for weeks on end, and the annual average rainfall can
occur within just a few days. In such circumstances, the storage capacity should be large enough to
cover the demands of two to three weeks. For example, a three person household should have a
minimum capacity of 3 (Persons) x 90 (l) x 20 (days) = 5 400 l.
Rainfall water containers: As an alternative to storage tanks, battery tanks (i.e., interconnected tanks)
made of pottery, ferrocement, or polyethylene may be suitable. The polyethylene tanks are compact but
have a large storage capacity (ca. 1 000 to 2 000 l), are easy to clean and have many openings which
can be fitted with fittings for connecting pipes. In Asia, jars made of earthen materials or ferrocement
tanks are commonly used. During the 1980s, the use of rainwater catchment technologies, especially
roof catchment systems, expanded rapidly in a number of regions, including Thailand where more than
ten million 2 m3 ferrocement rainwater jars were built and many tens of thousands of larger ferrocement
tanks were constructed between 1991 and 1993. Early problems with the jar design were quickly
addressed by including a metal cover using readily available, standard brass fixtures. The immense
success of the jar programme springs from the fact that the technology met a real need, was affordable,
and invited community participation. The programme also captured the imagination and support of not
only the citizens, but also of government at both local and national levels as well as community based
organizations, small-scale enterprises and donor agencies. The introduction and rapid promotion of
Bamboo reinforced tanks, however, was less successful because the bamboo was attacked by termites,
bacteria and fungus. More than 50 000 tanks were built between 1986 and 1993 (mainly in Thailand
and Indonesia) before a number started to fail, and, by the late 1980s, the bamboo reinforced tank
design, which had promised to provide an excellent low-cost alternative to ferrocement tanks, had to be
abandoned.

C) Conveyance Systems
Conveyance systems are required to transfer the rainwater collected on the rooftops to the storage tanks. This
is usually accomplished by making connections to one or more down-pipes connected to the rooftop gutters.

When selecting a conveyance system, consideration should be given to the fact that, when it first starts to rain,
dirt and debris from the rooftop and gutters will be washed into the down-pipe. Thus, the relatively clean water
will only be available some time later in the storm. There are several possible choices to selectively collect
clean water for the storage tanks. The most common is the down-pipe flap. With this flap it is possible to direct
the first flush of water flow through the down-pipe, while later rainfall is diverted into a storage tank. When it
starts to rain, the flap is left in the closed position, directing water to the down-pipe, and, later, opened when
relatively clean water can be collected. A great disadvantage of using this type of conveyance control system
is the necessity to observe the runoff quality and manually operate the flap. An alternative approach would be
to automate the opening of the flap as described below.
A funnel-shaped insert is integrated into the down-pipe system. Because the upper edge of the funnel is not in
direct contact with the sides of the down-pipe, and a small gap exists between the down-pipe walls and the
funnel, water is free to flow both around the funnel and through the funnel. When it first starts to rain, the
volume of water passing down the pipe is small, and the *dirty* water runs down the walls of the pipe, around
the funnel and is discharged to the ground as is normally the case with rainwater guttering. However, as the
rainfall continues, the volume of water increases and *clean* water fills the down-pipe. At this higher volume,
the funnel collects the clean water and redirects it to a storage tank. The pipes used for the collection of
rainwater, wherever possible, should be made of plastic, PVC or other inert substance, as the pH of rainwater
can be low (acidic) and could cause corrosion, and mobilization of metals, in metal pipes.
In order to safely fill a rainwater storage tank, it is necessary to make sure that excess water can overflow, and
that blockages in the pipes or dirt in the water do not cause damage or contamination of the water supply. The
design of the funnel system, with the drain-pipe being larger than the rainwater tank feed-pipe, helps to ensure
that the water supply is protected by allowing excess water to bypass the storage tank. A modification of this
design is shown in Figure 5, which illustrates a simple overflow/bypass system. In this system, it also is
possible to fill the tank from a municipal drinking water source, so that even during a prolonged drought the
tank can be kept full. Care should be taken, however, to ensure that rainwater does not enter the drinking
water distribution system.

Extent of Use
The history of rainwater harvesting in Asia can be traced back to about the 9th or 10th Century and the smallscale collection of rainwater from roofs and simple brush dam constructions in the rural areas of South and
South-east Asia. Rainwater collection from the eaves of roofs or via simple gutters into traditional jars and pots
has been traced back almost 2 000 years in Thailand (Prempridi and Chatuthasry, 1982). Rainwater
harvesting has long been used in the Loess Plateau regions of China. More recently, however, about 40 000
well storage tanks, in a variety of different forms, were constructed between 1970 and 1974 using a
technology which stores rainwater and stormwater runoff in ponds of various sizes. A thin layer of red clay is
generally laid on the bottom of the ponds to minimize seepage losses. Trees, planted at the edges of the

ponds, help to minimize evaporative losses from the ponds (UNEP, 1982).

Level of Involvement and Skill

Various levels of governmental and community involvement in the development of rainwater harvesting
technologies in different parts of Asia were noted. In Thailand and the Philippines, both governmental and
household-based initiatives played key roles in expanding the use of this technology, especially in water
scarce areas such as northeast Thailand.

Cultural Acceptability
Rainwater harvesting is an accepted freshwater augmentation technology in Asia. While the bacteriological
quality of rainwater collected from ground catchments is poor, that from properly maintained rooftop catchment
systems, equipped with storage tanks having good covers and taps, is generally suitable for drinking, and
frequently meets WHO drinking water standards. Notwithstanding, such water generally is of higher quality
than most traditional, and many of improved, water sources found in the developing world. Contrary to popular
beliefs, rather than becoming stale with extended storage, rainwater quality often improves as bacteria and
pathogens gradually die off (Wirojanagud et al., 1989). Rooftop catchment, rainwater storage tanks can
provide good quality water, clean enough for drinking, as long as the rooftop is clean, impervious, and made
from non-toxic materials (lead paints and asbestos roofing materials should be avoided), and located away
from over-hanging trees since birds and animals in the trees may defecate on the roof.

Specification
Maintenance is generally limited to the annual cleaning of the tank and regular inspection of the gutters and
down-pipes. Maintenance typically consists of the removal of dirt, leaves and other accumulated materials.
Such cleaning should take place annually before the start of the major rainfall season. However, cracks in the
storage tanks can create major problems and should be repaired immediately. In the case of ground and rock
catchments, additional care is required to avoid damage and contamination by people and animals, and
proper fencing is required.

Advantages
Rainwater harvesting technologies are simple to install and operate. Local people can be easily trained to
implement such technologies, and construction materials are also readily available. Rainwater harvesting is
convenient in the sense that it provides water at the point of consumption, and family members have full
control of their own systems, which greatly reduces operation and maintenance problems. Running costs,
also, are almost negligible. Water collected from roof catchments usually is of acceptable quality for domestic
purposes. As it is collected using existing structures not specially constructed for the purpose, rainwater
harvesting has few negative environmental impacts compared to other water supply project technologies.

Although regional or other local factors can modify the local climatic conditions, rainwater can be a continuous
source of water supply for both the rural and poor. Depending upon household capacity and needs, both the
water collection and storage capacity may be increased as needed within the available catchment area.

Disadvantages
Disadvantages of rainwater harvesting technologies are mainly due to the limited supply and uncertainty of
rainfall. Adoption of this technology requires a *bottom up* approach rather than the more usual *top down*
approach employed in other water resources development projects. This may make rainwater harvesting less
attractive to some governmental agencies tasked with providing water supplies in developing countries, but the
mobilization of local government and NGO resources can serve the same basic role in the development of
rainwater-based schemes as water resources development agencies in the larger, more traditional public
water supply schemes.

Suitability
The augmentation of municipal water supplies with harvested rainwater is suited to both urban and rural areas.
The construction of cement jars or provision of gutters does not require very highly skilled manpower.

Development Costs
The capital cost of rainwater harvesting systems is highly dependent on the type of catchment, conveyance
and storage tank materials used. However, the cost of harvested rainwater in Asia, which varies from $0.17 to
$0.37 per cubic metre of water storage, is relatively low compared to many countries in Africa (Lee and
Vissher, 1990).
Compared to deep and shallow tubewells, rainwater collection systems are more cost effective, especially if
the initial investment does not include the cost of roofing materials. The initial per unit cost of rainwater storage
tanks (jars) in Northeast Thailand is estimated to be about $1/l, and each tank can last for more than ten
years. The reported operation and maintenance costs are negligible.

Effectivness of Technology
The feasibility of rainwater harvesting in a particular locality is highly dependent upon the amount and intensity
of rainfall. Other variables, such as catchment area and type of catchment surface, usually can be adjusted
according to household needs. As rainfall is usually unevenly distributed throughout the year, rainwater
collection methods can serve as only supplementary sources of household water. The viability of rainwater
harvesting systems is also a function of: the quantity and quality of water available from other sources;
household size and per capita water requirements; and budget available. The decision maker has to balance
the total cost of the project against the available budget, including the economic benefit of conserving water

supplied from other sources. Likewise, the cost of physical and environmental degradation associated with the
development of available alternative sources should also be calculated and added to the economic analysis.
Assuming that rainwater harvesting has been determined to be feasible, two kinds of techniques--statistical
and graphical methods--have been developed to aid in determining the size of the storage tanks. These
methods are applicable for rooftop catchment systems only, and detail guidelines for design of these storage
tanks can be found in Gould (1991) and Pacey and Cullis (1986, 1989).
Accounts of serious illness linked to rainwater supplies are few, suggesting that rainwater harvesting
technologies are effective sources of water supply for many household purposes. It would appear that the
potential for slight contamination of roof runoff from occasional bird droppings does not represent a major
health risk; nevertheless, placing taps at least 10 cm above the base of the rainwater storage tanks allows any
debris entering the tank to settle on the bottom, where it will not affect the quality of the stored water, provided
it remains undisturbed. Ideally, storage tanks should cleaned annually, and sieves should fitted to the gutters
and down-pipes to further minimize particulate contamination. A coarse sieve should be fitted in the gutter
where the down-pipe is located. Such sieves are available made of plastic coated steel-wire or plastic, and
may be wedged on top and/or inside gutter and near the down-pipe. It is also possible to fit a fine sieve within
the down-pipe itself, but this must be removable for cleaning. A fine filter should also be fitted over the outlet of
the down-pipe as the coarser sieves situated higher in the system may pass small particulates such as leaf
fragments, etc. A simple and very inexpensive method is to use a small, fabric sack, which may be secured
over the feed-pipe where it enters the storage tank.
If rainwater is used to supply household appliances such as the washing machine, even the tiniest particles of
dirt may cause damage to the machine and the washing. To minimize the occurrence of such damage, it is
advisable to install a fine filter of a type which is used in drinking water systems in the supply line upstream of
the appliances. For use in wash basins or bath tubs, it is advisable to sterilise the water using a chlorine
dosage pump.

Further Development of Technology

Rainwater harvesting appears to be one of the most promising alternatives for supplying freshwater in the face
of increasing water scarcity and escalating demand. The pressures on rural water supplies, greater
environmental impacts associated with new projects, and increased opposition from NGOs to the development
of new surface water sources, as well as deteriorating water quality in surface reservoirs already constructed,
constrain the ability of communities to meet the demand for freshwater from traditional sources, and present
an opportunity for augmentation of water supplies using this technology.

Advantages of Rainwater Harvesting system:

1.You will have no doubt of water availability in the future (approximate
annual rainfall of 32 inches per year in the Central Texas region). In the past,
land owners have spent thousands of dollars only to find a malfunctioning well
due to lack of water.
2. You will have a known and consistent quality of water.
3. You will never have to pay for a service truck to pull a pump out of a well
and replace it. The cost can be over $2,000.00 and nation wide the life of the
pump is only five to seven years.
4. The needed water treating system is included in the price. (no surprises
after installation).
5. Initial cost of installation is comparable.
6. Much lower recurring maintenance costs.
7. Much lower cost of elec. Power to operate.
8. New legislation passed: YOU PAY NO SALES TAX ON SYSTEM. In 2001, the
77th Legislature of State of Texas passed Bill 2 exempting rainwater
harvesting equipment and supplies from state sales tax.
www.capitol.state.tx.us
9. Some counties now offer $100.00 rebate on property development fees.
Hays county was among the first to provide a Rainwater Collection Incentive
Program including tax exemption of 100% of the cost.

For centuries, people have relied on rainwater harvesting to supply water for
household, landscape, livestock, and agricultural uses. Before large centralized water
supply systems were developed, rainwater was collected from roofs and stored on
site in tanks known as cisterns.

With the development of large, reliable water treatment and distribution systems and
more affordable well drilling equipment, rain harvesting systems have been all but
forgotten, even though they offer a source of pure, soft, low sodium water.

A renewed interest in this time-honored approach has emerged in Texas and

elsewhere due to:

the escalating environmental and economic costs of providing water by

centralized water systems or by well drilling;

health benefits of rainwater;

collection systems

Advantages of Rainwater 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. Water collected
from the roof catchment is available for use in potable and non-potable applications such as toilet
and/or urinal flushing, laundries, mechanical systems, custodial uses, site irrigation and for bathing
water. Since rainwater is collected using existing structures, i.e., the roof, rainwater harvesting has few
negative environmental impacts.
Benefits of Using Rainwater
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It is free; the only cost is for installation and use.

It lessens demand on the municipal water supply.
It saves money on utility bills.
It makes efficient use of a valuable resource.
It diminishes flooding, erosion, and the flow to stormwater drains.
It reduces the contamination of surface water with sediments, fertilizers and pesticides from
rainwater run-off resulting in cleaner lakes, rivers, oceans and other receivers of stormwater.
It can be used to recharge groundwater.
It is good for irrigation and plants thrive because stored rainwater is free from pollutants as
well as salts, minerals, and other natural and man-made contaminants.
It is good for laundry use as rainwater is soft and lowers the need for detergents.
It adds life to equipment dependent on water to operate, as rainwater does not produce
corrosion or scale like hard water.
.
It can help achieve LEED Green Building Credit under Water Use Reduction, Water Efficient
Landscaping, and Stormwater Management credits.

We offer various facilities for rain water harvesting systems for agricultural farms. Our range
for rain water harvesting system comprises of rigid PVC pipes and water storage tanks. Our
products ensure effective rain harvesting in agricultural farms and help reducing the depleting
ground water level. Some of the advantages of our rain harvesting comprises of the following:

Raises the ground water level

Helps utilizing the primary source of water
Reduces flooding
Improves vegetation
Reduces soil erosion
Saves energy from lifting ground water

Some of the salient features of our products are as follows:

Rust proof
Leak proof
Less maintenance
Durable