RAIN WATER HARVESTING

• This is the act by man to help the rain water to percolate in to the earth and replenish the water table

• Water scarcity in the field of agriculture and water for agricultural purposes can be solved by these method.

• In India rain water harvesting started in olden times itself

rain water to percolate in to the earthrain water to percolate in to the earth

• This method came due to the vagaries of monsoon• People inhabited in the Thar desert

in 4500 BC before Indus valley civilization• During the Harappa civilization first

wells were dug• In mauryan age rain water

harvesting was done in large scale

• One of the first rock-cut tank can be seen near the statue of Buddha in Sanchi

• It was during the time of Chandragupta Mauryan the reservoir built first time

• During the time of Asoka also rain water harvesting done in large scale

• During the time of king of kalinga , Kharavel canal began to built for irrigation

• During the middle age projects were carried out for the distribution of water in the cities• The possibility of rain water harvesting

is a major siting factor for the development of Jodhpur ,this city built with vast rain water harvesting fecilities• Delhi was shifted from slopes of aravally

range to the banks of yamuna due to the availability of water there

Need for rain water harvesting

• To prevent depletion of underground water and replenish the water table• To reduce the rate of surface run off• To prevent soil erosion• To increase the awareness of

conserving water

Importance of rain water harvesting

• Man has used up 50% of the water on the planet• More than 100 crore people do not

have drinking water• More than 300 crore people do not

have water for their basic needs• Increase in population decreases per

capita availability of water

More than 100 crore people do not have More than 100 crore people do not have drinking waterdrinking water

Ways of rainwater harvesting

• Surface run off harvesting• Roof top rainwater harvesting