RAINWATER HARVESTING: A CONSERVATION SYSTEM

(The writer is from the Faculty of Geography, Biswanath College, Chariali and can be reached at Email ID: borah.gunin@gmail.com)

'Water, water, every where/Not any drop to drink.' These familar lines from the poem by Samuel Tayler seem to be ringing too close to home, as water becomes an increasingly scarce resource with every passing day.

With the rapid climatic changes, increase in global temperature and population expansion, potable water is scarce in many countries across the world. The receding groundwater table is a serious concern around the world. Nearly 65 per cent of India's reservoirs were running dry.

The freshwater that is available on the surface is relatively scarce. Streams, rivers and lakes are the most visible part of the water cycle which supply freshwater, which is vital for life, supporting ecosystems and human civilizations.

Nearly 70 per cent of the world is covered by water, 97.5 per cent of the water is salty water and only 2.5 per cent is freshwater. The rest is saline and ocean-based. Off the 2.5 per cent fresh water, just 1.00 per cent is easily accessible, as much of it is trapped in the glaciers and snowfields.

Water scarcity arises with low availability of freshwater which is further escalated by existing water resources being polluted by human activities. The solution to this problem is rainwater harvesting.

Rainwater harvesting is the best sustainable solution as it does not have any energy requirement for functioning, it does not deplete any natural resources, on the contrary, it conserves and protects the natural habitat with surplus availability of water for usage.

Our freshwater resources are depleting each year. Additionally, we can't generate artificial water and must depend on water sources available on our planet earth. Due to population explosion and excessive need for water to suit our ever-expanding modern lifestyle, water scarcity is felt all over the world. This has given rise to major concern over water conservation.

In this context, adopting rainwater harvesting and recharging groundwater is one of the simplest and best measures in conserving water globally. This practice can be efficiently implemented instead of traditional water supplies that are currently on the verge of tapping out.

Rainwater harvesting refers to the process of collecting and storing rainwater. Rainwater harvesting helps in providing drinking water, water for irrigation, agriculture purposes or groundwater recharge. It is one of the best solutions to water problems in areas having inadequate water resources. Rainwater systems are simple to construct. Usually, the methods used are; Catchments areas, i.e., the areas which receive rainfall directly. In this, paved areas like the roof of a building, and unpaved areas such as open ground or lawns can be used for catchment areas. Ground catchment techniques have more chances of collecting water from the large surface areas. The stored system is designed according to the amount of water that is needed to be stored. The stored system must be sealed and does not leak. Chlorine must be put in from time to time to keep the water clean.

Conveyance systems, transfer the rainwater collected on the rooftop to the storage tanks and that is done by making connections to one or more downpipes connected to the rooftop gutters or pipes. The gutters must be made as such that if it rains, the dirt will be washed into the downpipe and clean water comes out.

With depleting groundwater levels and fluctuating climate conditions, this measure can go a long way to help mitigate the adverse effects of water scarcity. Reserving rainwater can help recharge local aquifers, reduce urban flooding and most notably, ensure water availability in water-scarce zones.

Generally, a lot of rainwater would go into the drain flowing from the roofs of houses and the street. Rainwater harvesting requires conserving the water and recharging the underground water, which helps when there is water scarcity. When there is too much rain we can collect all the water from the roof and via a piping system, it can be transferred to underground water after filtering so that it can be reused for household purposes.

Also, we can send the rainwater flowing on the streets to underground water after a proper filter system, so that it could be used in the dry season. In a few places, the underground water level goes down so much that wells and tube wells are dry in these places. There should be a provision for sending rain to go underground to increase the underground water level so that it brings the water level of wells and tube wells back to normal.

There are many advantages to implementing rainwater harvesting. Rainwater harvesting systems are cost-effective, provide a high quality of water, lessens dependence on wells and are easy to maintain, since they are not utilized for drinking, cooking, or other sensitive uses. The all-around expenditures used in setting up harvesting methods are much cheaper compared to other purifying or pumping means.

Storing water underground is environmentally friendly. The ecological benefits of rainwater harvesting are immense. It minimizes the impact of flooding by funnelling the water into large tanks for recycling and helps reduce the load placed upon drainage systems. Groundwater is not directly exposed to evaporation and pollution. It helps minimize the possibility of rivers drying up.

The harvesting of rainwater allows the collection of large amounts of water and mitigates the effect of drought. Rainwater is mostly free from harmful chemicals, which makes it suitable for irrigation purposes. Another vital benefit is that it increases the productivity of aquifers resulting in the rise of groundwater levels and reducing the need for potable water. It is extremely essential, particularly in areas with low water levels.

Rainwater harvesting has been adopted by many countries as viable means to save water. With the increasing population and dependence on water, it becomes pertinent for households to start investing in a rainwater harvesting system. The governments both centre and state must take positive steps towards making it mandatory for buildings and complexes to install rainwater harvesting systems.

The use of rainwater harvesting systems provides excellent merit for every community in both rural and urban areas. This simple water conservation method can be a boost to an incredible solution in areas where there is enough rainfall but not enough supply of groundwater. To save the country from the water crisis, social consciousness has to be practised at all levels. People have to come forward and realize their responsibility toward the water and make sure for effective management.