CATCH THE WATER - WHERE IT DROPS

RAIN WATER HARVESTING

AND
ARTIFICIAL RECHARGE
TO
GROUND WATER

A GUIDE TO FOLLOW

CENTRAL GROUND WATER BOARD INTERNATIONAL HYDROLOGICAL

MINISTRY OF WATER RESOURCES PROGRAMME (IHP)
UNITED NATIONS EDUCATIONAL,
SCIENTIFIC AND CULTURAL
ORGANIZATION

SEPTEMBER, 2000
 MESSAGE
Prof. Moegiadi
Director UNESCO New Delhi Office and
UNESCO Representative to Bhutan, India, Maldives, and Sri Lanka

Although the total amount of water on Earth is generally assumed to have remained virtually
constant, the rapid growth in population, together with the extension of irrigated agriculture and
industrial development, are putting stress on the quality and quantity aspects of natural system. In
the face of growing problems, society has begun to realize that it can no longer subscribe to a ‘use
and discard’ philosophy – either with water resources or any other natural resources.

Thus, as a contribution to solving world’s water problems, UNESCO began in 1965 the first
worldwide programme of studies of the hydrological cycle, the International Hydrological Decade
(IHD). The research programme was complemented by a major effort in the field of hydrological
education and training. Conscious of the need to expand upon the efforts initiated during the
International Hydrological Decade and further to the recommendations of Member States,
UNESCO launched a long-term intergovernmental programme in 1975, the International
Hydrological programme. Although IHP is basically a scientific and educational programme,
UNESCO has been aware from outset of the need to direct its activities towards finding practical
solutions to the world’s very real water resources problems.

Under IHP Programmes of UNESCO New Delhi Office we are happy to collaborate with the
Central Ground Water Board (CGWB), Ministry of Water Resources in educating the NGOs and
other interested organizations in the country as well in the region through this guide on rainwater
harvesting and artificial recharge.

As you read this guide, seriously consider conserving the water by water harvesting and manage
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.

In bringing out this guide, Dr. D.K. Chaddha, Chairman, Central Ground Water Board has played
a key role and he deserves all appreciation. I would like to acknowledge UNESCO New Delhi
Office staff Dr. R. Jayakumar for his help in compiling and editing this guide in the final form.
RAIN WATER HARVESTING AND
ARTIFICIAL RECHARGE TO GROUND
WATER

WHAT IS RAIN WATER HARVESTING

The principle of collecting and using precipitation from a catchment

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
impounded rain water and used it for irrigation dames, build of stone
rubble, were found in Baluchistan and Kutch in Gujarat in India.

ARTIFICIAL 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 of 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:-

1. Surface water is inadequate to meet our demand and we have to

depend on ground water.
2. Due to rapid urbanization, infiltration of rain water into the sub-soil
has decreased drastically and recharging of ground water has
diminished.

3. Over - exploitation of ground water resource has resulted in

decline in water levels in most part of the country.

4. To enhance availability of ground water at specific place and time.

5. To arrest sea water ingress.

6. To improve the water quality in aquifers.

7. To improve the vegetation cover.

8. To raise the water levels in wells & bore wells that are drying up.

9. To reduce power consumption.

RAIN WATER HARVESTING TECHNIQUES

There are two main techniques of rain water harvesting.

a) Storage of rain water on surface for future use.

b) Recharge to ground water.

The storage of rain water on surface is a traditional technique 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:-

1. Pits:- Recharge pits are constructed for recharging the shallow

aquifers. These are constructed 1 to 2 m. wide and 2 to 3 m.
deep which are back filled with boulders, gravels & coarse sand.
2. Trenches:- These are constructed when the permeable strata is
available at shallow depths. Trench may be 0.5 to 1 m. wide, 1 to
1.5 m. deep and 10 to 20 m. long depending upon availability of
water. These are back filled with filter materials.

3. Dug wells:- Existing dug wells may be utilised as recharge

structure and water should pass through filter media before
putting into dug well.
4. 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.

5. 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.

6. Recharge Shafts:- For recharging the shallow aquifers 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.

7. 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.

8. 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.
BENEFITS

1. An ideal solution to water problems in areas having inadequate

water resources.

2. The ground water level will rise.

3. Mitigates the effects of drought & achieves drought proofing.

4. Reduces the runoff which chokes the storm water drains.

5. Flooding of roads is reduced.

6. Quality of water improves.

7. Soil erosion will be reduced.

8. Saving of energy per well for lifting of ground water – a one meter
rise in water level saves about 0.40 KWH of electricity.

COST

The cost of each recharge structure varies from place to place. The
approximate cost of the following structures are as under:-

S.No. Recharge Structure Approximate cost

(Indian Rupees)
1. Recharge pit 2500 – 5000
2. Recharge Trench 5000 – 10000
3. Recharge through hand pump 1500 – 2500
4. Recharge through dug well 5000 – 8000
5. Recharge well 50000 – 80000
6. Recharge shaft 60000 – 85000
7. Lateral Shaft with Bore well Shaft per m. 2000 – 3000
Bore well 25000 - 35000
EXPERIENCES

IDEAL CONDITIONS FOR RAIN WATER HARVESTING AND

ARTIFICIAL RECHARGE TO GROUND WATER

Artificial recharge techniques are adopted where:-

1. Adequate space for surface storage is not available especially in

urban areas.

2. Water level is deep enough (> 8 m.) and adequate subsurface

storage is available.

3. Permeable strata is available at shallow / moderate depth.

4. Where adequate quantity of surface water is available for recharge

to ground water.

5. Ground water quality is bad and our aim is to improve it.

6. Where there is possibility of intrusion of saline water especially in

coastal areas.

7. Where the evaporation rate is very high from surface water

bodies.

In other areas, rain water harvesting techniques may be adopted.

Check Dams

This is a spreading technique of rain water harvesting implemented in

JNU & IIT area of Delhi. The recharge through 4 check dams has
been 76000 cum with a rise in water level from 1 to 13.7 m.
Percolation Tanks

It is also a spreading technique of rain water harvesting, and is

implemented in Maharashtra.

- In Jalgaon district, the recharge through 6 percolation tanks is

about 681 Thousand Cubic Meter (TCM) with a rise in water level
from 1 - 5 m. The benefited area is 545 hectare.

- In Amravati district, the recharge through 3 percolation tanks has

been about 298 TCM with a rise in water level from 4-10 m. it has
benefited an area of about 280 hectare.
Cement Plugs

Artificial recharge through 10 cement plugs in Amravati district,

Maharashtra has been about 47 TCM with a rise in water level from
0.5 to 4 m. and benefited area of 86 – 105 hectare.
Sub Surface Dykes

Sub surface dykes are suitable for valley and streams where:-

1. Base flow is available for longer duration in the stream.

2. Impervious layer exists at shallow depth.

- In order to harness the ground water that was flowing from a

small nala, a sub surface dyke of 160 m. length and 5 m. deep has
been constructed by using plasterd brick and tar felt sheets in the
State Seed farm Ananganadi. This has shown a considerable
increase in availability of ground water in upstream side.

- Another sub surface dyke of 80 m. length and 8 m. deep has been

constructed in Kerala Agriculture University by using plastered
bricks and LDP sheets. There has been a considerable rise of water
level in upstream side.
Injection well

This technique has been tested at various places such as:-

- Recharge through injection well in Jalgaon district of Maharashtra

has been about 3.8 TCM with a benefited area of 0.75 hectare.

- Recharge through 2 injection wells in IIT Delhi has been 830 cum
with a rise in water level from 0.29 to 0.87 m and benefited area
of 1 hectare.

- At CSIO, Chandigarh, the recharge through injection well has been

3794 cum with 2 m. rise in water level.
Recharge Shafts

The recharge through 2 shafts in Jalgaon district has been 12 TCM

with a benefited area of 4.7 hectare.
Dug Wells

This technique has been employed in Maharashtra and Delhi.

- The additional recharge to ground water in Jalgaon district of

Maharashtra has been 6.6 TCM with a benefited area of 1.3
hectare.
- In President’s Estate, Delhi, the rise in water level upto 2.58 m.
has been noticed through this technique.
Lateral Shaft with bore wells

This technique has been employed in Shram Shakti Bhawan, Delhi. Ae

rise in water level from 1.43 to 2.15 m. has been recorded.
Some more designs of Artificial Recharge Structures

Artificial Recharge-Shaft cum Injection Well

Gabion Structure
Recharge Through Trench

Recharge Pit
Shaft with Borewell
Nala Bund
Brahm Sarovar, Kurukshetra
Recharge Pit
For further technical information and inputs please contact:

Dr. D. K. Chadha
Chairman
Central Ground Water Board
Jamnagar House, Mansingh Road
New Delhi-110011
Tel: 011- 3383561
Fax: 011- 3386743
Email: niccgwb@sansad.nic.in

or

Dr. R. JayaKumar
United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural
Organization (UNESCO)
Unesco House
8, Poorvi Marg
Vasant Vihar
New Delhi-110057
Tel: 011- 6140038/39,7310, 6146308
Fax: 011 - 6143351, 6142714
Email: r.jaykumar@unesco.org