1 Methods of Water Conservation by Prof. A. Balasubramanian Dept.

of Studies in Earth Science

University of Mysore Mysore, India 2 Introduction: Water is a very important resource in our life. Water
is becoming scarce due to increase in Population, industries and agricultural activities and due to poor
rainfall. A report of 2009 suggested that by 2030, in some developing regions of the world, water
demand will exceed supply by 50%. Water plays an important role in the world economy, as it functions
as a solvent for a wide variety of chemical substances and facilitates industrial cooling and
transportation. 3 Goals of Water Conservation 1) Sustainability: To ensure availability for future
generations, the withdrawal of fresh water from an ecosystem should not exceed its natural
replacement rate. 2) Energy conservation: Water pumping, delivery, and wastewater treatment facilities
consume a significant amount of energy. In some regions of the world over 15% of total electricity
consumption is devoted to water management. 3) Habitat conservation: Minimizing human water use
helps to preserve fresh water habitats for local wildlife and migrating water flow, as well as reducing the
need to build new dams and other water diversion infrastructure. 4 Water harvesting and conservation
Water conservation refers to reducing the usage of water and recycling of waste water for different
purposes like domestic usage, industries, agriculture etc. Methods of Water Conservation: 1. Protection
of Water from Pollution; 2. Redistribution of Water 3. Rational Use of Groundwater 4. Renovation of
Traditional Water Sources 5. Use of Modern Irrigation Methods 5 6. Increasing Forest Cover 7. Change in
Crop Pattern 8. Flood Management 9. Conserving Water in Industries 10. Conservation of water by
Municipal authorities 11. Use rainwater effectively 12. Make effective use of soil water reserves 13. Take
measures to avoid run off 14. Avoid wasting water through evaporation 15. Reduce water losses through
drainage 16. Plan your irrigation 17. Contour Farming& Contour Ploughing 6 Contour Furrows Bench
Terraces 7 Grass Strips Stone Lines 8 Retention Ditches Planting Pits 9 Earth Basins Semi-Circular Bunds
10 Cover Crops/Green Manures Mulching 11 Drip Irrigation Conservation Tillage 12 Water Harvesting
from External Catchment Roof Top Harvesting 13 Rainwater Harvesting Rainwater Harvesting is an
effective method and a simple method of collecting water for future usage. Rainwater harvesting is the
process of collecting, filtering, storing and using rainwater for irrigation and for various other purposes.
Rainwater is collected when it falls on the earth, stored and utilized for various purposes. It can be
purified to make it into a drinking water facility in some islands and dry land regions. Rainwater
harvesting (RWH) is a simple method by which rainfall is collected for future usage. The collected
rainwater may be stored, utilised in different ways or directly used for recharge purposes. 14 Benefits of
Rainwater Harvesting Rainwater harvesting has many benefits. The major benefit is that it is a
sustainable water management practice. It can be implemented by every citizen at various levels. It is a
socially acceptable practice and promotes environmentally responsible future. The rainwater that falls
on any roof and property is essentially free. All it needs is to adopt a method to harvest it and store it in
a tank or cistern for future use. Rainwater harvesting helps to reduce the peak demand of water
expected during summer period, by saving treated water for more important water uses. 15 While
rainwater can be a perfect primary water source for many uses and situations, it is would be a good
backup water supply for emergency situations. The Environmental Benefits Rainwater harvesting can
reduce storm-water runoff and wastage from any land. The reduction in runoff volume can reduce the
level of contamination of surface water resources with pesticides, solid wastes, municipal effluents,
sediments, metals, and fertilizers. By reducing the storm-water runoff, rainwater harvesting can reduce
the flow volume and velocity in local streams, and rivers. This also help to avoid the potential for erosion
along river beds. 16 Rainwater harvesting systems can be an excellent source of water for growing
plants and carry out landscape irrigation. The Economic Benefits Collecting and using rainwater, in place
of municipal water supply, reduces the water bill to some extent. This also reduces the water service
cost to a municipality, for their people. Rainwater harvesting can reduce water demand from
municipalities. It helps to provide potable water at a lower cost. Designing and installing rainwater
collection systems can provide sustainable jobs for people and help to earn more. 17 The rainwater
harvesting industry can become a leading employer in the green infrastructure movement. Rainwater
stored onsite in a rainwater harvesting system can avoid increasing forest fires. Insurance companies
can offer better discounts for those who implement better water management practices. Miscellaneous
Benefits Rainwater doesn’t have the any chemicals in it. Rainwater can be used for irrigation. It is a
suitable potable water source. Rainwater harvesting can provide an independent water source in areas
where other water sources are not available. 18 In some places where the water quality is poor, we may
use rainwater, safely. Good rainwater provides many advantages. Rainwater harvesting is the key to the
future water conservation gains. Rainwater harvesting is a vital resource for the future of sustainable
water resources. Reduce demand on Ground Water. 19 Rainwater harvesting is part of a sustainable
water supply strategy for local communities. Rainwater for Non-drinking Purposes: Rainwater can be
used for several non-drinking purposes like flushing toilets, washing clothes, watering the garden,
washing cars etc. It is a unhealthy practice to use pure drinking water some other purposes other than
drinking. Disadvantages of Rainwater Harvesting Rainfall is unpredictable. There is an Initial Cost for
establishment. Rainwater harvesting systems require regular maintenance. 20 There are limitations in
storage tank capacities. Techniques of Rainwater Harvesting Rooftop rainwater harvesting (RTRWH) is
the most common technique of rainwater harvesting (RWH) for domestic consumption. In urban and
rural areas, this is most often practiced method at a small-scale. It is a simple, low-cost technique that
requires minimum specific expertise or knowledge. 21 Rainwater is collected from the roof top and
transported with gutters in to a storage reservoir, where it provides water at the point of consumption
or can be used for recharging a well or the aquifer. Collected rainwater can be the best supplement to
other water sources when they become scarce or are of low quality like brackish water, saline
groundwater or polluted surface water, in the rainy season. The technology is flexible and adaptable to a
very wide variety of geographic and geomorphic conditions. It is used in the developed and the
developing societies. 22 Roof Top Rain Water Harvesting Basic design principles Each rainwater
harvesting system consists of at least the following components: A catchment area in the roof surface
to collect rainwater. A delivery channel (gutters) to transport the water from the roof or collection
surface to the storage reservoir. Storage tanks or reservoirs to store the water until it is used. An
extraction device (depending on the location of the tank). 23 (Three basic components of a rainwater
harvesting system. Source: HATUM & WORM (2006)). (Surface tank made out of ferro‐cement for the
storage of collected ra 24 inwater. Source: DOLMAN & LUNDQUIST (2008)) 25 Factors to be considered
Type and size of catchment area Local rainfall data and weather patterns Length of the drought
period Alternative water sources Cost of the rainwater harvesting system. When rainwater
harvesting is mainly considered for irrigation, several factors should be taken into consideration. These
include: Rainfall amounts, intensities, and evapo-transpiration rates. Soil infiltration rate, water holding
capacity, fertility and depth of soil . Crop characteristics such as water requirement and length of
growing period . 26 Hydrogeology of the site . The Basic Calculation Roof top flat area: 4m by 5m = 20
Sq.m total annual total annual rainfall in mm = 500 mm efficiency factor / runoff coefficient = 0.9 Annual
water supply in liters = 20 x 500 x 0.9 = 9000 liters 27 Rainwater Collection Calculation Formulas and
Equations Roof Area (ft2) X Precipitation Amount (in) X 0.623 = Amount Collected (gallons) How to
choose the size of the storage tank: A house with a roof area of 9.00 x 6.50 m is to be furnished with
catchment and storage facilities. The mean annual rainfall is 450 mm. Calculation of rainwater: 9.00 x
6.50 x 450 x 0.9 = 23895 litres 28 Tamil Nadu: Tamil Nadu was the first state to make rainwater
harvesting compulsory for every building to avoid groundwater depletion. The scheme was launched in
2001 and has been implemented in all rural areas of Tamil Nadu. Karnataka -World’s largest rainwater
harvesting project: The World’s largest rainwater harvesting project was carried out in Karnataka.
Rainwater harvesting in rural Karnataka’ funded by Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Department
(RDPR), Government of Karnataka is probably the largest rainwater 29 harvesting project in the world.
All the schools of Karnataka were carefully studied for the water availability, quality (fluoride
contamination) and proximity to the secondary water source. Almost 23,683 schools were identified in
the first phase to provide drinking water through rooftop rainwater harvesting systems. Steps taken by
the Central Government to promote rain water harvesting in the country are as follows: 1. Central
Ground Water Board (CGWB). Govt of India, has prepared a conceptual document titled “Master Plan
for Artificial Recharge to Ground Water – 2013. 30 2. The National Water Policy (2012) formulated by
Ministry of Water Resources, RD & GR, inter-alia, advocates conservation, promotion and protection of
water and highlights the need for augmenting the availability of water through rain water harvesting,
direct use of rainfall and other management measures. 3. CGWA( Water Authority) has issued advisories
to States and UTs to take measures to promote/adopt artificial recharge to ground water/rainwater
harvesting. 30 States/UTs have made rainwater harvesting mandatory by enacting laws or by
formulating rules & regulations or by including provisions in building bye-laws or through suitable
Government Orders. 31 4. CGWB has taken up Aquifer Mapping and Management programme
(NAQUIM) during XII Plan, under the scheme of Ground Water Management and Regulation. 5. Model
Building Bye Laws, 2016 circulated by Ministry of Urban Development include the provision of Rainwater
Harvesting. As per Model Building Bye Laws, water harvesting through storing of water runoff including
rainwater in all new buildings on plots of 100 sq.m and above will be mandatory. 6. The Ministry of Rural
Development in consultation and agreement with the Ministry of Water Resources, RD & GR and the
Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare has developed an actionable framework for Natural
Resources 32 Management (NRM), titled “Mission Water Conservation” to ensure gainful utilization of
funds. Types of common works undertaken under these programmes/schemes are water conservation
and management, water harvesting, soil and moisture conservation, groundwater recharge, flood
protection, land development, Command Area Development & Watershed Management. The
government of India is working on a master plan envisaging construction of about 23 lakh artificial
recharge and rainwater harvesting structure in rural areas and 88 lakh in urban areas, as informed in the
Lok Sabha, already. 33 Conclusion: In many cases, groundwater or surface water may be unavailable for
drinking water. The groundwater level may be too deep, groundwater may be contaminated with
minerals and chemicals such as arsenic or salt, surface water may be contaminated with faeces or
chemicals. In these cases, rainwater harvesting can be an effective and low-cost solution.