Every Drop Counts

Water Harvesting Structures Urban/rural water harvesting structures: Tankas, Nadis, Talabs, Bavdis, Tanks, Rapats, Kuis, Virdas Rural water harvesting structures: Kunds, khadins

Urban Water Cycle

Nadis, Talabs, Lakes Nadis Talabs, lakes are similar Natural surface depression which receives rain water from different directions They receive their water supply from erratic, torrential rainfall. Can lead to heavy sedimentation and siltation Trees can prevent some of this Dredging out the sediment before monsoon can also help Can lose water by evaporation Talabs, lakes are similar

Jhalara Human-made tanks, found in Rajasthan and Gujarat Essentially meant for community use and for religious rites. Often rectangular in design, jhalaras have steps on three or four sides. The steps are built on a series of levels . The jhalaras collect subterranean seepage of a talab or a lake located upstream .

Tanka Tankas (small tank) are underground tanks, found traditionally in most Bikaner houses. Built in the main house or in the courtyard. Circular holes made in the ground, lined with fine polished lime, in which rainwater was collected. Tankas were often beautifully decorated with tiles, which helped to keep the water cool. The water was used only for drinking.

Kunds Covered underground tank, developed primarily for tackling drinking water problems. Usually constructed with local materials or cement, kunds were more prevalent in regions where groundwater is saline. Before the onset of rains every year, meticulous care was taken to clean up the catchment of the kunds. Cattle grazing and entry with shoes into the catchment area of the kunds was strictly prohibited. The proximity of a kund to the house or village saved time and effort in searching for drinking water.

Johads Johad collects water during monsoons Later used for cultivation Johads became the basis for community participation with general developmental impact – fewer migrations, higher participation by women, micro-credit, etc. Decisions on johads taken in local gram sabhas

Why is Water Harvesting especially important for India? In India, most water reaches the ground through rain. In contrast, in Western countries (mid-latitude regions), 50% of water coming down (precipitation) is in the form of snow Snow melts slowly and percolates into the ground and recharges ground water What about rain water?

Importance of Water Harvesting Traditional water harvesting systems have withstood the test of time The city of Jodhpur, even though several hundred years old and right in the middle of a desert, has never been evacuated for lack of water. The traditional water harvesting systems worked even in droughts when piped water supply failed Om Thanvi, a Rajasthan journalist found over a 45-day survey that In villages where traditional water systems were maintained and used, there was no scarcity of drinking water even during times of drought In villages which relied purely on piped supply, the drying up of the Rajasthan canal meant an acute water crisis

Motivations for water harvesting India too diverse for dams Working examples Modern technology potentially lead to regression Water crucial in India (50% people will suffer from lack of drinking water)

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