WATER HARVESTING CONTEXT IN THE INDIAN SUBCONTINENT

Anupma SharmaNational Institute of HydrologyNational Institute of HydrologyRoorkee, India

The Indian Subcontinent

INDIAINDIA

SRILANKASRILANKA

BANGLADESHBANGLADESH

NEPALNEPALNEPALNEPAL

INDIA – Water Resources & Population• ~ 1/6th of world’s population

• 1/50th of world’s land

• 1/25th of world’s water resources

• average annual pptn ~ 4000 km3 Major river basinsaverage annual pptn 4000 km

• basinwide average annual flow in rivers ~ 1953 km3

Major river basins

• utilizable annual surface water ~ 690 km3

• replenishable groundwater resources ~ 432 km3

India

Water Availability• large spatial & temporal variations in India

• basin wise per capita water availability varies• basin wise per-capita water availability varies from 13,393 m3/year to 300 m3/year

il bili• availability

< 1700m3 /capita/year - water stressed

< 1000m3 /capita/year - water scarce

il bl t / it / d d f• available water/capita/year decreased from 6008 m3 in 1947 to 2384 m3 in 2000

~ 75–80% of annual ppt during four monsoon months

Out of 8760 hrs in a year, max ppt received ~ 100 hhrs

several parts under

• water stressed• water stressed

• water scarcity &

• absolute water scarcity category

India

Water Availability

70% of sw and large proportion of gw70% of sw and large proportion of gw reserves contaminated by biological, toxic organic & inorganic pollutantstoxic organic & inorganic pollutants

Degradation of quality in turn leads to water scarcity as it limits water availability for human use

Freshwater Crisis gradually unfolding in India

root causes:

Rampant pollution of fw resources

I d t tt ti t t tiInadequate attention to water conservation,inefficiency in water use, water re-use, gw

h & t t i bilitrecharge & ecosystem sustainability

Very low water prices (which do notVery low water prices (which do notdiscourage wastage)

Freshwater Crisis

root causes (contd.):( )

Uncontrolled use of bore-wells allowingUncontrolled use of bore-wells allowingextraction of gw at very high rates

Communities are not partners inmanaging water resources

Pressure on gw resourceSource of groundwater Year YearSource of groundwater Year

1951 Year 1990

Dug wells 3860000 9490000 Shallow tubewells 3000 4750000Shallow tubewells 3000 4750000Public tubewells 2400 63000 Electric pumps 21000 8220000 Diesel pumps 65700 4360000

Growing demands triggered by expandingl ipopulation.

Increased human pressure on a finite GWIncreased human pressure on a finite GWresource combined with widespreadmismanagement has resulted in seriousmismanagement has resulted in seriousdeterioration of GW quality and quantity.

Impact of Development of GW Resources

Large scale adoption of electric & dieselpumps formed the backbone of greenrevolution. Without water, improved cropvarieties, fertilizers and pesticides would neverhave yielded either crop nor farmer response.Negative environmental impacts are stronglyfelt today.yThe hidden loss during the process ofunprecedented agricultural development wasunprecedented agricultural development wasthe traditional legacy of water harvesting.

Freshwater management in India

• Water Conservation

W t h d t• Watershed management

• Water quality conservationWater quality conservation

• Inter basin water transfer

• Gw management

R l d f t• Recycle and reuse of water

• Public involvement and capacity buildingub c o e e t a d capac ty bu d g

Water Harvesting

R i t d f 1 2% f I di ’ l dRain captured from 1-2% of India’s land canprovide a population of 950 million 100 litresper person and dayper person and day.

The severe drought of 2000 in RajasthanThe severe drought of 2000 in Rajasthan,Gujarat & western MP manifested, besides theextensive human suffering also theextensive human suffering, also theopportunities at hand to use water harvestingfor drought mitigation.for drought mitigation.

Sarpanch of Raj-Samadhiyala villages in Rajkotdistrict encouraged villagers to build 12 checkdistrict encouraged villagers to build 12 checkdams & undertake watershed development.Despite receiving rainfall < 2/3rd of normal,Despite receiving rainfall 2/3 of normal,farmers could sow cotton, wheat, groundnuts &vegetables.vegetables.

To raise funding several rules, including fines,d l d i th illwere developed in the village.

People’s participationPeople’s participation

Local communities play central role inplanning implementation & funding ofplanning, implementation & funding ofactivities for development programs.

People use their traditional knowledge,available resources, imagination &creativity to develop watershed, harvestwater and implement community-centeredprograms.

IndiaCurrently,Currently, manymany programs/programs/ campaigns/campaigns/projectsprojects areare underwayunderway toto spreadspread massmassawarenessawareness && mobilizemobilize generalgeneral populationpopulation ininmanagingmanaging waterwater resourcesresources..

underlying watchword/ mottounderlying watchword/ motto

“ h“ h ff ii iblibl ff hh“each“each oneone ofof usus isis responsibleresponsible forfor thethecurrentcurrent statestate ofof waterwater resourcesresources andand

ii ii hh ddenvironmentenvironment inin thethe country,country, andand wewe cannotcannotwaitwait forfor someonesomeone elseelse toto solvesolve itit..””

India

HariyaliHariyali (greenery)(greenery) byby IndianIndian CentralCentral GovGov..JanJan 20032003

"the country is facing a severe water problemnot because it does not have adequate sourcesnot because it does not have adequate sourcesof water or because it receives less rainfall butbecause of the lack of proper water harvestingbecause of the lack of proper water harvesting.Lord Indra has been very kind to us. Theproblem lies in our inability to conserve all theproblem lies in our inability to conserve all therainwater”.

-- Prime Minister, IndiaPrime Minister, India

Indiatoto enableenable ruralrural populationpopulation toto conserveconserve waterwaterforfor drinking,drinking, irrigation,irrigation, fisheries,fisheries, afforestationafforestation&& generategenerate employmentemployment opportunitiesopportunities..

projectproject executedexecuted byby GramGram PanchayatsPanchayatsprojectproject executedexecuted byby GramGram PanchayatsPanchayats(village(village governinggoverning bodies)bodies) withwith people’speople’sparticipationparticipation;; technicaltechnical supportsupport byby blockblockparticipationparticipation;; technicaltechnical supportsupport byby blockblock(sub(sub--district)district) administrationadministration..

”Khet”Khet kaka paanipaani KhetKhet mein,mein, GaonGaon kaka paanipaanigaongaon mein,mein, KhetKhet kiki mittimitti KhetKhet mein,mein, GaonGaongg ,, ,,kimittikimitti gaongaon mein”mein”..

IndiaNN M (W t & Y )M (W t & Y ) M 2000M 2000NeeruNeeru--Meeru (Water & You) Meeru (Water & You) –– May 2000 May 2000 Govt. of APGovt. of AP

InIn 33 yrs,yrs, additionaladditional storagestorage spacespace >> 18001800 MmMm33createdcreated byby constructingconstructing variousvarious waterwateryy ggharvestingharvesting structuresstructures throughthrough people’speople’sparticipationparticipation..p pp p

WaterWater literacyliteracy drivedrive ‘Jalachaitanyam’‘Jalachaitanyam’ (water(waterawareness)awareness) toto createcreate largelarge scalescale awarenessawarenessawareness)awareness) toto createcreate largelarge--scalescale awarenessawarenessaboutabout conservationconservation measuresmeasures && sustainablesustainablemanagementmanagement ofof waterwater resourcesresourcesmanagementmanagement ofof waterwater resourcesresources..

Simplest Rain Water Harvesting

Newly t t dconstructed

anicut in Sikar Di t i tDistrict

RWH Structure atRWH Structure at GW Dept., Jaipur

Run off area = 1050 m2

3Annual recharge = 457m3

Water harvesting structure - Johad

structure bound onthree sides by naturalthree sides by naturalslopes of the hill;f th id d llfourth side, a mud wall– usually semi-circularin form – holds backthe monsoon run-off.the monsoon run off.

Role of women is important

Women have taken outstandingWomen have taken outstandingWomen have taken outstanding Women have taken outstanding initiative in water harvesting workinitiative in water harvesting work

Community ‘s l ti l trole essential to

revive traditional hrecharge

structures

Neglected oldNeglected old AR structure in Dadiya VillageDadiya Village, Sikar District

Vigilant farmers

Field conditions

India

Still a long way to go…Still a long way to go…Still a long way to go…Still a long way to go…

TT tt dd i ti tToTo preservepreserve ourour waterwater andand environment,environment,wewe needneed toto makemake systematicsystematic changeschanges ininthth f df d f tf tthethe wayway wewe growgrow ourour food,food, manufacturemanufacturethethe goods,goods, andand disposedispose offoff thethe wastewaste

(Lazaroff, 2000)(Lazaroff, 2000)

SRI LANKA

~~ 45004500 kmkm ofof rivers,rivers, 24002400 kmkm ofof irrigationirrigationcanalscanals andand 35003500 deepdeep--waterwater tanks,tanks,canalscanals andand 35003500 deepdeep waterwater tanks,tanks,reservoirs,reservoirs, && artificial/artificial/ naturalnatural wetlandswetlands..

ll i f lli f ll 12001200 hi hhi hmeanmean annualannual rainfallrainfall 12001200 mmmm;; highhighvariabilityvariability && nonnon--uniformuniform distributiondistribution;;

i dii di h th t ff tt ff b thb thperiodicperiodic shortagesshortages ofof waterwater forfor bothbothirrigationirrigation && domesticdomestic useuse..

countriescountries withdrawingwithdrawing availableavailable waterwaterresourcesresources atat aa raterate >> 4040%% willwill experienceexperienceresourcesresources atat aa raterate 4040%% willwill experienceexperiencehighhigh waterwater stressstress conditionsconditions..

Sri Lanka

Pattern of life depends on rainwater availability.

W t t i d SW t iWet zone - mountains and SW parts - receivesample rainfall (an annual average of 250centimeters)centimeters).

Dry zone - SE, east, and northern parts -receives 1200 1900 mm of rain annuallyreceives 1200 - 1900 mm of rain annually.Much of rain falls from Oct. – Jan.; during restof the year there is very little ppt., and watery y pp ,needs to be conserved. The arid NW & SEcoasts receive the least amount of rain — 600to 1200 mm per year concentrated withinto 1200 mm per year — concentrated withinshort period of winter monsoon.

Sri Lanka

dry zone of Sri Lanka

• covers 2/3rds of country, rural populationlargely depends on irrigation reservoirs forg y p gdaily needs - reservoir waters contaminated inextremely dry conditions.y y

• Rural peasantry also use gw from dug wells.

• only 60% rural population has access to safedrinking water. Rainwater harvesting a viableg goption for these communities.

Sri LankaTraditionally,Traditionally, rainwaterrainwater isis collectedcollected fromfrom trees,trees,usingusing bananabanana leavesleaves oror stemsstems asas temporarytemporaryguttersgutters;; upup toto 200200 litreslitres maymay bebe collectedcollected fromfrom aalargelarge treetree inin aa singlesingle stormstorm.. ManyMany individuals/individuals/groupsgroups havehave developeddeveloped widewide varietyvariety ofof RWHRWHsystemssystems..

roof-water harvesting gmost effective in terms of quantity & adequacyq y q y

Sri Lanka

A 7500 litre domestic A 7500 litre domestic

Drawing clean water; the Drawing clean water; the water is collected and water is collected and filtered rainwater from thefiltered rainwater from the rainwater harvesting rainwater harvesting

tanktank

filtered rainwater from the filtered rainwater from the roof of their own homeroof of their own home

Sri Lanka

Significant impact of RWH in rural areasSignificant impact of RWH in rural areas

•• assured supply of domestic water to homesassured supply of domestic water to homes•• assured supply of domestic water to homes assured supply of domestic water to homes

•• No waterNo water--borne diseases reported; quality of borne diseases reported; quality of p ; q yp ; q yrainwater indicates that it is fit to drink after rainwater indicates that it is fit to drink after boilingboilinggg

•• impact on social life; life style changed impact on social life; life style changed dramaticallydramaticallydramaticallydramatically

•• Better school attendanceBetter school attendance

Sri Lanka

Non-structural elements of the work,Non structural elements of the work,especially its financial and organizationalsustainability, present a biggery p ggchallenge.

A lot of effort and patience are needed togenerate the interest, develop the skills

d i th tand organize the managementstructures needed to implementsustainable community-based projectssustainable community-based projects.

BANGLADESHBANGLADESHWater-related problems:

flooding droughts arsenic contaminationflooding, droughts, arsenic contaminationof gw

water supply primarily based on gw

An estimated 29 million people exposedAn estimated 29 million people exposedto arsenic contamination; poses seriousthreat to healththreat to health

Rainwater harvesting offers a possibleg psource of drinking water.

Bangladesh

Amount of rainfall varies both spatially &temporally; mainly during April to Sept.p y; y g p p

Max. ave. annual rainfall occurs in NEdistricts; Min in western/SW districtsdistricts; Min. in western/SW districts

GW contamination by arsenic is moreysevere in the western/SW districts,where rainwater harvesting would begmore appropriate to solve the polluteddrinking water problems.g p

Bangladesh

RWH plants set up in different parts of Sylhetdistrict have ensured arsenic free water for alarge number of people, particularly in ruralareas.

"We are greatly benefited by RWH plants.We have no fear of being attacked withWe have no fear of being attacked witharsenic contamination“ - Jhunu Rani Das,village Mitrimahal Sylhetvillage Mitrimahal, Sylhet.

The water is used for various purposesp pincluding drinking.

M tM t b ildib ildi tt d i dd i d ff RWHRWHBangladesh

MostMost buildingsbuildings areare notnot designeddesigned forfor RWHRWH..StructuralStructural modificationmodification ofof buildingsbuildings willwill bebe

tt kk thth it blit bl ff RWHRWHnecessarynecessary toto makemake themthem suitablesuitable forfor RWHRWH..

MillionsMillions ofof slumslum dwellersdwellers inin diredire needneed ofof cleancleanMillionsMillions ofof slumslum dwellersdwellers inin diredire needneed ofof cleancleandrinkingdrinking water,water, willwill havehave difficultydifficulty toto adoptadopt totosuchsuch techniquestechniques..suchsuch techniquestechniques..

InIn villagesvillages tintin--roofedroofed houseshouses cancan bebe modifiedmodified totott i ti t bb ddiddi tttt ttcapturecapture rainwaterrainwater byby addingadding aa guttergutter systemsystem..

However,However, manymany villagersvillagers livingliving inin houseshouses mademadett ff tt dd tt hh thth ddoutout ofof strawsstraws dodo notnot havehave thethe meansmeans andand

resourcesresources toto adoptadopt RWHRWH techniquestechniques..

NEPAL

Nepal is a landlocked country with highestpeak in the world.peak in the world.

Three distinct altitudinal zones:

• Terai 300 - 1000 m

Mid hill 1000 4000• Mid hills 1000 - 4000m

• Mountainous areas > 4000 mMountainous areas 4000 m

Communities in hills & mountains – sufferf lt ti l f i dfrom alternative cycles of excess rain andwater scarcity.

Nepal

OnlyOnly 6767%% ofof populationpopulation havehave accessaccess toto safe,safe,cleanclean drinkingdrinking waterwater;; aroundaround 2828 000000 childrenchildren diediecleanclean drinkingdrinking waterwater;; aroundaround 2828,,000000 childrenchildren diedieeveryevery yearyear duedue toto waterwater relatedrelated diseasesdiseases..

GravityGravity flowflow schemesschemes operateoperate inin hillhill areasareas andandhandhand pumpspumps areare usedused inin TeraiTerai regionregion..

SupportSupport forfor geographicalgeographical locationslocations wherewhereaccessaccess ofof gwgw isis difficultdifficult andand poorpoor communitiescommunitiesaccessaccess ofof gwgw isis difficult,difficult, andand poorpoor communitiescommunities..

AlternativeAlternative technologiestechnologies:: RWHRWH && fogfog waterwatercollectioncollection..

Nepal

Meeting of user Meeting of user groupsgroupsgroupsgroups

Rain Water Harvesting

For community settlements on hills, RWH is aviable technological option; useful in ruralviable technological option; useful in ruralsettlements where pressure head is notsufficient to supply water from conventionalsufficient to supply water from conventionalsources such as springs & streams.

RWH t d i h h ldRWH systems used in households,institutional buildings & urban areas.

Nepal

ferroferro--cement tank to store watercement tank to store water

F W t C ll ti N l W t f FNepal

Fog Water Collection - Nepal Water from FogProject (NWFP) began in 1997

Goal of NWFP to improve access to potablewater for remote villages. Two maingcomponents of project:

to assess potential for FWC technolog into assess potential for FWC technology inNepali environmental context. Shown that fogcollection is a viable technology in Nepalcollection is a viable technology in Nepal.

to implement full scale, community basedp , yfog collection projects where they are feasible.

FWCFWC consistsconsists ofof erectingerecting aa plasticplastic wovenwovenNepalFWCFWC -- consistsconsists ofof erectingerecting aa plasticplastic wovenwovenmeshmesh verticallyvertically inin thethe pathpath ofof movingmoving fogfog.. InInNepalNepal thethe bestbest conditionsconditions forfor thisthis occuroccur onon hillhillNepalNepal thethe bestbest conditionsconditions forfor thisthis occuroccur onon hillhilloror ridgeridge topstops 20002000 mm –– 35003500 mm aslasl..

TinyTiny fogfog waterwater dropletsdroplets coalescecoalesce onon thethe meshmeshandand dripdrip downdown intointo aa collectioncollection systemsystem..

FirstFirst stepstep atat aa potentialpotential sitesite isis toto erecterect 11mm ××11mm standardstandard fogfog collectorscollectors TheseThese areare11mm standardstandard fogfog collectorscollectors.. TheseThese areareobservedobserved dailydaily andand thethe datadata isis usedused totodeterminedetermine ifif aa fullfull scalescale projectproject isis feasiblefeasibledeterminedetermine ifif aa fullfull--scalescale projectproject isis feasiblefeasible..

NepalFog Water Collection

So far, three projects implemented inKalpokhari, Megma & Dandabazar ineastern region of Nepal.

Stone spoutsNepal

Stone spoutsserve local community asperennial source of water for dailyperennial source of water for dailyuse. Stone spouts are beautifullycarved stone elements in thecarved stone elements, in theshape of a crocodile head orserpent head installed in the frontserpent head, installed in the frontor side walls of sunken andstepped platforms for the purposestepped platforms for the purposeof channelling water for humanuseuse.

Nepal

Most stone spouts receive water from either anindividual spring or nearby aquifer. Despite theirage, the underground supply and drainagelines of many old systems are still functioning,nobly characterizing the technical andengineering skills of the ancient people ofN lNepal.

Water Harvesting

• Cost, climate, technology, hydrology, social &political elements all play a role in thepolitical elements all play a role in theeventual choice of water supply schemewhich is adopted for a given situation.which is adopted for a given situation.

• Proper understanding of underlying socialf t k diff b tfactors can make a difference betweensuccess or failure in introduction/i l t ti f t h ti timplementation of water harvesting systems.

• Need for research on technical solutions,t ki i t t t h t i ttaking into account catchment requirements& dynamics, and design of system.

• With increased adoption of technologies it isimportant to have good pro-active knowledgeimportant to have good pro active knowledgeon consequences of upscaling at catchmentand river basin scale.a d e bas sca e

•• LittleLittle isis knownknown aboutabout sociosocio--economic,economic,i t li t l && h d l i lh d l i l i ti t ffenvironmentalenvironmental && hydrologicalhydrological impactimpact ofof

upscalingupscaling smallsmall--scalescale WHWH technologiestechnologies..N dN d tt ti i tti i t i ti t b tb tNeedNeed toto anticipateanticipate impactsimpacts betweenbetweenupstream/upstream/ downstreamdownstream waterwater usesuses && usersusers..

“Yaapo divyaa utavaa sravanti khanitrimaautavaa yaa swayarn jaa / samudraartha yaautavaa yaa swayarn jaa / samudraartha yaasoochayapaavakaasta aap devi ihamamavantu //”mamavantu //

- (Rig-Veda, VII 49.2)

“The waters which are from heaven andwhich flow after being dugwhich flow after being dug,

and even those that spring by themselves,

the bright pure waters which lead to thesea may those divine waters protect mesea, may those divine waters protect mehere”

Thank YouThank YouThank YouThank You