Rain Water Harvesting In India

Population in India is growing in an exponential manner. It is a well known fact that this growing population is a brusque to the limited water sources available in our country. Hence there is a need to develop cogent water supplies to balance the growing demand in the urban areas. One of the answers to the above problem is Rain Water Harvesting (RWH) which has been recognised as another source of water. But there is some apprehension due to large initial capital investments involved. The paper is an effort to answer the questions about environmental integration in conserving the rain water and showing its economical viability through Rain Water Harvesting (RWH) system through case study of Defence Colony and New friends Club which receives

In spite of its severalcontrived efforts, there is still considerable amount oflags in its water and waste management infrastructure. Year after year, there are cagey attempts to provide sufficient amount of water for residents of Delhi. The DJB’sconk-out efforts in giving access to adequate andsafe water has resulted inplethoric-exploitation of groundwater reserves and increasing dependence on distant sources. Due to these alarming circumstances many scientist and expertshave shown their concern towards alternative water supply systems. The concept of Rain Water Harvesting (RWH) has brought a feeling of sang-froid in these situations and has emerged as the need of the hour. RWH is the process of collection of rain water and its storage for later use. In recent times, there has been apprehension towards adoption of water harvesting methods due to lack of knowledge and high initial investments involved. The objective of this case study is to analyse the viability of a retrofit water harvesting system by weighing the various costs involved against its

Domestic RWH i.e. DRHW, where water collected on rooftops, street and courtyard runoffs. [7]

Accordingly two structures of RWH have been adopted for rainwater storage. An underground pear-shape storage a square-shape reinforced Cistern is used. In locations like where land is, extremely steep land or sandy soil a square-shape rein-forced Cistern is used. This structure requires steel and concrete and can be built underground, above ground, or semi-underground. [8]

2.1 Neighbourhood of Case Study–

The two case study area selected ,are situated inNational Capital Territory of Delhi in India, whichhas a typical version of the humid subtropical climate [5] with average annual rainfall of 714 mm, three-fourths of which falls in July, August and September [6].

New Friends Colony is situated near Mathura road where as Defence Colony is situated in posh area of Delhi which due to rapid urbanisation is suffering the stress of water sources. This reason of rapid urbanization has leaded them to adopt Rain water harvesting system to meet the water requirement. This has caused a great stress on the limited water