RAINWATE

R
HARVESTI
NG

BY: HARDIK VASHISHTHA

RAIN WATER HARVESTING

RAINWATER HARVESTINGis a process involving
collection and storage of rain water (with the help of
artificially designed system) that runs off natural or
man-made catchment areas e.g. roof top,
compounds, rock surface or hill slopes or artificially
repaired impervious/semi-pervious land surface.
Undoubtedly a number of factors contribute to the
amount of water harvested e.g. the frequency and
the quantity of rainfall, catchments characteristics,
water demands and the quantum of runoff, and
above all speed and ease with which the rainwater
percolates through the subsoil to recharge the
ground water.

TECHNIQUES OF
RAIN
WATERHARVESTIN
1. STORAGE OF RAINWATER FOR
FUTURE USE G
2. RECHARGE TO GROUND WATER

1. STORAGE
FUTURE USE

OF

RAINWATER

FOR

The storage of rain water on surface

is a traditional techniques and
structures used were underground
tanks, ponds, check dams, weirs.

2. RECHARGE TO GROUND WATER

Recharge to ground water is a new
concept of rain water harvesting.

METHODS OF
RAIN WATER
HARVESTING
1. SURFACE RUNOFF HARVESTING
2.
ROOF
TOP
HARVESTING

RAIN

WATE

1. SURFACE RUNOFF
HARVESTING
urban area rainwater flows away

In
as surface
runoff. This runoff could be caught and used for
recharging aquifers by adopting appropriate
methods.

2. ROOF TOP RAIN WATE HARVESTING

It is a system of catching rainwater where it falls. In rooftop
harvesting, the roof becomes the catchments, and the rainwater
is collected from the roof of the house/building. It can either be
stored in a tank or diverted to artificial recharge system. This
method is less expensive and very effective and if implemented
properly helps in augmenting the ground water level of the area.

COMPONENT OF THE ROOF

TOP RAINWATER
HARVESTING
1. CATCHMENTS

2. TRANSPORTATION
3. FIRST FLUSH
4. FILTER

1. CATCHMENT
The surface that receives rainfall directly is
the catchment of rainwater harvesting
system.

2. TRANSPORTATION

Rainwater from rooftop should be carried through

down take water pipes or drains to
storage/harvesting system. Water pipes should
be UV resistant (ISI HDPE/PVC pipes) of required
capacity. Water from sloping roofs could be
caught through gutters and down take pipe. At
terraces, mouth of the each drain should have
wire mesh to restrict floating material.

3. FIRST FLUSH
First flush is a device used to flush off the water
received in first shower. The first shower of rains
needs to be flushed-off to avoid contaminating
storable/rechargeable water by the probable
contaminants of the atmosphere and the catchment
roof. It will also help in cleaning of silt and other
material deposited on roof during dry seasons
Provisions of first rain separator should be made at
outlet of each drainpipe.

4. FILTER
There is always some skepticism regarding Roof
Top Rainwater Harvesting since doubts are raised
that rainwater may contaminate groundwater.
There is remote possibility of this fear coming true
if proper filter mechanism is not adopted. Secondly
all care must be taken to see that underground
sewer drains are not punctured and no leakage is
taking place in close vicinity. Filters are used fro
treatment of water to effectively remove turbidity,
colour and microorganisms

TYPES OF FILTERS
1. SAND GRAVEL FILTER

2.CHARCOAL FILTER

3. PVC-PIPE FILTER

4. SPONGE FILTER

METHODS FOR ROOF TOP

RAINWATER HARVESTING
1. STOAGE FOR DIRECT USE
2. RECHARGING GROUND WATER AQUIFER
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
f.

RECHARGING OF BORE WELLS

RECHARGING OF DUG WELLS
RECHARGE PITS
RECHARGE TRENCHES
SOAK WAY OR RECHARGE SHAFTS
PERCOLATION TANKS

1. STORAGE FOR DIRECT USE

In this method rain water collected from the roof of
the building is diverted to a storage tank. The
storage tank has to be designed according to the
water requirements, rainfall and catchment
availability. Each drainpipe should have mesh filter
at mouth and first flush device followed by
filtration system before connecting to the storage
tank. It is advisable that each tank should have
excess water over flow system.
Excess water could be diverted to recharge
system. Water from storage tank can be used for
secondary purposes such as washing and
gardening etc. This is the most cost effective way
of rainwater harvesting.

2.RECHARGING GROUND WATER

AQUIFER
Ground water aquifers can be recharged by various
kinds of structures to ensure percolation of rainwater
in the ground instead of draining away from the
surface. Commonly used recharging methods are:-

a.RECHARGING OF BORE WELLS

For small area
CONSTRUCTIN:
8 Concrete rings of 1 foot height, 4.5 foot
dia.
Perforated concrete bad
2 rings on it
From 9th ring filter layers
starts which are as
follows;-

layer

Height

40 mm. granite 6 inch.

jelly
Wooden
charcoal

3 inch.

20 mm. jelly

3 inch.

Thick sand

6 inch.

For large area

Volume-10x10x10 cu. m.
No. of hole-150 around 6 foot
length of pipe
hole size-8-10 mm. at 3gap.

CONSTRUCTION LAYERS
layer

Height of layer

1-1.5 foot stone

5 foot

4-5 size granite

jelly

1 foot

40 mm jelly

Half foot

Filter layers around

pipe

20 mm jelly

Half foot

1. Aqua nylon mesh

Wooden charcoal

Half foot

2. Nylon mesh
3. Sand layer 1

HDPE net
Clean sand

2 foot

4. Nylon mesh

b. RECHARGING OF DUG WELLS

c. RECHARGE PITS

the dimensions of
the pit may be of 1
to 2 m width and 2
to 3 m deep

d. RECHARGE TRENCHES

e. SOAK WAY OR RECHARGE SHAFTS

f. PERCOLATION TANKS

COMPUTATION OF
ARTIFICIAL RECHARG
FROM ROOF TOP RAIN
Factors taken
for computation
:
WATER
HARVESTING

Roof top area 100 sq. m. for individual house and 500
sq.m. for multi-storied building.
Average annual monsoon rainfall - 780 mm.
Effective annual rainfall contributing to recharge 70% 550 mm.
INDIVIDUAL
HOUSES

MULTISTORIED
BUILDING

Roof top area

100 sq. m.

500 sq. m.

Total quantity
available for recharge
per annum

55 cu. m.

2 75 cu. m.

Water available for 5

member family

100 days

500 days