Karnataka - Bangalore   

Rainwater harvesting catching on in city

Bangalore: Another monsoon is upon us, unleashing a torrent of infrastructure woes: overflowing drains, power cuts, waterlogged roads. But the enormous 52 cm of rain that it brings Bangalore has the potential of being turned into a valuable resource to the city where water supply is stretched and groundwater depleted.

If only the city would turn to rainwater harvesting, it could capture and use 80 per cent of this rainfall, says S. Vishwanath, founder of the Rainwater Club. This will help us save on water bills, reduce the enormous environmental and financial cost of transporting water from 100 km away, and also recharge the groundwater table. It also help us prevent flooding by containing rainwater and preventing it from inundating roads, he says.

“Bangaloreans really do not need to purchase water from Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board. A 100 sqmt roof can collect 52,000 litres during the monsoon,” says Mr. Vishwanath. A resident on average can save up to Rs. 100 a month with rainwater harvesting.”

The trend is indeed catching on in the city. At least 10,000 in every 1 lakh households have invested in rainwater conservation, according to Mr. Vishwanath. There are also software companies that find they can meet their own growing water needs through installing rainwater harvesting systems, he adds.

Sanjay Singh of Singapura says that even five to 10 minutes of rain can yield 500 litres of water. “We have had the system for five years. People should open their eyes to the benefits of rainwater harvesting, and I personally think it a must for all institutions.”

Saving rainwater is obviously a smarter alternative to suffering the consequences of runoffs.

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