Make best use of rain, do not curse or waste it
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Harvesting rainwater is very important to prevent the commodity from becoming scarce, writes K.V. Prasad
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— Photos: K. Ananthan
SIMPLE SOLUTION: A rainwater harvesting pit at the Coimbatore Medical College Hospital.
“If God showers gold coins on us from the skies, will we waste these? But, why do we not make best use of rainwater,” asks Siruthuli’s Managing Trustee Vanita Mohan, referring to the lack of efforts to harvest rainwater. Water will become more precious than gold. Rainwater harvesting is important to prevent the commodity from becoming scarce, she says.
Poor initiative
Siruthuli, a public initiative to conserve water resources, has also put up structures to harvest rainwater on roads. But, it feels there is very poor initiative at the level of individuals to make rainwater harvesting a public movement. So far, it has been more of a Government-enforced exercise.
People had put up rainwater harvesting structures in residential and commercial buildings when the State Government made it mandatory more than five years ago. Building plans are still approved only if harvesting structures were clearly marked on these. But, there is very little verification whether the structures are actually installed, points out Ms. Mohan.
(Right) A roadside rainwater harvesting structure on Race Course Road in the city.
No one will curse rain if water is harvested properly and not wasted through surface run-off.
Often, clogged drains that cause flooding make people curse rain. Water need not necessarily go into the drainage and end up in tanks that are already polluted.
It can reach the aquifers through simple harvesting measures.
Siruthuli has installed 150 such structures on roads in Coimbatore city. These include areas such as Lakshmi Mills Junction, K.G. Hospital, Kamarajar Road (Circuit House Road), Race Course Road (near Income-Tax office) and R.S. Puram.
But, many of them got covered by tar top when the Coimbatore Corporation re-laid roads.
The organisation says it will appeal to the civic body to clean the remaining ones so that monsoon rain recharges groundwater table.
“It is not difficult to have harvesting structures in houses,” says Ms. Mohan.
Quality
The lowest portion in the compound can be chosen to have the harvesting pit. The quality of the bore well water in your home improves immensely with fresh water getting into the aquifers,” she says.
“Studies show that one million litres of water can be harvested from 100 mm of rain on one hectare. The average rainfall in Coimbatore is 600 mm. So, imagine how much we can harvest,” she says.
A basic harvesting structure will cost only around Rs.5,000. The annual maintenance cost is Rs.200 to Rs.300. The most important work in maintenance is washing the gravel. But, this expense brings in huge benefits in the form of good groundwater level.
Ms. Mohan says promoters of apartments have a social responsibility of putting up rainwater harvesting structures on roads that lead to the buildings.
The local bodies should put up more of these to ensure that rainwater gets into the aquifers than stagnate on roads or end up in sewage farms.
Groundwater level
Project Director of Siruthuli K. Mylswami says there is tremendous improvement in the groundwater level where the 150 roadside harvesting structures had been provided, with financial assistance from the Coimbatore Corporation. Each structure has a 350 ft bore well that takes in rainwater that had so far been stagnating on roads.
These bore wells can also be used in times of water shortage. “Another 450 such structures at various locations will ensure a good groundwater level across the city. A study of 20 observatory wells (out of the 150) also shows great improvement in the quality of water,” he says.
These structures also help in minimising flooding of roads or other public places. For instance, four harvesting structures have eliminated water stagnation at the Coimbatore Medical College Hospital.
Rainwater harvesting is hugely beneficial in terms of cutting costs on sinking bore wells.
Quoting bore well rig contractors, Mr. Mylswami says the cost has come down by 50 per cent (see table).
And people have to spend less on motor as ones with less capacity are required when water level rises. Power charges also come down, he says. The Corporation itself operates more than 400 bore wells and the expenses have reduced after the water table has risen.
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