|
Magazine
Making hay when it rains
|
The technique of collecting rain water from the roof for use during droughts could prove effective in handling the crisis. SHREE PADRE writes.
|
Rain `deposited' in tanks has relieved RUCHI of a big burden.
RURAL Centre for Human Interests (RUCHI), a Haryana-based NGO is one of the pioneers in advocating roof water harvesting in the State. In addition to implementing the system in their project areas of Solan and Sirmour districts, RUCHI has constructed about 500 ferro-cement tanks of various sizes for others for storing rain water.
The 14-year-old NGO's interest in rain harvesting stemmed from facing acute water shortage. In Shalana village where their office is located, there is no source of water in the vicinity. When they began the construction of their office in 1988, they had to get truckloads of water from 16 km away. Initially, it cost them Rs.150 for a load of 4,000 litres. "Realising our predicament," recalls Dharamvir Singh, RUCHI director, "the suppliers started blackmailing us. The price was soon hiked to Rs.350; later, when we ran out of water; we had to cough up even Rs.500." This prompted Mr. Singh to learn the techniques of collecting roof water. The main hitch was storage. This required a considerable amount. It is then that he learnt about the ferro-cement technology.
Structural Engineering Research Centre (SERC) of Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh, has been propagating this method. In 1991, RUCHI constructed a number of ferro-cement tanks. A bigger tank would have been cheaper; but lack of space compelled them to go in for several smaller tanks of 6,000 litres capacity. A filter was fitted on top of each collection tank. The slow sand filter designed by them uses gravel, sand and coconut husk or pine needles.
RUCHI conducts a series of training classes. Before the actual training starts, the trainees are given an unusual task. That of making do with 40 litres of water a day. Is this quantity adequate? "With proper education, it works." In the toilet, there is no flush tank. A seven-litre bucket is provided in its place. The break-up of 40 litres goes like this: 15 litres for bathing, 14 litres for the toilet, six litres for drinking and cooking, five litres for washing clothes.
This region gets an average rainfall of 1,300 mm. Luckily for residents, it is spread over nine months. RUCHI has a roof catchment that can collect 4,20,000 litres of water in a year. The dry period stretches for about 80-90 days. Earlier, this period was even shorter. For most part of the year, the intermittent rains fill the tanks. In all, they harvest 3,50,000 litres — about 77 per cent of their requirement — with a storage capacity of 86,000 litres.
However, RUCHI is not self-sufficient in water. For the dry period, they have to depend on truckloads. Nowadays, they buy about 80,000 litres spending Rs.10,000. But, if they had to buy their entire requirement from outside, they would have to shell out another Rs.44,000.
RUCHI also conducts six-day RWH courses on request from other NGOs. "Now, people are receptive and have accepted this technology," points out Dharamvir Singh. "Some of the families have borne the full cost of such tanks. It costs Rs.3 per litre now. Some other NGOs too are now involved in using and disseminating this idea. "There is tremendous scope for roof water harvesting, especially in high rainfall areas," adds Singh. "Technical know-how in remote areas and funding are two constraints. Initial funds need to be given to users, which can be slowly realised. Individual tanks are a good idea. Community efforts don't succeed because joint-ownership doesn't work in our situation."
Having no source of water nearby is not a problem faced by RUCHI alone. In our country, there are many institutions that have similar difficulty through the year or at least for a good portion of it. How about taking a lesson from the big brother?
Printer friendly
page
Send this article to Friends by
E-Mail
Magazine
|
