Tag: rooftopfiltrt

India’s water crisis: The clock is ticking

Posted on

We need to promote a decentralised approach, with a key focus on water conservation, source sustainability, storage and reuse wherever possibles

Photo courtesy: Getty Images

India is facing one of its major and most serious water crisis.

After two consecutive years of weak monsoons, 330 million people — a quarter of the country’s population — are affected by a severe drought. With nearly 50 per cent of India grappling with drought-like conditions, the situation has been particularly grim this year in western and southern states that received below average rainfall.

According to the Composite Water Management Index (CWMI) report released by the Niti Aayog in 2018, 21 major cities (Delhi, Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad and others) are racing to reach zero groundwater levels by 2020, affecting access for 100 million people.

However, 12 per cent of India’s population is already living the ‘Day Zero’ scenario, thanks to excessive groundwater pumping, an inefficient and wasteful water management system and years of deficient rains. The CWMI report also states that by 2030, the country’s water demand is projected to be twice the available supply, implying severe water scarcity for hundreds of millions of people and an eventual six per cent loss in the country’s GDP.

The Union government recently formed a new Jal Shakti (water) ministry, which aims at tackling water issues with a holistic and integrated perspective on the subject. The ministry has announced an ambitious plan to provide piped water connections to every household in India by 2024.

Photo courtesy:  Pinterest

The ministry has set a tough target at a time when hundreds of millions don’t have access to clean water. Aiming at laying huge pipeline networks for water supply means that yet again, we are giving more preference to infrastructure. Also, the moot questions are: what will happen if there is no water to supply? What will happen to all the wastewater that gets generated?

This indicates that there is a clear disconnect between water, society and economy. Currently, we are interested in laying large networks, constructing huge storage dams, fetching water from 150 kilometres and above, which involves a huge carbon footprint.

We are valuing land more than water, neglecting our local water bodies, which have either gone dry or encroached. Also, in many Indian cities, water is not properly distributed. Some areas of mega cities like Delhi and Mumbai are privileged to get more that than the standard municipal water norm of 150 litres per capita per day (lpcd) while other areas get 40-50 lpcd.

Aggravating the problem is that the water being supplied currently is of drinking water standards.

The World Health Organization (WHO) states that an individual requires around 25 litres of water daily for meeting his/her basic hygiene and food needs. The rest is used for non-potable purposes like mopping and cleaning. This indicates that for most of the non-potable uses, a quality lower than drinking water is required. Thus, for economic efficiency and environmental sustainability, water must be treated and supplied according to usage.

To top this, are issues of leakage losses, water pricing and metering of water. Lack of proper maintenance of existing infrastructure causes further losses of almost 40 per cent of piped water in urban areas.

The road ahead

Looking at the current situation, there is a need for a paradigm shift. We urgently require a transition from this ‘supply-and-supply-more water’ provision to measures which lead towards improving water use efficiency, reducing leakages, recharging/restoring local waterbodies as well as applying for higher tariffs and ownership by various stakeholders.

A recovery-based closed loop system is the need of the hour.

It is time to go back and start using our traditional practice of rainwater harvesting — catching water where it falls. Presently, India captures only eight per cent of its annual rainfall, among the lowest in the world.

Another aspect is the treatment and reuse of wastewater. About 80 per cent of the water that reaches households, leaves as waste and pollutes our waterbodies and environment. There is a huge potential in reusing and recycling this treated wastewater at least for non-potable purposes, which is cost effective.

All this leads to the fact that we need to promote a decentralised approach, with a key focus on water conservation, source sustainability, storage and reuse wherever possible.

It is important to understand that managing the water situation is not the job of only engineers but all stakeholders including hydrogeologists, economists, planners and most importantly, communities themselves.

Emphasis on behavioural change is not getting enough attention because it is nuanced and complex. But locals/citizens/ communities have a huge part to play. By keeping in check our own usage and actions, we can contribute.

As for our decision-makers, they need to re-think: Are we being sold dreams or realities?

Neerain is proud to republish this article for spreading awareness about situation of water, for our stakeholders. Credit whatsoever goes to the Author.

This article is published by: –
 https://www.downtoearth.org.in/blog/water/india-s-water-crisis-the-clock-is-ticking-65217

We would like to spread this for the benefit of fellow Indians.

Author:  Mahreen Matto

Publish On:  Friday 21 June 2019

Catch where it falls: Tradition for water revolution

Posted on

Photo courtesy: Getty Images

We have not understood the science and art of harvesting rain on land. It’s time we learn from the wisdom that we have ignored and allowed to die

You know you are old when you realise that today’s conversation is a repeat of the past. That’s how I feel when I hear the current chatter about the potential of rainwater harvesting to fix the problem of water scarcity in our cities and villages.

For years now, we have known the importance of harvesting rain from rooftops and hill catchments and holding it in underground reservoirs, aquifers, lakes and ponds. Then why have we not made this technology work? Why have we failed to use this knowledge? This is what we must ask.

Let me tell you how I learnt about rainwater harvesting. It was back in the 1990s when Anil Agarwal, then director of the Centre for Science and Environment, was at the wheels of his new Maruti 800 — red in colour.

We were on our way to see grazing land regeneration in Bikaner. Suddenly there was something different on the ground. Anil stopped. He wanted to know what he was seeing.

It was in the shape of a flying saucer or an upside-down cup on a paved ground. We got off the car, walked over to the settlement and asked, “What is this?” As is often the case in India, such stupid questions from city people get very patient replies.

Photo courtesy: AKHILESH YADAV

“It is our water system, our kundi.” It made no sense. They explained. “See, we pave the ground with lime and make it drain to the middle. Then when it rains, even a little, all the water is harvested and channelised into the well, which is covered so that there is no contamination.” This small explanation changed our world. Changed it literally.

Anil calculated that the structure had huge potential. One hectare of land with just 100 millimetre (mm) of rain — that’s what deserts get on an average — is capable of harvesting 1 million litres of water. Not small.

A family of five would not need more than 10-15 litres a day for drinking and cooking. This comes to 4,000-5,000 litres in a year. This means one hectare can harvest enough water to meet the needs of 200-300 families.

Later, a few more experiences shaped my understanding of not just the potential of rainwater harvesting but its connection with all of us. We were in Cherrapunji, the wettest place on Earth or at least that’s what I was taught in school. There in a small government guest house I saw a big sign — water is precious, please use it carefully. Amazing.

A place with 14,000 mm of rain, enough to fill a high ceiling stadium, faces shortage of water! Anil and I had just returned from Jaisalmer — a city that had built a flourishing civilisation and a stunning fort of yellow sandstone despite receiving only 50-100 mm of rain. The answer we found was in the way the city had planned its rainwater harvesting, from rooftops to tanks—all to build a water-secure future.

Anil was so fascinated by this learning that he spent the next few years of his life teaching Indians the value of the raindrop. We have put this learning together in our 1997 book, Dying Wisdom: rise, fall and potential of India’s traditional water harvesting systems, which explains the sheer intricacy, innovation and ingenuity of the knowledge.

Every region of the country had its own unique method of harvesting rain, storing it and then using it. Every system had been adapted, in fact, evolved, to meet the special ecological needs, yet each system was an engineering marvel, designed to make the best of the region’s rain endowment.

Why then did the wisdom die?

First, the State took control from the local community or the households as the provider or supplier of water. This meant that harvesting rain was no longer a priority. Second, local groundwater, which was recharged using rainwater, was replaced by surface water, brought often from long distances in canals.

This is why rainwater harvesting has remained an idea whose time has still not come. The State cannot harvest rain; people have to be involved. It has to be done in every house; every colony; every village; and for every catchment.

The incentive to do this only comes when we are dependent on groundwater for our needs. If cities and even villages get piped water, from distant sources, who will harvest rain and why?

The other problem is we have not understood the science and art of harvesting rain on land. So, the catchments — land where the rain falls — have been encroached upon or distributed in the name of land-reform.

The drains that channelised rain to underground storage have been built upon or destroyed. Then how will we harvest the raindrop? We can’t and we won’t. This is why the cycle of drought and flood will continue and get exacerbated. So let’s really learn from the wisdom that we have ignored and allowed to die.

Neerain is proud to republish this article for spreading awareness about situation of water, for our stakeholders. Credit whatsoever goes to the Author

This article is published by: –

https://www.downtoearth.org.in/blog/water/catch-where-it-falls-tradition-for-water-revolution-65557

We would like to spread this for the benefit of fellow Indians.

Author:  Rashmi Verma

Publish On: Wednesday 10 July 2019

 

 

Water crisis in India: Threats and Opportunities for India Inc

Posted on

India faces daunting water security challenges. The demands of a rapidly industrializing economy and urbanizing society come at a time when the potential for augmenting supply is limited and water issues have increasingly come to the fore. While India hosts approximately 17 percent of the world’s population, it holds only about four percent of its required annual water resources.

Photo courtesy: Adobe stock

India faces daunting water security challenges. The demands of a rapidly industrializing economy and urbanizing society come at a time when the potential for augmenting supply is limited and water issues have increasingly come to the fore. While India hosts approximately 17 percent of the world’s population, it holds only about four percent of its required annual water resources.

In India, more than 600 million people are facing an acute water shortage. About three-quarter households do not have a drinking water facility. Currently, India ranks 120th among 122 countries in the water quality index. By 2030, India’s water demand is expected to be double to that of supply that implies not only water scarcity for numerous people but also a loss of around 6 percent to GDP. This underscores the need for strategic interventions to promote water use efficiency, both at the micro and macro level.

India Inc is an important stakeholder in India’s sustainability story. It also accounts for substantial water use. Various sectors of the industry are competing to use limited water resources that put pressure on the available supply of water and groundwater resources. The UN’s World Water Assessment Program warns of the stark implications, such as lack of freshwater resources on economic prosperity and security.

WATER TREATMENT/OPPORTUNITIES AND REUSE

Photo courtesy: Shutterstock

India Inc has taken cognizance of the magnitude of the water crisis and the role they can play to mitigate it. The corporate should see it as the shared responsibility of companies across sectors to join hands with communities and governments to work on programs for water conservation, recharge and wastewater treatment. On the lines of minimizing the carbon footprint, corporate should also incorporate water management not only as its CSR goals but as a component of its business goals and sustainability plan.

Experts should converge and deliberate on establishing a sustainable water management strategy that will serve as the guideline for the entire industry. They should focus on optimization of water usage for industrial purposes, omitting outdated processes and technology and adoption of suitable recycling practices.

Water forms an intrinsic component of manufacturing cycles of the industry. Corporate has to be mindful of achieving sustainable water consumption while ensuring profitability and fulfilling their business goals.

The role of technology and research and development in encouraging the best water conservation techniques cannot be underestimated. New-age technologies such as smart irrigation systems with ICT and remote sensing are potent tools to encourage water conservation. The onus should be on corporate to foster innovation come up with out of the box solutions as they possess the necessary resources and expertise.

The corporate can also play an instrumental role in devising mass awareness campaigns and information dissemination educating farmers and common populace on the need to use water judiciously.

Equally important is the role of information sharing and collaboration among companies that will encourage the mapping of goals against achieved targets and improvise water management practices. Sharing of technological innovations offer a useful path to greater, mutually beneficial cooperation.

The comprehensive assessment of water requirement and usage by the corporate is essential to facilitate informed policy-making by the government and plugging the loopholes in the policy framework on water.

India Inc must gear to adopt water management on a priority that would enable the entire country to benefit from it through genuine and open collaboration.

Neerain is proud to republish this article for spreading awareness about situation of water, for our stakeholders. Credit whatsoever goes to the Author.

This article is published by: –

https://bwsmartcities.businessworld.in/article/Water-crisis-in-India-Threats-and-Opportunities-for-India-Inc/10-06-2020-285981/

We would like to spread this for the benefit of fellow Indians.

Author: Dr. Puneet Gupta

Publish On: June, 2020

 

 

Why Rainwater Harvesting is Crucial to Solving India’s Water Woes

Posted on

India is reeling under the most severe water crisis in its history for several reasons including two consecutive monsoons that failed.

According to a Composite Water Management Index (CWMI) report released by NITI Aayog nearly 600 million people, which is almost 50% of the country’s population, are facing water shortage issues right now.

One of the many options that we have to ease the water shortage issue is implementing rainwater harvesting. Given the critical situation that we are in, it’s now more important than ever to install rainwater harvesting systems and make it a mandatory fixture in houses and apartments.

In this post, we explore the reasons behind the water crisis and how rainwater harvesting can help.

Why is India facing a severe water shortage?

In addition to inadequate monsoons, there are several reasons why India’s water supply is diminishing rapidly.

Depletion of groundwater

According to the UNESCO World Water Development Report, India is the biggest extractor of groundwater in the world, drawing 260 cubic km per year, which is more than China and the US combined. That comes up to 25% of the groundwater extracted globally. With 21 Indian cities expected to run out of groundwater, India is faced with an alarmingly dry future with the need to not just replenish its water sources but also change the way it sources water.

Infrastructure and wastage

India’s shoddy infrastructure has led to improper distribution and large amounts of water being wasted. Statistics from the Central Water Commission reveal that India receives as much as 4,000 billion cubic metres of rainfall, but only a mere 8% of that is captured efficiently. Leaky pipes, limited or ageing storage infrastructure like dams, and lack of recycling systems like rainwater harvesting have worsened India’s water crisis.

Uneven distribution

India’s pipelines are notorious for not just being old but also for not being present in hilly terrains or rural areas. Even if there are connections, the supply is highly restricted and is time-bound, making it challenging to access. This, in turn, has given rise to the water mafia, which ensures that water reaches only those who can afford it.

Contamination and pollution

India is fast losing its water bodies to rapid real estate development, environmental degradation, and industrial pollution. The lack of proper wastewater treatment systems has also compounded the issue.

How rainwater harvesting can help

Recycling and reusing water is important, but it needs to be amply supported by rainwater harvesting. No doubt, contaminated lakes and ponds are a big source of precious water, but it is much easier to simply store rainfall. It is more affordable, less time-consuming, and easier to implement than the complicated systems that are required for wastewater treatment.

Rainwater harvesting also helps in reducing India’s dependence on groundwater and private sources like tankers.

There are myriad ways in which rainwater can be captured and stored like installing rain barrels with pipes, hanging rain funnelling chains, rooftop containers that channel rainwater into sumps and borewells, and if you have space, then setting up a mini-reservoir in your garden.

Following any of these simple DIY processes can drastically reduce or even eliminate your water bills, and cushion the impact as well as slow down climate change. Most importantly, it can help an entire country quench its thirst with unlimited water.

Neerain is proud to republish this article for spreading awareness about situation of water, for our stakeholders. Credit whatsoever goes to the Author.

This article is published by: –

https://roofandfloor.thehindu.com/raf/real-estate-blog/rainwater-harvesting-crucial-to-solving-indias-water-woes/.\

Author:  Prof. SWATI NAIR

Publish On: 18TH JULY 2019

Making India water-secure: Solutions for the future

Posted on

Water, water everywhere and not a drop to drink’ – this predicament of the sailors in Samuel Taylor Coleridge’s famous poem is a portent to our collective futures; one with little to no access to safe water. In 2019, Chennai, a city that receives twice London’s average annual rainfall at 1,400 mm, had to meet its water needs by trucking in 10 million liters of water a day. The 2018 drinking water crisis in ‘Queen of Hills’ Shimla made international headlines when policemen were deployed on the ground to manage water distribution.  

The NITI Aayog’s 2018 Composite Water Management Index (CWMI) depicts an unsettling picture of macro-water availability in India – despite being home to 17% of the world’s population, it has only 4% of the world’s freshwater resources. The total water demand in India is projected to increase by 22% and 32% in 2025 and 2050 respectively and, by 2050, 85% of this demand is expected to come from industrial and domestic sectors alone. Among the regions, the south and the northwest are expected to face the worst in the next two years. About two lakh people die every year due to inadequate water, sanitation, and hygiene and ~820 million Indians living in twelve river basins across the country have per capita water availability close to or lower than 1000m3, the official threshold for water scarcity as per the Falkenmark Index.  

Photo Courtesy: Statustown

To address this looming water crisis and ensure water security, it is imperative to devise a holistic urban water management system that can help balance biodiversity by protecting and restoring the health of waterways and wetlands, mitigate flood risk and damage, provide for sustainable and resilient communities, promote sustainable development goals (SDGs), and address the needs of the last person in the queue.  

Some of the solutions available to this end include: 

  1. Rejuvenation / conservation of water bodies: Replenishing and restoring the health of natural water bodies and wetlands is the single-most effective way of securing a safe source of water. Cities, like Bengaluru, have 210 lakes, covering 3,622 acres with a capacity of 35,000 million ft3. Long-term efforts such as Namami Gange are also bearing fruits. However, for more localized solutions, it is important that traditional water storage structures such as vavs and baolis are rejuvenated and maintained. 

  2. Rainwater harvesting: India receives bountiful rains – last Monsoon, India received 925 mm of rainfall in just four months. A part of the immense potential to create sources of water through rainwater harvesting is being realized – as on February 2, 2023, more than 1.19 million water conservation and rainwater harvesting structures have been constructed across India.

Photo Courtesy: iStock

  1. Government initiatives: In the past few years, the progress towards providing piped water supply and last-mile delivery of water has been stupendous. The one-of-its-kind Jal Jeevan Mission supplied tap water to 10.64 crore – 55% – households in rural India until November 2022 and more than 15 lakh women were trained for testing water quality through field test kits. 

  2. Digital interventions: Technologies such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, and Internet of Things (IoT) can help in flood prediction, rain forecasting, detecting water leakages, treating wastewater and harvesting rainwater. AI tools are capable of analyzing the data from recycling plants and suggesting ways to reduce energy consumption up to 30%, contributing to overall sustainable practices.

  3. Stemming groundwater depletion: Since agriculture utilizes the majority of groundwater, the World Bank has been supporting innovative projects targeted at the agrarian communities. These include Atal Bhujal Yojana, the world’s largest community-led groundwater management program and Paani Bachao, Paisa Kamao in Punjab that resulted in water savings between 6 and 25% without any adverse effect on the yield. With states like West Bengal, Jharkhand, Bihar, Assam, and Manipur among others reporting high levels of arsenic in the groundwater, efforts for decontamination would also have to become part of the plan. 

There is no doubt that the problem of water scarcity is one of environment, population, governance, health, and well-being. Having to walk long distances and stand in long lines every day, 163 million people across the country continue to live without clean water close to their homes and ~0.2 million people die every year due to inadequate water, sanitation, and hygiene. The population concentration is disproportionately high in Indian cities, 30 of which, according to the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), staring at a grave water risk.

Given the seriousness and complexity of the problem, policymakers must therefore employ systems thinking – an approach that can create an ecosystem for innovation that develops a big-picture perspective, focuses on opportunities in a problem, and fosters adaptation amid rapidly-evolving environments. There is no doubt that greater involvement of communities can heavily alter the outcome of urban water management solutions. At the same time, funding such programs can meet a roadblock, especially in the wake of the devastating impacts of the pandemic. Therefore, fostering public-private partnerships (PPP) that can work by engaging communities, funders, and corporate stakeholders and creating awareness will play a critical role in achieving the goal ahead.

Neerain is proud to republish this blog for spreading awareness about the situation of water, for our stakeholders. Credit whatsoever goes to the Author.

This blog is published by: –

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/blogs/voices/making-india-water-secure-solutions-for-the-future/

We would like to spread this for the benefit of fellow Indians.

Author: Dr. Nidhi Pundhir

Publish On: March 28, 2023

 

Water should be the next important environmental target for India

Posted on

Environmental targets are becoming common place in the current global scenario, with a large focus on reducing emissions. Unrestricted emissions lead to global warming and resulting climate change and could cause catastrophic damage to life on earth in the coming decades, some predictions say as early as 2050. There has been a start towards action, with most countries committing to reduce emissions and planning steps accordingly. Another crisis that needs immediate attention is that of water, more so in developing countries like India, where a significant number of people lack access to safe water source. Overuse of available water sources, wastage, contamination, and mismanagement may lead to severe crisis in the near future and result in several related issues on health and livelihood, probably much earlier than emissions related impact.

Photo courtesy: Nicepng

India has 18% of world’s population but only 4% of world’s freshwater resources. As per available Government data, the per capita availability of water at national level is about 1500 m3 per year, which is below the globally recognized threshold of water stress (1700 m3 per year), thereby making India a water stressed country. Water availability is varied annually across seasons and regions as is visible in the frequent droughts and floods. Increasing population, coupled with urbanization and economic growth are expected to increase the water demand further, and apply great stress on the water ecosystem. Though the primary goal may be to ensure access to clean water for all citizens, there is an urgent need for a holistic approach to better manage this precious shared resource.

Firstly, there is a need to arrive at clear data regarding water availability and usage. Accurate real-time data will provide inputs for implementing the right solutions, as well as help in demand side water management measures. In the age of technological advancements, there is enough knowhow on creating the right infrastructure for water treatment, supply, distribution, and technology for monitoring consumption. These are essential for effective water management. The aim should be to develop a water balance on a large scale, like a city / state level, and track key parameters such as available sources of water, total usage, per capita usage, sector-wise usage, etc. This would not only help in ensuring right action for implementation but also provide policy inputs on a long-term basis. Singapore is a good example of a reasonably large scale and effective water management, and long-term planning on water sources.

Photo courtesy: Istock

Another important aspect would be to set clear measurable targets for water management at a national level and percolating down to state and city level. Like for Renewable Energy adoption in India, where every state is obligated to have a certain percentage of electricity from renewables, targets need to be set for water too. For example: water consumption, % losses in the network, use of recycled water, % of wastewater treated, groundwater usage, etc. for different sectors. It may be a difficult task but can be taken up through a stage-wise approach, starting as a part of the smart city project of the Government, and then replicated to other cities and smaller towns. Aggressive targets can drive decisive action and accountability at various levels.

Then comes the enablement through policy and regulatory framework. Stringent guidelines on water management coupled with effective enforcement is the need of the hour to address water crisis. Whether it is groundwater or freshwater from other sources, enforcement becomes effective with clear targets and monitoring of important data. Water should be charged based on consumption, irrespective of the sector – agriculture, industry or domestic. While the enforcement on water usage and effluent discharge can be in the form of penalties, policies on groundwater usage need to be more carefully defined since groundwater being a shared resource can affect a large area. Policy should mandate the use of water conservation techniques, implementation of rainwater harvesting and set clear limits for groundwater usage. Disclosures on water usage should be mandated for the corporate sector, and water should be an important aspect in the ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) goals of companies in the Indian context.

Most of the water in India is used for agriculture. On a long-term basis, the agricultural patterns in India are expected to change and adapt based on water availability. But for domestic usage, a holistic water management with effective measures on water conservation, rainwater harvesting, and wastewater treatment will go a long way in ensuring water availability. 

Water is the basis for human survival and development. Conserving this precious resource needs commitment, decisive and urgent action at all levels. Targets similar to the ‘Panchamrit’ which talks about the promises made by India on emissions reduction are necessary for water as well in the Indian context. With the skills and technology available today, coupled with effective regulatory framework, it is possible to move towards self-sufficiency, adequacy, and safe water access for all.

Neerain is proud to republish this blog for spreading awareness about situation of water, for our stake holders. Credit whatsoever goes to the Author.

This blog is published by: –

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/blogs/voices/water-should-be-the-next-important-environmental-target-for-india/

We would like to spread this for the benefit of fellow Indians.

Author: Guruprakash Sastry

Publish On: March 21, 2022

 

ગુજરાતીએ બનાવેલી પ્રોડક્ટની US સહિત 5થી વધુ દેશોમાં માગ : મોટા પેકેજની નોકરી છોડી વોટર હાર્વેસ્ટિંગ માટે પાણી સાફ કરતું સસ્તું ડિવાઇસ બનાવ્યું, કંપનીનું ટર્નઓવર કરોડોમાં

Posted on

ચોમાસાની શરૂઆતથી જ દેશનાં અનેક રાજ્યોમાં પૂરની સ્થિતિ જોવા મળી. ગુજરાતમાં પણ અનેક જગ્યાએ વરસાદના કારણે ઘણા વિસ્તારો જળબંબાકાર થઈ ગયા હતા. પરંતુ બીજી તરફ ચોમાસા સિવાય દેશભરમાં પાણી માટે ઘણા લોકોને વલખાં મારવાં પડે છે. પાણી એ આપણી મૂળભૂત જરૂરિયાતોમાંનું એક છે. પરંતુ અવ્યવસ્થાના કારણે પાણી જીવલેણ મુસીબત પણ બની શકે છે. આવી પરિસ્થિતિનો વિચાર કરીને એક ગુજરાતી યુવાન અમિત દોશીએ પોતાની સૂઝબૂઝથી એક ખાસ પ્રોડક્ટ બનાવી છે.

17 વર્ષ ખાનગી કંપનીમાં કામ કર્યું, વિદેશમાં જઈને પણ નોકરી કરી આવ્યા, છેવટે હિમ્મતભેર એક પગલું ભર્યું અને આ ગુજરાતીએ એવી કંપની બનાવી જેનું ટર્નઓવર હવે કરોડોમાં છે. કારણ કે તેમણે પોતાના અનુભવના આધારે બનાવેલી એક વસ્તુની જરૂર આજના સમયે એટલી જરૂરી છે કે મોટા-મોટા બિલ્ડર પણ તેમનો સંપર્ક કરી રહ્યા છે. અમેરિકા સહિત વિશ્વના 5થી પણ વધુ દેશોમાં પણ આ પ્રોડક્ટની માગ છે.

અમિત દોશીએ કહ્યું, ‘મારું મૂળ વતન વિજાપુર છે. અત્યારે અમદાવાદ રહું છું. મેં વર્ષ 1996 ગવર્નમેન્ટ પોલિટેક્નિકમાંથી ડિપ્લોમા ઇન પ્લાસ્ટિક એન્જિનિયરિંગ પૂરું કર્યું હતું. ત્યાર બાદ વર્ષ 1997થી 2001 સુધી મેં સિન્ટેક્સ કંપનીમાં નોકરી કરી હતી. ત્યાર પછી નાઈજીરિયાની એક કંપનીમાં એક વર્ષ સુધી કામ કર્યું પરંતુ પિતાનું અવસાન થતાં હું પરત ફર્યો હતો અને ફરી સિન્ટેક્સ કંપનીમાં વર્ષ 2002થી 2014 સુધી કામ કર્યું હતું. જ્યાં ટેક્નિકલ સર્વિસ ડિપાર્ટમેન્ટથી શરૂ કરી એન્વાયરમેન્ટલ ડિવિઝનના માર્કેટિંગ હેડ તરીકે નોકરી કરી. મુખ્યત્વે સોલિડ વેસ્ટ મેનેજમેન્ટનું કાર્ય હું સંભાળતો હતો.’

વરસાદી પાણીને વોટર હાર્વેસ્ટિંગ માટે સાફ કરવા ડિવાઈસ બનાવનાર અમિત દોશી.

‘જ્યારે વર્ષ 2014માં મેં નોકરી છોડવાનો વિચાર કર્યો ત્યારે સૌથી પહેલો પ્રશ્ન એ હતો કે આગળ શું કરવું? પોતાનો બિઝનેસ કરવાનો વિચાર હતો. બિઝનેસ પણ એવો જે સામાન્ય માણસની તકલીફને દૂર કરે. મેં અલગ-અલગ વિષયો પર અભ્યાસ કર્યો. પર્યાવરણમાં એફ્લૂઅન્ટ ટ્રીટમેન્ટ, સુએજ ટ્રીટમેન્ટ, વોટર ડિસ્ટ્રિબ્યુશન, વોટર પૉલ્યુશન, એર પૉલ્યુશન, વોટર મોનિટરિંગ આવાં અનેક ક્ષેત્રોમાં મોટા પ્રમાણમાં બિઝનેસ થઈ રહ્યો છે. આ સ્ટડી કર્યા પછી મને લાગ્યું કે નોકરી છોડ્યા બાદ બિઝનેસ કરીશ તો મારી પાસે તેને શરૂ કરવા માટે રૂપિયા નથી. મારી પાસે ફક્ત મારો અનુભવ છે. મારી આવડત, કામ કરવાની બૌદ્ધિક ક્ષમતા છે, માર્કેટિંગની આવડત અને પર્યાવરણ પ્રત્યે મારું પેશન છે. ત્યારે વિચાર આવ્યો કે રેઇન વોટર હાર્વેસ્ટિંગ એક એવો વિષય છે જેને લઈને હજી પણ લોકો જાગૃત નથી. ભારતના મોટાભાગના લોકોએ હજુ રેઇન વોટર હાર્વેસ્ટિંગના કોન્સેપ્ટને અપનાવ્યો નથી. આપણે ત્યાં સારો એવો વરસાદ થતો હોવા છતાં પણ 60 ટકાથી વધુ વસતિ પાણીની તંગી ભોગવી રહી છે. પાણી લેવા દૂર-દૂર જવું પડે છે. આપણા દેશે તો દુનિયાને વાવ જેવાં સ્થાપત્યો દ્વારા વરસાદી પાણીના સંગ્રહનો વિચાર સદીઓ પહેલાં આપી દીધો હતો. પણ આજની પરિસ્થિતિ કથળી ગઈ. કારણ કે એ સિદ્ધાંતો આપણે મોડર્ન સ્ટાઇલમાં અપનાવી ન શક્યા. આજના સમયની જરૂરિયાત મુજબ તેમાં ફેરફાર ન કર્યા. જેના કારણે આપણે એ તરફ પછાત રહી ગયા. મને થયું કે આ ક્ષેત્રે ખૂબ કામ કરવાનું બાકી છે. આમાં કંઈક કરીએ તો સામાન્ય માણસની પાણીની તકલીફ દૂર કરી શકીએ.’

ધાબા પરથી પડતું પાણી સાફ કરતું ડિવાઈસ
‘નોકરી છોડ્યા પછી વરસાદી પાણીના સંગ્રહ પર અભ્યાસ કરીને કન્સલ્ટિંગનું કામ શરૂ કર્યું. વર્ષ 2014થી 2018 સુધી વરસાદી પાણીના સંગ્રહને લગતા કામકાજ અને અલગ-અલગ પ્રોડક્ટસ શરૂ કરી. આ દરમિયાન વિચાર આવ્યો કે સામાન્ય લોકો હજુ પણ બોરવેલ કે પાણીના એક જ સ્ત્રોત પર નિર્ભર છે. બોરવેલ સુકાઈ જાય કે ઓછું પાણી આવે તો લોકોને ઘણી મુશ્કેલી થાય છે. જ્યારે એ જ વિસ્તારમાં ચોમાસામાં સારો એવો વરસાદ પણ થાય છે. પરંતુ આ પાણીના સંગ્રહ માટે એવી કોઈ વસ્તુ નથી. મેં આ દિશામાં કામ શરૂ કર્યું. મને થયું કે એવું કોઈ નાનું ડિવાઇસ બનાવીએ જેનાથી ધાબા પર રહેલો કચરો વરસાદી પાણીમાંથી દૂર થઈ જાય અને વરસાદી પાણી આપમેળે જ સંગ્રહિત થઈને વાપરવા મળે તો જીવન ખૂબ સરળ થઈ જાય.’

અમિત દોશીએ ડિઝાઈન કરીને બનાવેલું ડિવાઈસ

નજરે ન પડતો કચરો પણ આવી રીતે સાફ થઈ જાય
અમિત દોશી જણાવે છે કે, ‘આ ડિવાઈસ બનાવતા પહેલાં અમે વરસાદી પાણી માટેના અલગ-અલગ ચેમ્બર્સ અને ફિલ્ટર્સનો અભ્યાસ કર્યો. જેના જે પણ તારણો આવ્યાં તેનાથી નક્કી કર્યું કે એવું ડિવાઈસ બનાવીએ જે સસ્તું હોય, વૈજ્ઞાનિક રીતે પણ સારી ક્વોલિટીનું હોય, વધુ પડતી જગ્યા ન રોકે, દીવાલ પર લાગી જાય, વરસાદી પાણીનો સંગ્રહ થતો હોય તેને મૉનિટર કરી શકાય, કોઈ પણ મેન્ટનન્સ ન આવે, ઝીણામાં ઝીણો કચરો ફિલ્ટર થઈ જાય, પાણીનો વેડફાટ ન થાય, કોઈ પણ પ્લમ્બર તેને સરળતાથી લગાવી શકે. આવા મુદ્દાઓને ધ્યાનમાં રાખીને એક બાય દોઢ ફૂટના ડિવાઈસની ડિઝાઈન તૈયારી કરી. જેમાં બધું જ પાણી 400 માઈક્રૉનના પહેલા ફિલ્ટરમાંથી અને 200 માઈક્રૉનમાં બીજા ફિલ્ટરમાંથી પસાર થાય છે. એટલે નાનામાં નાના કણ પણ અને કચરો રોકાઈ જાય છે. આમ શુદ્ધ વરસાદી પાણીનો સંગ્રહ થઈ શકે છે. એ પાણી પાઇપ દ્વારા સીધું જ ટાંકી, બોરવેલ અથવા કૂવામાં લઈ શકાય. આ પ્રક્રિયામાં એક પણ ટીપું વેડફાતું નથી.’

ધાબા પરથી કેટલું ચોખ્ખું પાણી મળે?
‘1200 સ્ક્વેર ફૂટનું ધાબું હોય તો 2 ઈંચ વરસાદમાં 4 હજારથી સાડા 4 હજાર લિટર પાણી મળે. અમદાવાદનું ઉદાહરણ આપું તો આખી સિઝન 60થી 65 હજાર લિટર પાણી મળે. એ પાણી શુદ્ધ હોય છે, સ્વાસ્થ્ય માટે પણ સારું હોય છે. ફ્લેટમાં જો 5 હજાર સ્ક્વેર ફૂટનું ધાબું હોય તો 2 ઈંચના વરસાદમાં 25 હજાર લિટર પાણી મળે. એટલે આખી સિઝન 3 લાખ લિટર પાણી મળે. આ પાણીનું સંચય ન કરવામાં આવે તો ધાબા પરથી જમીન પર આવે અને રસ્તા પર પાણી ભરાઈ જાય. એટલે એ જ પાણી આપણને ઘણું નુકસાન કરે છે. અમે બનાવેલું ડિવાઈસ લગાવવાથી પહેલાં જ વર્ષે 5 હજાર રૂપિયામાં 60 હજાર લિટર પાણી મળે છે. એની એક લિટરની કિંમત શું થઈ? સાવ નજીવી!’

આવી રીતે બોરવેલમાં પહોંચે છે વરસાદી પાણી
‘બોરવેલમાં 4થી 6 ઈંચની એક કેસિંગ પાઇપ હોય છે. જેમાં એક કોલમ પાઇપ હોય. તેના છેડે સબમર્સિબલ પંપ પાણીમાં ડૂબેલો હોય છે. એ પંપ દ્વારા કોલમ પાઇપ મારફતે પાણી આપણને મળે છે. જ્યારે વરસાદી પાણી ધાબાથી નીચે આવે તેની લાઇનમાં વોટર ફિલ્ટર લગાવી દેવામાં આવે છે. જેથી પાણી ચોખ્ખું થઈ જાય છે. આ પાઇપને બોરવેલની મોટી કેસિંગ પાઇપ સાથે જોડી દેવામાં આવે છે. જેથી વરસાદનું પાણી ચોખ્ખું થઈને બોરવેલમાં જતું રહે. જેના કારણે બોરવેલના પાણીના તળ ઉપર આવે છે અને આખું તળ રિજનરેટ થઈ જાય છે. એટલે બોરવેલને સુકાતો બચાવે છે. બોરવેલના પાણીનું TDS અને હાર્ડનેશ ડાયલ્યુશન ઇફેક્ટથી ઘટે છે.

આ ડિવાઈસમાં લાગેલા ફિલ્ટરને કોઈ પણ વ્યક્તિ આસાનીથી ખોલીને સાફ કરી શકે છે.

ક્યાં-ક્યાં છે આ ડિવાઈસની માગ?
‘અમે નિરેન નામથી ડિવાઈસ લોન્ચ કર્યું હતું. 3 વર્ષમાં 4 હજારથી વધુ ડિવાઈસનું ઈન્સ્ટોલેશન થયું છે. દેશમાં સૌથી વધુ વેચાણ ગુજરાતમાં છે. એ પછી કર્ણાટક, મધ્યપ્રદેશ તમિલનાડુ, કેરળ અને રાજસ્થાનમાં થાય છે. વિદેશમાં આફ્રિકા, નોર્થ અમેરિકા, નેપાળમાં પણ ડિવાઈસ ઇન્સ્ટોલ કર્યા છે. વિદેશમાં સૌથી વધુ 200 ડિવાઈસ નોર્થ અમેરિકામાં લગાવ્યાં છે. કુલ હિસાબ લગાવીએ તો અલગ-અલગ જગ્યાએ થઈને અત્યાર સુધી લગભગ 90 કરોડથી વધુ લિટર પાણી બચ્યું છે. આ સિઝનના આંકડા ઉમેરીએ તો કદાચ 125 કરોડ લિટર સુધી આંકડો પહોંચશે.’

ડિવાઈસની કિંમત અને ઈન્સ્ટોલેશન
‘1200 સ્ક્વેર ફૂટના વિસ્તારમાં વરસાદી પાણીના સંગ્રહ માટે કામમાં આવતું આ ડિવાઈસ 2950 રૂપિયામાં મળે છે. તેની સાથે પ્લમ્બિંગનો ખર્ચ થાય. એટલે 6 હજાર રૂપિયાની અંદર ડિવાઈસ લાગી જાય. 20 વર્ષ સુધી કોઈ પણ પ્રકારની વીજળી કે મેન્ટનન્સ જેવો ખર્ચ આવતો નથી. કોઈ પણ પ્લમ્બર કે સામાન્ય વ્યક્તિ 4 સ્ક્રૂ મારફતે તેને દીવાલમાં લગાવી શકે. ટેક્નિકલ 4 ઈંચનો આઉટલેટ અને 4 ઈંચનો ઇનલેટ છે. મોટાભાગના ઘરમાં સરળતાથી લાગી જાય છે.’

અમિત દોશીએ બનાવેલી પ્રોડક્ટથી વરસાદી પાણીને સાફ કરીને તેનો ટાંકીમાં પણ સંગ્રહ કરી શકાય છે.

’80 ટકા પ્રોડક્ટ અમે રહેણાક મકાનમાં લગાવી છે. જેમાં મોટાભાગના મધ્યમ વર્ગના લોકો ગ્રાહક હોય છે. જ્યારે 20 ટકા ડિવાઈસ અમે ઇન્ડસ્ટ્રીમાં લગાવ્યાં છે. ગુજરાતમાં સૌથી વધુ માગ વડોદરામાં જોવા મળી. ત્યાં આસપાસ નવા ડેવલપમેન્ટ બોરવેલ પર આધાર રાખે છે. બોરવેલ સુકાઈ જવાની ફરિયાદો હતી. હવે બોરવેલ રિચાર્જ થયા એટલે આખું વર્ષ પાણી ઘટતું નથી. ગામડામાં જેમને પોતાના બોર છે એ લોકો, જ્યારે શહેરમાં સંસ્થાઓ અને બંગલામાં રહેતા લોકો વધુ પ્રોડક્ટ લે છે. શરૂઆત કરી એ વર્ષે એટલે કે 2020 માં 5 લાખનું ટર્ન ઓવર હતું. ગયા વર્ષે એક કરોડ રૂપિયાનું ટર્નઓવર ક્રોસ કર્યું. આ વર્ષે ડબલ કરવાનો ટાર્ગેટ છે.’

સરકારે પણ જળ સંચય માટે નિયમ બનાવ્યા છે
અમિત દોશીએ એક કિસ્સો યાદ કરતા કહ્યું, ‘બિલ્ડર સાથે વાત કરીએ ત્યારે તેઓ કહે છે કે, અમે સરકારના નિયમોનું પાલન કરવા માટે જળસંગ્રહની વ્યવસ્થા કરીએ જ છીએ. પણ નિયમોના કારણે થતાં આ કામના લીધે કેટલીક વખત જળસંગ્રહની વાત ફક્ત કાગળ પર જ રહી જાય છે. અમદાવાદમાં દર વર્ષે અંદાજે 15 ટકા બોરવેલ સુકાઈ જાય છે. આ મુશ્કેલીનો સરળતાથી નજીવા ખર્ચે ઉકેલ લાવી શકાય એમ છે.’

‘માત્ર પત્નીને જ જાણ હતી કે નોકરી છોડી દીધી છે’
બે અલગ-અલગ કંપનીઓમાં થઈને લગભગ 17 વર્ષ નોકરી કર્યા બાદ પોતાનો બિઝનેસ શરૂ કરવામાં કેવી મુશ્કેલીઓ આવી, તે અંગે વાત કરતા અમિત દોશી કહે છે કે, ‘મેં સિન્ટેક્સમાં નાના ડસ્ટબિનથી લઈને 300 કરોડ રૂપિયા સુધીના પ્રોજેક્ટ પર કામ કર્યું હતું. પરંતુ જ્યારે નોકરી છોડી પોતાનો ધંધો કરવાનો વિચાર આવ્યો ત્યારે નક્કી કર્યું હતું કે ક્યારેય હું બિઝનેસ નહીં કરું. કારણ કે વર્ષ 1997થી બનાવેલી ગુડવિલ અને સંબંધોનો સવાલ હતો. મેં નોકરી છોડી, ત્યારે 2 વર્ષ સુધી ઘરમાં કેટલા રૂપિયાની જરૂર પડશે તે નક્કી કરીને 4 લાખ રૂપિયા અલગ રાખી દીધા હતા. નોકરી છોડી તેની બે વર્ષ સુધી મારા ઘરમાં પત્નીને જ જાણ હતી. કારણ કે જો આ વાત બહાર જાય તો બીજા લોકો કહેતાં કે આટલી સારી નોકરી કેમ છોડી? લોકોને નોકરી મળતી નથી. આવા સવાલોથી હું બચી ગયો. કારણ કે આવી વાતોથી મારી અને પરિવારની માનસિકતા પર નકારાત્મક અસર થઈ શકે. નોકરી છોડ્યા બાદ મને એ જ કંપનીમાંથી ફોન આવ્યો. હું મળવા ગયો ત્યાં મને કહેવામાં આવ્યું કે, તમે અમારી કંપની કરતાં અલગ ફિલ્ડમાં કામ કરો છો. એટલે તમે અમારી સાથે રહીને કન્સલ્ટિંગનું કામ કરી શકો છો. જેના 50 હજાર રૂપિયા મહિને નક્કી થયા. એટલે મારે ઘરનું ટેન્શન વધુ હળવું થઈ ગયું.’

છેલ્લાં ચાર વર્ષમાં ઘણાં રહેણાક મકાનો અને સંસ્થાઓની ઈમારતોમાં જળ સંચય માટે આ પદ્ધતિ અપનાવવામાં આવી છે.

‘મારા બિઝનેસ માટે બે વર્ષ સુધી ઘરેથી કામ કર્યું. એ પછી 2016માં એક ઓફિસ ભાડે લીધી અને પોતાની પ્રોડક્ટ બનાવવા પર ફોકસ કર્યુ. વર્ષ 2018થી પોતાની ઓફિસ લીધી. ત્યારે જ મેં ડિવાઈસની ડિઝાઈન બનાવી હતી.’

AMC સાથે પણ કરાર કર્યા
‘અત્યારે ભારત સરકારની મદદ લઈને અમદાવાદ મ્યુનિસિપલ કોર્પોરેશન સાથે MOU કરીને 8 સંસ્થાઓમાં આ સિસ્ટમ લગાવી છે. એ માટે ભારત સરકારે 20 લાખ રૂપિયા પણ આપ્યા છે. અમારી પ્રોડક્ટ બનાવવા માટે મશીનરીનો ખૂબ ખર્ચ થાય એમ હતો. ત્યારે સ્ટાર્ટ-અપને પ્રોત્સાહન આપવાના ઉદ્દેશથી ભારત સરકારે ફરી મદદ કરી હતી.’

અમારા હિતધારકો માટે પાણીની પરિસ્થિતિ વિશે જાગૃતિ ફેલાવવા માટે આ લેખ પુનઃપ્રકાશિત કરવામાં નીરૈનને ગર્વ છે. 
જે પણ શ્રેય લેખકને જાય છે.
આ લેખ દ્વારા પ્રકાશિત કરવામાં આવ્યો છે: -
https://www.divyabhaskar.co.in/dvb-original/news/leaving-the-job-of-big-
package-and-made-a-cheap-device-that-cleans-water-neerain-amit-doshi-131546196.html

અમે સાથી ભારતીયોના લાભ માટે આને ફેલાવવા માંગીએ છીએ.

લેખક: સારથી એમ.સાગર
 
આ તારીખે પ્રકાશિત કરો: જુલાઈ 17, 2023.

Water crisis paralyses normal life in Belagavi city

Posted on

BELAGAVI: The prevailing water crisis has affected normal life in Belagavi city with educational institutions planning to switch to online classes, hospitals postponing minor surgeries and industries reducing the number of working hours.

Photo courtesy: pinterest

St Paul’s English Medium School, one of the prestigious educational institutions in north Karnataka, has decided to switch to online mode from Monday due to shortage of water. St Paul’s School falls under the Belagavi Cantonment Board (BCB), where water crisis has reached its peak. The school, with a strength of 2,200 students, on Friday had announced plans for online classes from Saturday and later postponed that to Monday as parents of one of the students have supplied two tanker water. A few more schools will switch to online classes if the city doesn’t get rain in a day or two.

Father Savio Abreu, principal of the school, said that the campus has an open well and a borewell which have completely dried up following which it was decided to go online. “Water supplied by a parent on Friday was used on Saturday and we would switch to online classes from Monday if we fail to get water till Sunday night,” he said.

Father Sebastian Pereira, vice principal of the school, said that it was the prime responsibility of the school to provide safe drinking water to students, apart from toilets and washrooms.

The Rakaskop reservoir, one of the primary sources of water for Belagavi city, has just half-a-feet of mud water. The district administration is supplying water in tankers to the rural areas. Things would turn from bad to worse if the city doesn’t receive rain within a week.

Many private hospitals that buy water have postponed minor surgeries and are attending to only emergency cases.

Photo courtesy: Adobe Stock

As the water sources have gone dry, many government district hospitals are already following the same.

The 1,000-bedded district hospital in Belagavi, which is attached to Belagavi Institute of Medical Sciences (BIMS), has planned to buy water from private water sellers. Since the cost was not affordable, the institute, which has a medical college, has planned to send the students of the hostels to their native places so that it can utilise available water for inpatients.

BIMS director Dr Ashok Shetty said that there is no alternative than supplying water to inpatients, mainly those in the maternity wards. Industries in Belagavi have also reduced the number of working shifts due to scarcity of water, which is affecting the economic sector. Belgaum Chamber of Commerce and

Industries former chairman Vikas Kalghatagi said many industries have been closed down and some are reducing the number of working hours.

City Corporation commissioner Rudresh Chali said: “We are responding to serious problems. City Corporation has proposed to disilt and recharge wells to get water.”

Neerain is proud to republish this article for spreading awareness about situation of water, for our stake holders. Credit whatsoever goes to the Author.

This article is published by: –

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/hubballi/water-crisis-paralyses-normal-life-in-belagavi-city/articleshow/101077533.cms

We would like to spread this for the benefit of fellow Indians.

Publish On: Jun 18, 2023

Roofs, rain and life: Rainwater harvesting for safe water supply and sustainable co-benefits

Posted on

Key Takeaways

  • Rainwater harvesting is a valuable part of a water management strategy, can contribute to household water security and should be encouraged and facilitated by governments.

  • Governments can create an enabling environment and policy framework that regulates and incentivizes the implementation of RWH systems. 

  • Governments can promote and support RWH by raising public awareness and develop an appreciation for water resources among residents. 

In an era of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) sector is gaining much more (deserved) attention due to its importance in containing and mitigating the spread of the deadly virus. Moreover, many countries have even established constitutional mandates recognizing WASH services as a Human Right of the population after the United Nations adopted such resolution in 2010.  But despite the importance and recognition of the WASH sector globally in the current era, many developing countries are still far away from reaching the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for Water and Sanitation. Accelerated and sustained coverage of WASH services for all have been the source of debate over the last decade, particularly because of the difficulty of bringing these services to rural and dispersed populations in cost-effective ways and under tight fiscal constraints. 

Photo courtesy: HarvestingRainwater

Accelerating, sustaining and universalizing WASH must rely on multiple options that can be scaled up at reasonable costs to the government, the providers of maintenance and, ultimately, users.  One of the many potential solutions that deserve attention and could help meet these ambitious objectives are rain harvesting solutions. There have been some interesting field case studies in Tanzania that illustrate how rainwater harvesting (RWH) solutions produce spill over benefits on agriculture while increasing resilience. Such effects have been observed even in dry areas in Pakistan. Also, many advocates show RWH breaks the monopolistic (and in many occasions unsustainable) structure of the usual utility service providers. The debate of whether RWH is a viable option within the menu of solutions available to accelerate, sustain (both environmentally and economically) and universalize access to safe water is still open. Because of that reason, this short literature review can provide a clearer “picture” of the features and characteristics of these options.  

Photo courtesy: Homeonline

RWH is useful for the accumulation and deposition of rainwater in specially prepared collection and catchment areas, such as roofs, or areas on the ground, and has numerous (unquantified) benefits. In water-rich countries like Malaysia or Colombia, for instance, RWH has proven useful in improving water security at household and personal scales, and with financial viability. Rainwater can act as a buffer against shortfall, as an alternative primary source in rural areas that lack conventional water supply systems, and as a backup supply source in urban areas. A cost-benefit analysis of RWH options pointed out that these options are not economically viable, but without quantifying the multi-purpose benefits of RWH. For instance, RWH systems can mitigate service interruptions from centralized water distribution systems, or overuse of water from wells in arid regions. RWH can also be used to store rainwater for emergencies such as earthquakes, and as an adaptation strategy to cope with climate extremes such as droughts.  In addition, RWH can help reduce the impacts of flooding through the reallocation of water in small watersheds dedicated for agro-forestry and reduced urban runoff.  

If well managed, rainwater quality can be safe in combination with a framework of international standards. Rainwater is considered an ‘improved water source,’ according to the WHO & UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme (WHO & UNICEF, 2019), when these parameters and standards are met. Therefore, investments in up scaling RWH count towards meeting the targets agreed by national governments for WASH as part of the SDG 6.  

Neerain is proud to republish this blog for spreading awareness about situation of water, for our stake holders. Credit whatsoever goes to the Author.

This blog is published by: –

https://blogs.worldbank.org/water/roofs-rain-and-life-rainwater-harvesting-safe-water-supply-and-sustainable-co-benefits

Author: Christian Borja-Vega

Publish On: November 10, 2020

 

Rooftop Rainwater harvesting – Process and Maintenance

Posted on

An easy step-by-step guide to install rooftop rainwater harvesting (RRWH) at your location.

  • Solution for government buildings, commercial buildings, factories, housing societies, educational institutions, individual houses, etc.

Water scarcity, pollution in water bodies, access to clean drinking water, threat to water-dependent ecology, erratic rainfall and climate change are pressing issues around water management. Several government schemes and policies, non-governmental organisations, and private companies work to address these water issues.

Rainwater harvesting is the technique of collection, filtration and storage of rainwater at surface or in subsurface aquifers, before it is lost as surface run-off, such that the collected water can be harvested in the time of need.

You as individual citizens, colony members, school representatives can harvest rainwater falling in your premises.

will bring the major benefits of:

(i) Maintain level of groundwater in borewell, and prevent the threat of borewell drying up  which otherwise leads to drilling another borewell

(ii) Maintain or reduce TDS level of water and reduce your water purification needs, especially RO treatment which is installed in most urban households. RO creates a lot of reject water in its process, RWH will reduce dependency on RO treatment.

You also contribute to water conservation.

In this article you can find useful resources to install a roof rainwater harvesting system at your place.

Where to install rooftop rainwater harvesting system?

RRWHS can be installed in any building having a roof area, and space to store rainwater in a tank or recharge your own borewell as groundwater. Government offices, institutions, industries, apartments buildings, bungalows, etc., can install rainwater harvesting systems. Schools can also be a  great setting for installing rainwater harvesting systems, as it will meet water needs for students’ and staff, and also inculcate practical learning about water conservation and environment among students.

Types of rainwater harvesting:

Storage:

One way of harvesting rainwater is to store it in a tank on the ground, after filtering it. Depending on water usage and rainfall availability, a large portion of a year’s water needs can be met by this stored rainwater.

Recharge:

Often, space to make storage tanks for rainwater, is inadequate, and in such cases it can be used to recharge the groundwater.In most cases, a functioning borewell itself can be recharged with rainwater after filtering. In some other cases, a defunct borewell (functioning earlier but now not functional), can be used for recharge. If there is no current borewell, a recharge borewell can be made, after studying the aquifer/groundwater characteristics of the location.

Combination:

RRWHS is often implemented as a combination of storage and recharge. The rainwater, after filtering, is led to an existing storage tank on surface. Overflow from the tank, not uncommon in monsoon, is led to recharge the borewell.

Each Components of a rooftop rainwater harvesting system is explained below:

  1. Roof: The roof of any building is an important catchment area, which is a surface on which rainwater falls and it can be directed to storage or for shallow aquifer recharge. The roof can be sloping or flat, and it is important to check that the finishing materials or paint used on the roof is non-toxic and does not contain mercury. Before the first rains, it is important to clean the roof thoroughly to avoid dirt and other impurities from mixing with rainwater.

 

  1. Pipes: Rainwater can be brought down from the roof through pipes. The size of pipes can be decided as per rainfall intensity and roof area. For aesthetic purposes, sometimes people use rain chains instead of pipes. These chains direct the water flow from roof to floor, reduce splashing and create a good visual as water flowers down.

 

  1. First flash valve: The first rain of the monsoon season is not stored because the dirt and organic matter mixes with water and such water can create contamination in storage tank. So the first flash valve removes this water, and subsequent rainwater can be collected.

 

  1. Filter system: A filter is needed to prevent stones, leaves, dust and other particles from entering storage tanks or recharge pits. It can be done using NeeRain rooftop rainwater filters to be mounted a few feet above ground on the pipeline bringing water from the roof.

 

  1. Storage: The capacity of a storage tank can be designed based on space availability, needs and usage. If the water is to be used for drinking purposes, the tank can be smaller than if the intended use is for non-drinking purposes.
  2. Recharge and excess outlet: Once the storage tank is filled, the overflow can be directed to recharge groundwater.
  •  Maintenance
    1. Check the terrace areas for any major spillage of oil, chemicals or garbage and clean it particularly at the beginning of the monsoon season and then every few months.
    2. Water from initial two rain should be drained off. Then close the flash valve for subsequent rains, so the water flows from roof through the filter to the tank or recharge as per design.
    3. If rainwater is being stored and used, then regular water quality tests will have to be done to ensure drinking water standards, and perform treatment if necessary.
    4. Storage tank should be cleaned once a year especially before the monsoon season.
    5. Stored rainwater can be disinfected by UV or boiling water before use.

 

Neerain is proud to republish this article for spreading awareness about situation of water, for our stakeholders. Credit whatsoever goes to the Author.

This article is published by: –

Rooftop Rainwater harvesting (RRWH)

We would like to spread this for the benefit of fellow Indians.

Author: TEAM WIN FOUNDATION

Publish On: Jun 26 , 2021.