Water Harvesting

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Water Harvesting
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Water harvesting measures

• These are artificial recharge measures that
  capture rainfall and run-off and store it in the
  soil profile or add to the recharge

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Water harvesting measures

• There are many different types of water
  harvesting techniques depending on
• natural conditions (slope, soil, rainfall
  patterns)
• local knowledge and traditions

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Some examples of water harvesting measures

• Recharge wells
• Percolation ponds
• Contour bunding
• Checkdams and gully-plugs
• Subsurface dams

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By channelling run-off to disused dugwells,
recharge wells are created
Recharge well
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Percolation tank
These tanks collect rainwater and run-off and
make sure it infiltrates
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Contour Bund
Intercepts the sheetflow and ponds up water in
the gully, so that it infiltrates
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Some examples of water harvesting measures
Block and impound stormwater flow in riverbeds
and gullies
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Subsurface dams

• These are built underground
• They intercept subsurface flows in river beds
• They serve both to recharge and to increase
  water tables in the area

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Local water harvesting measures

• Where possible small and low cost water
  harvesting structures such as recharge wells -
  may be promoted, as these
• can be made with local and even individual
  investment
• can be easily maintained

When people invest themselves in recharge it is
also more likely that they will develop local
rules on using groundwater
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There are also many opportunities to integrate
road planning with artificial recharge by having
road bunds slowing down surface run-off
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This bridge for instance doubles up as a checkdam!
Flood water in the river bed is retained before
it flows through the culverts
Water retained here