Rainwater harvesting through recharge well

[Manu Sharma]

Hi all,

In a previous post (Greening Our Schools), I mentioned the idea of recharge pits for rainwater harvesting rather than underground storage. I learnt about this method from rainwater club, an NGO based in Bangalore. A detailed story on this method and how it's transforming a residential neighborhood in Bangalore has just appeared online.

Main story

Rainbow Drive / Sarjapur Road
Water supply from the bottom up

'Waterless colony' is what this region of south-eastern Bangalore is beginning to be called. Witness how citizens in one layout decided to turn the tables without BWSSB stepping in to bail them out.

Accompanied primer on how a recharge well works.

Water For The City
Borewells, open wells and groundwater in Bangalore

Conversations on groundwater recharging and rainwater harvesting tend to assume a knowledge of the meanings of several terms. Here's a quick primer for Bangaloreans.

Thanks,
Manu

[Biome]

Hi all,

Thanks Manu for this post.

Harvesting could be done in two ways one by recharge and other by storage.

The recharge structure is very dependent on the soil type and cannot be followed in every place. Do refer to the web site of rainwaterclub...www.rainwaterclub.org  for further clarifications. 

Storage structures maybe slightly more expensive in the beginning but show results immediately. Again the web site will give you a good idea. It indeed has been a boon in fluoride and arsenic affected areas.

Also, Vishwanath has close to 150 movies on Youtube explaining different aspects of water harvesting, use and reuse at the link 

Lastly, we harvested 4 kgs of rice from our terrace rice patch of 8"X14"....using grey water for irrigation.

Regards,

Chitra Vishwanath

Thus ideally harevsting should be done in combination with storage and recharge.

--
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Biome Environmental Solutions Pvt Ltd,
No. 1022, 1st Floor, 6th Block
H.M.T. Layout, Vidyaranyapura,
Bangalore - 560 097.
Ph- +91 80 41672790, +91 80 23644690
www.inika.com/chitra
www.rainwaterclub.org
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[Manu Sharma]

Hi Chitra,

Thanks for writing in. In areas such as Delhi, the monsoon rainfall pattern are such that we get 80% of rains in 3-4 months of the year. So you'd need a very large storage tank if you want to use rainwater year round.

In areas like Bangalore where rainfall is more even through the year, a smaller tank would suffice since regular rainfall will keep recharging it through the year. This is why I prefer the recharge well method for areas like Delhi.

I'd be interested in knowing if you've done any such projects in Delhi / Gurgaon region. Also, please feel free to write in to Green-India to showcase any energy / sustainability projects of your organisation.  

Thanks,
Manu

[Biome]

Dear Manu,

Thanks for the reply.

The gist of the last mail is to work at the ideal combination of storage and recharge. Storage is the visible application of RWH (Rain water Harvesting) and the same can be designed for cooking and drinking water alone in most cases. When it is for this purpose alone the volume required will not be very large. 

For the rest a combination of wells, grey water reuse along with eco sanitaion could be the key.

Yes, we have designed one residence in Bahadurgarh  .It is close to five years old. It runs on Solar power when grid power is unavailable, one of the only house in the area which is not spewing diesel fumes .

He can be contacted at 09811050909.

Regards,

Chitra

On Thu, Jul 24, 2008 at 1:30 PM, Manu Sharma <orang...@gmail.com> wrote:

Hi Chitra,

Thanks for writing in. In areas such as Delhi, the monsoon rainfall pattern are such that we get 80% of rains in 3-4 months of the year. So you'd need a very large storage tank if you want to use rainwater year round.

In areas like Bangalore where rainfall is more even through the year, a smaller tank would suffice since regular rainfall will keep recharging it through the year. This is why I prefer the recharge well method for areas like Delhi.

I'd be interested in knowing if you've done any such projects in Delhi / Gurgaon region. Also, please feel free to write in to Green-India to showcase any energy / sustainability projects of your organisation.  

Thanks,
Manu

[T.jayaraman]

hi manu,


Both my house and office are designed not to let a drop of water used or rainwater out from the premises - sewage is treated passively and lt inot the ground - grey water is used for the roof lawn in the office, and for  the coconut tree at home.

I will end you a report on a 18 acre ashram at ranchi on flodd control  rainwater harvesting and waste water treatment on an integral scale - after verifying from the ashram if i can disclose the data.

T.Jayaraman

[Manu Sharma]

Thanks Chitra and Mr. Jayaraman. The work you all are doing is an inspiration for all of us.

Mr. Jayaraman, I look forward to the report on the ashram.

Thanks,
Manu

On Thu, Jul 24, 2008 at 5:18 PM, T.jayaraman <tee...@seco-india.com> wrote:

hi manu,


Both my house and office are designed not to let a drop of water used or rainwater out from the premises - sewage is treated passively and lt inot the ground - grey water is used for the roof lawn in the office, and for  the coconut tree at home.

I will end you a report on a 18 acre ashram at ranchi on flodd control  rainwater harvesting and waste water treatment on an integral scale - after verifying from the ashram if i can disclose the data.

T.Jayaraman

[Gumma Mahadev]

Greetings to all   We are all looking forward for the report on rainwater harvesting at the ashram.   Heres wishing and hoping that Chitra and Jayaram will get the ok from the ashram to disclose it.   mahadev --- On Fri, 7/25/08, Manu Sharma <orang...@gmail.com> wrote: