Rain Water Harvesting
nlok...@gmail.com
population of about 6 millions but is a chronic water starved city.
Its water needs are being served by four lakes which get filled up
during monsoons. If the monsoon fails then there would not be any
water to drink, let alone for cooking or washing. The washing is
invariably done with underground water which is exploited to its
maximum potential.
Nobody thinks about the recharging of the underground aquifers till
the previous government of Jayalalitha did a yeomen service of
compulsory re-charging of the underground sources by all house owners
and business establishments. This has resulted in the rise of ground
water levels in all the areas of the city. This lady has the courage
and acumen to get things done in a government known for sluggishness
and inefficiency.
But there is a huge potential to collect the rain water from the
roads, open spaces, play grounds etc where the water is wasted and
goes into the gutter, get mixed with sewage and wasted.
Even a normal rain of one hour could bring about ten days of the water
requirements of the city if it is collected in half of the quantity.
Countries like Israel which are perennial water starved countries can
show ways and means for these projects.
But our people are lethargic and never plan for future and once a real
famine comes then only start thinking to solve the problem.
If the total rain water is collected and used we may not require huge
desalination plants or even huge investments for water schemes.