Rain Water Harvesting & Storm Water Management
In this course we will learn about Rain Water Harvesting & Storm Water Management.
Rain water harvesting
Rainwater harvesting is a simple method by which rainfall is collected for future usage. The collected water can be stored for direct use or diverted for borewell/groundwater recharge.
With depleting groundwater levels and fluctuating climate conditions, RWH can go a long way to help mitigate these effects. Rainwater is the ultimate source of all the fresh water that we use.
Capturing the rainwater can help recharge local aquifers, reduce urban flooding and most importantly ensure water availability in water-scarce zones.
Domestic rainwater harvesting is a relatively simpler affair, where even a rain barrel can serve as a storage unit for rooftop RWH. Individual homes have successfully implemented this easy and eco-friendly method. Farmers also have implemented RWH to transform a barren piece of land into a self sustainable, lush green farm.
The rainwater that falls on the roof is pure, but since it comes in contact with various surfaces on its way to the storage units, some dust and leaves may get carried away with it. This can be reduced if the terrace is swept before the rains. However, even if some dust or leaves go into the sump, they do not cause any harm as long as the water is boiled before consumption.
Various filters can be utilized to remove such suspended pollutants from the rainwater collected to make it safer for consumption.
Storm water management
Storm water management is the effort to reduce runoff of rainwater or melted snow into streets, lawns and other sites and the improvement of water quality,
When storm water is absorbed into the soil, it is filtered and ultimately replenishes aquifers or flows into streams and rivers. However, when heavy rainwater hits, ground saturated by water creates excess moisture that runs across the surface and into storm sewers and road ditches. This water often carries debris, chemicals, bacteria, eroded soil, and other pollutants, and carries them into streams, rivers, lakes, or wetlands.
In urban and developed areas, impervious surfaces such as pavement and roofs prevent precipitation from naturally soaking into the ground. Instead, water runs rapidly into storm drains, sewer systems and drainage ditches and can cause flooding, erosion, turbidity (or muddiness), storm and sewer system overflow, and infrastructure damage.
In rural areas main problem is impermeable surfaces (e.g. caused by roads and buildings) and overstrained sewer systems .In rural areas and agricultural land it can lead to erosion.
Furthermore, this water could be used for agriculture and drinking water. Beside techniques that can be implemented in rural and urban areas. There are specific tools for rural areas and agriculture land. These include irrigation systems, called spate irrigation, or small-scale precipitation techniques such as micro basins, gully plug, field trenches, bunds, dams and of course rooftop harvesting. All of these techniques make use of important water sources while also reducing peak flows during rainy periods, storing water, and can control the power and velocity of floods.
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