Traditional methods of rain water harvesting

1. http:// www.rainwaterharvesting.org/Rural/Traditional2.htm#ahar http:// www.bebuffered.com/downloads/UNHABITAT_Blue_Drop_Series_RWH&Utilisation.pdf Refer these sites for more info

2. Traditional Methods Of Rain Water Harvesting

3. INTRODUCTION Water forms the lifeline The population is increasing rapidly All the inhabitants do not have access to safe water There is major problem of supplying adequate water Water Harvesting thus needed

4. Concept and Technology A technology used for collecting and storing rainwater for human use ,using simple engineered techniques .

5. Methods Paar system Talab / Bandhis Saza Kuwa Johad Nada/ Bandha Kunds / Kundis Kuis / Beris Baoris / Bers Tankas /Tanks Khadin Bengal's Inundation Channel Ahar-pynes

6. Paar system A common water harvesting practice in the western Rajasthan Rainwater flows from the agar (catchment) and percolates into the sandy soil To acces Rajani pani (percolated water) kuis or beris are dug in the agor (storage area)

7. Talab / Bandhis Natural - the ponds  ( pokhariyan )  at Tikamgarh in the Bundelkhand region. Human-made - the lakes in Udaipur . When the water in these reserviors dries up just a few days after the monsoon, the pond beds are cultivated with rice.

8. Saza Kuwas An open well with multiple owners ( saza  = partner ) The soil dug out to make the well pit is used to construct a huge circular foundation sloping away from the well.

9. Johad Earthen check dams that capture and conserve rainwater Five rivers that used to go dry immediately following the monsoon have now become perennial, such as the River Arvari , has come alive. 

10. Nada/ Bandha Found in the Mewar region of the Thar desert A stone check dam, constructed across a stream or gully, to capture monsoon runoff on a stretch of land

11. Kunds / Kundis Looks like an upturned cup nestling in a saucer A wire mesh across water-inlets prevents debris from falling into the well-pit. The sides of the well-pit are covered with (disinfectant) lime and ash . Most pits have a dome-shaped cover, or at least a lid, to protect the water

12. Kuis / Beris Found in western Rajasthan, 10-12 m deep pits dug near tanks to collect the seepage The mouth of the pit is usually made very narrow to prevent the collected water from evaporating Used to harvest rainwater in areas with meagre rainfall.

13. Baoris / Bers Baoris  or  bers   are community wells used mainly for drinking Can hold water for a long time because of almost negligible water evaporation.

14. Khadin A khadin , also called a dhora , is an ingenious construction designed to harvest surface runoff water for agriculture Based on the principle of harvesting rainwater on farmland and subsequent use of this water-saturated land for crop production.

15. Ahar pines A catchment basin embanked on three sides, the 'fourth' side being the natural gradient of the land itself Pynes are articifial channels constructed to utilise river water in agricultural fields . The ahar-pyne system received a death-blow under the nineteenth-century British colonial regime.

16. Conclusion