A presentation demonstrating the importance of community and traditional practices in water management. Important discussion about the environmental, social and economic changes observed in the region as a result of this community action. Check out http://www.theflowpartnership.org/ to see how you can take action with your community!

2. Overview
 The big picture: sustainability & community water management
 Case study: the Arvari River Basin
 The problem: the impact of water scarcity
 A solution: how a community united to regenerate their region
 The future: how this case study can help you & your community

3. Overview
 The big picture: sustainability & community water management
 Case study: the Arvari River Basin
 The problem: the impact of water scarcity
 A solution: how a community united to regenerate their region
 The future: how this case study can help you & your community

6. United Nations 2015
Sustainable Development Goals
 6.1: By 2030, achieve universal and equitable access to safe and
affordable drinking water for all
 6.2: By 2030, achieve access to adequate and equitable sanitation
and hygiene for all and end open defecation, paying special
attention to the needs of women and girls and those in
vulnerable situations
 6.3: By 2030, improve water quality by reducing pollution,
eliminating dumping and minimizing release of hazardous
chemicals and materials, halving the proportion of
untreated wastewater and substantially increasing recycling
and safe reuse globally
 6.4: By 2030, substantially increase water-use efficiency across all
sectors and ensure sustainable withdrawals and supply of
freshwater to address water scarcity and substantially reduce
the number of people suffering from water scarcity
 6.5: By 2030, implement integrated water resources management
at all levels, including through transboundary cooperation as
appropriate
 6.6: By 2020, protect and restore water-related ecosystems,
including mountains, forests, wetlands, rivers, aquifers and
lakes
 6.a: By 2030, expand international cooperation and capacity-
building support to developing countries in water- and
sanitation-related activities and programmes, including
water harvesting, desalination, water efficiency, wastewater
treatment, recycling and reuse technologies
 6.b: Support and strengthen the participation of local communities
in improving water and sanitation management

7. SDG 6.b: Support &
strengthen the participation of
local communities in improving
water & sanitation management

8. Three pillars of sustainable development

9. Three pillars of sustainable development

10. Overview
 The big picture: sustainability & community water management
 Case study: the Arvari River Basin
 The problem: the impact of water scarcity
 A solution: how a community united to regenerate their region
 The future: how this case study can help you & your community

11. The Avari Basin
Basin overview:
▪ River 45 km long
▪ Catchment 50,000 ha
▪ 75 villages
Extreme climate:
 Severe drought
 Monsoon rains, flooding

12. 0
50
100
150
200
250
300
350
Rainfall
[mm/month] Rajasthan Rainfall Averages

15. Overview
 The big picture: sustainability & community water management
 Case study: the Arvari River Basin
 The problem: the impact of water scarcity
 A solution: how a community united to regenerate their region
 The future: how this case study can help you & your community

16. “the region has seen unprecedented environmental degradation in the last 50 years”

17. “women spent more than 10 hours per day collecting water”

18. “Men who had earned their living as farmers left to find work in distant cities”

20. Environment Society
Economy

22. Overview
 The big picture: sustainability & community water management
 Case study: the Arvari River Basin
 The problem: the impact of water scarcity
 A solution: how a community united to regenerate their region
 The future: how this case study can help you & your community

24. • Worst drought in history in 1985
• The idea of reviving the traditional water harvesting structures was
brought up
• With the help of Tarun Bhagat Sangh (TBS), people started to dig silt out of
the 'Johads‘
• Johads - small earthern check dams

26. Water brings wildlife back to the region
Catching the monsoon
Cattle have good supply of water

27. GW levels increased | 30% expansion of forest cover | Irrigable area increased four fold
17
13.7
12.4
15.2
22.5
9.4
6.7
7
9.2
17.6
0
5
10
15
20
25
Bhaonta-Koylala Gopalpura Hamirpura Nangal Baru Doomoli
Annualaveragedepthofgroundwater[m]
GW DEPTH BEFORE & AFTER WATER CONSERVATION WORKS
Before conservation works After conservation works

28. • It took years
• In 1990, river starts to flow again after remaining dry for over 60 years
• In 1995, Arvari becomes a perennial river
• Water was clear during non-monsoon season
RIVER REBORN

30. • Construction activities managed entirely by local people
• Rural Engineers equipped with indigenous technology
• Extremely low cost structures (approx. 1€ per m3 of storage)
• No collapse of structures till date
INGREDIENTS FOR SUCCESS’

31. As of 2014,
 3500 harvesting
structures
 Revival of four other rivers
o Ruparel
o Sarsa
o Bhagani-Teldeh
o Jahajwali Nadi
Today

33. • Conflicts with government
• Auctioning of fishing rights
• Interest for industries
• Illegal marble mining

35. • Two representatives from each village
• Rules on water use, forest protection and privatisation
• Training programmes for youth
• No legal status 
• Lack of direct female participation 
COOPERATION AS A TRANSFORMATIVE FORCE

36. Overview
 The big picture: sustainability & community water management
 Case study: the Arvari River Basin
 The problem: the impact of water scarcity
 A solution: how a community united to regenerate their region
 The future: how this case study can help you & your community

38. “"What the villagers have done is like giving birth to a river…they say that only gods can do that”

39. "Nobody had a chance to go to school before. We do now” Bhajan Lal
first ever university student from village of Mandelwas

40. In 1985 there were 11 milk cake shops…now there are 100 of them. Milk production has gone up by ten times,”

42. System is moving towards sustainability

47. What are the water issues in
your country..? What can
you & your community
do to improve the situation..?

49. Stockholm World Water Awards: 2015 Rajendra Singh
Indian Centre for Science and the Environment: Arvari
United Nations Sustainable Development Goals 2015
Flow Water Partnership 2015