This document summarizes a student project on rainwater harvesting. It defines rainwater harvesting as collecting water from surfaces where rain falls and storing it for later use, usually from rooftops. Benefits include being inexpensive and providing a continuous local water source. Challenges are limited supply due to rainfall variability. Systems include catchment areas, collection/storage tanks, and conveyance systems to transfer water. The document provides diagrams and examples of rainwater harvesting and its importance for agriculture, livestock, meeting water demands, and preventing waterlogging and soil erosion. It suggests starting with government and public buildings to test effectiveness before broader implementation.

1. PROJECT ON RAINWATER HARVESTING
By Mr. Parth Muchandi (77)
Mr. Ayan Pathan (84)
Mr. Sami Shaikh (117)
Mr. Aseem Nalband (79)

2. WHATIS RAINWATER HARVESTING
 The harvesting of rain water simply involves the collection of water from
surfaces on which rain falls, and subsequently storing this water for later use.
Normally water is collected from the roofs of buildings and stored in
rainwater tanks.
 It is the accumulation and deposition of rainwater for reuse on site.
 The harvested water can also be used as drinking water, long term storage
and for other purposes such as ground water recharge.

3. ADVANTAGES
 The technology is single and easy to install.
 Local people can be easily trained to implement such technology and
construction material is easily available.
 It has low maintenance cost and running cost.
 Water collected from roof catchments usually is of acceptable quality for
domestic purpose.
 Rain water can be a continuous source of water supply for both the rural and
the poor.
 Depending upon the conditions both water collection capacity and storage
capacity can be increased as needed within the available catchment area.

4. DISADVANTAGES
 Disadvantages are mainly due to the limited supply and uncertainty of
rainfall.
SUITABILITY
 The augmentation of municipal water supplies with harvested
rainwater is suited to both urban and rural areas. The
construction of cement jars or provision of gutters does not
require very high skilled manpower.

5. SYSTEM OF RAINWATER HARVESTING
 Catchment area:- This include roof catchment where rainwater is collected in
simple vessels at the edge of the roof and land surface catchment which involves
improving runoff capacity of land surface through various techniques including
collection of runoff with drain pipes and storage of collected water.
 Collection Devices:- Storage tanks for collecting rainwater harvested using
guttering may be either above or below the ground. Precautions required in the
use of storage tanks include provision of an adequate enclosure to minimize
contamination from human, animal or other environmental contaminants.
 Conveyance system:- It is required to transfer the rainwater collected on the roof
tops to the storage tanks. This is usually accomplished by making connections to
one or more down pipes connected to the rooftop gutter. Consideration should be
given to the fact when if first rains dirt and debries from the rooftop and gutters
will be washed into the down pipe. Thus, the relatively clean water will only be
available some time later in the stom.

6. METHODS OF RAINWATER HARVESTING
 Surface runoff harvesting:- In urban area rainwater flows away as surface
runoff. The runoff could be caught and used for recharging aquifers by
adopting appropriate methods.
 Roof top rain water harvesting:- In this system the rain water is collected
from the roofs and it can be stored in a tank or can be diverted to
implemented properly helps in augmenting the ground water level of the
area. This system mainly constitutes of following sub components:-
1. Catchment
2. Transportation
3. First flush
4. Filter

7. DIAGRAMS OF RAIN WATER HARVESTING

8. DIAGRAM OF RAIN WATER HARVESTING

10. RAIN WATER HARVESTING IN REAL LIFE

13. IMPORTANCE OF RAINWATER HARVESTING
1. The gathered rain water can be used for agricultural purposes. The
environment may be helped to get rid of the tendency to drought.
2. The requirement of water for feeding the live stock can be met.
3. The ever increasing demand for water can be satisfied.
4. The quantity of the subterranean water can be increased.
5. Wastage of water flowing through drain, gutter, or any other water-course of
any type may be stopped.
6. Water-logging on roads and thoroughfares can be checked and localities can
be saved from being inundated.
7. The quantity of water can be raised and soil erosion can be checked.

14. SUGGESTIONS
For a small town we should try to harvest rain water from roof tops as it is less
costly. We should try it first in:-
1. Government buildings
2. Offices
3. Courts
4. Government bungalows
5. Public buildings
6. Public toilets
We than check the effectiveness and efficiency of this system and proceed
further for every household in town and try harvesting the surface runoff also.
This will further reduce the water logging problem of our town and also would
solve the problem of water supply in the town and nearby areas.

15. THANK YOU