WaterLink is the name of our team of University of Minnesota students working on the 2009 polit Acara challenge. (http://www.acarainstitute.org/). In this presentation we outline the need for rainwater harvest tools to be brought to the slum Dharavi, India. This is the area made famous by Slumdog Millionaire and the largest slum in Asia. We happily accept any comments as we continue this process. Thank you.

1. community rainwater harvesting
P. Daniels, K. Grande, E. Hubbard, N. Kulkarni

2. How long
would you
wait for water ?

3. There isn’t enough water for
slum residents.

4. rainwater harvesting

5. Location: Dharavi, Mumbai, India

6. Over half the people in Mumbai live in slums
American
Mumbai resident
Dharavi resident
lack of sewage systems account for
high rates of water-borne disease
tap water is available for 3 hours per day

7. “There are times when
we do not get water for a
couple of days in a row.”
“On days when there is no tap water, they
jack up the price to 9-10 rupees for a can.”
“We used to go in search of water at 3:30 in
“We cannot get taps
the morning and collect three or four
officially. We have filled
handaas by seven o’ clock.”
in forms so many times
but the municipality
throws them away.”
“When we wash bed sheets, blankets etc., we
need to buy water worth nearly 50 rupees.”
Environment & Urbanization 2003

8. quantity
not quality

9. a complex setup

10. tap water from municipal sources
governmental influence needed
domestic waste
behavioral change necessary
industrial waste
substantial contamination
artificial—tankers from outside
expensive, unsustainable
rainwater harvesting
the link to a sustainable water supply

11. Dharavi rainfall
900
800
700
Rainfall Average (mm)
600
500
400
300
200
100
0
J F M A M J J A S O N D

12. Kumbharwada
Dharavi’s pottery district

13. water and pottery

14. overview of solution
rainwater falls on roofs
collected by gutters
flows into pits or tanks
available for bathing, dishes, laundry
water available beyond monsoon season

15. pits as rainwater tanks

16. gutters as rainwater collectors

17. target markets
Stage 1
Stage 2
Stage 3
pilot entire other
region slum slums
pottery district Dharavi worldwide

18. business model
set up
partner
install recover
payment
with local
installment systems costs
organization
plan

19. rainwater belongs to everyone

20. in the field now
receiving feedback
from potters
partnering with local
organizations

21. a sustainable solution
simple design
minimal behavioral changes needed
uses local materials
improves health
doesn’t depend on government
community-based solution

22. acknowledgments
Thank you to our teammates in India: Hansa,
Sachin, and Nandini
Kaleel Ahmed
Anita Kulkarni
Adam Van Sickle
Jamie Mosel
Jordan Shuck