Need of Rainwater harvesting in urban India

Water is the most important resource for any life to exist. One issue that urban India has on its list is the water crisis. They get most of their water supply from rivers and lakes. As the local footprints dry out due to mismanagement and overuse, the search for another resource turns even more distant. The situation has an ironical turn. At one side the cities are facing severe water crisis and on the other hand they are flooded with rainwater which is the most common source of fresh water, at the times of monsoon. The neglected harvesting systems have simply worsen the situations. Today the hunt for source and its sustainability is a big concern. One of the solution for the water crisis is the capturing of the rainwater through rainwater harvesting.

Rainwater harvesting

Rainwater harvesting is the most effective method of water conservation. It is used to collect and store rainwater for use by humans, animals, agriculture and industries. The rainwater in this process is collected at the surface before it is lost as surface run off.
The ground water is then recharged artificially through the process. This is the most useful method for the developing country like India where there is huge gap in demand and supply of fresh water and to reduce the cost of transportation and treatment of water for
use.

Need for rainwater harvesting

The first and the foremost reason for rainwater harvesting is to overcome the situation of inadequacy of surface water to meet the demands.
To increase the groundwater table this can be the easiest and the economical choice.
To replenish the subsoil of the city area which is covered with thepavements.
To recharge the underground water tables at places where the availability of rainwater is higher or to overcome the situation of water logging.
Rainwater harvesting also improves the quality of underground water through the process called dilution.
To get the water for irrigation of greenbelts, farms, gardens etc.
Rainwater harvesting also improves the quality of underground water through the process called dilution.To get the water for irrigation of greenbelts, farms, gardens etc.

Benefits of rainwater harvesting in urban India

The cost incurred to recharge the groundwater is lower than maintaining the surface reserves.
The aquifers can be used for distribution of water to the nearby places, thus shortening the distance the water is transported and minimizing the water loss.
The land is not occupied for the storage purpose nor does the population needs to be moved from one place to another.
The groundwater have minimum scope for evaporation or pollution which means more reliable water for daily consumption.
The rainwater harvesting and groundwater recharge also minimizes the chances of flood like situations and water logging at various locations.
The water logging and flood lead to soil erosion which can be checked with the rainwater harvesting.
The groundwater recharge with the help of rainwater harvesting can also help to curb the drought like situation.
These are just few reasons for opting for rainwater harvesting.
This is also simple to apply and can be carried at both large and residential levels thus involving everyone for their contribution towards saving the nature and our generations.