The Benefits of Harvesting Rainwater in India

Harvesting rainwater is collecting and storing rainwater for future use. The rainwater can be used for drinking, bathing or cleaning. Because about 2.2 billion people around the world still lack clean water, harvesting rainwater has become essential in collecting clean water.  In India, about 54% of the subcontinent faces an extreme lack of clean water. 

India’s Traditional Ways to Harvest Rainwater

India utilized the practice of harvesting rainwater for generations. The rural parts of India especially depend on the use of harvesting rainwater to water crops, cleaning and doing laundry, and simply for drinking.

One traditional rainwater harvesting method is surangas. It is one of the lesser known methods of harvesting rainwater. It is mostly used in the Kasaragod district in the state of Kerala, which lies in the southeastern part of India on the peninsula.

Suranga is a horizontal tunnel dug into a hill. Waters flows through these tunnels into ponds. Suranga is a lifeline for the people in Kasaragod to quench their drinking water needs.

Another common form of harvesting rainwater is taanka. Taankas are underground tanks that serve almost like a reservoir. Taankas provide water during times of water scarcity to 10,000 families in the city of Ahmedabad in the state of Gujarati near the Sabarmati River.

The Dangers of Harvesting Rainwater

Although harvesting rainwater is an easy and inexpensive method to collect clean water, poorly maintained systems can be detrimental to users. Rainwater can flow over contaminated surfaces and collect parasites, bacteria and other harmful substances. These substances can cause diseases that would otherwise be avoidable.

The best way to avoid disease from rainwater is using the water collected for cleaning or watering plants. However, since rainwater may be the only source of clean water for the people in India, they need to use it for drinking and cooking. They can use a filtration system of chemicals to purify the water, but sometimes they do not have the means to do so. Boiling the water is an inexpensive and simple way to quickly clean rainwater.

The Cost Effectiveness of Harvesting Rainwater

Despite the dangers of harvesting rainwater, it is still a safe and cost-effective method to collect clean water when used efficiently. The amount of water collected depends on the area of where the water is caught and the amount of rainfall in a region.