Rain Water Harvesting

85 new Rainwater Harvesting structures have been built by FORCE. All the structures have been made as per drawings that have been sanctioned by Central Groundwater Authority (Ministry of Water Resources). These structures collect the rainwater run-off, cleanse it of suspended impurities and direct it up to the start of the active aquifer; thereby maximizing the effective recharge to groundwater. The cost per liter of recharge to groundwater is only 2 to 3 paisa (INR 0.03).

Have helped rainwater harvesting structures once made to continue to work efficiently. We restored and maintained 56 existing rainwater harvesting structures to optimum working efficiency in 2006 and 75 such structures in 2007 and 2008.

Innovations in Rainwater Harvesting Technology: Online Water Filters originally developed by CGWB – have been modified by FORCE to suit Delhi conditions and reduce its cost. These cheap and easy to maintain filters can be used to directly take rooftop rainwater runoff to existing bore wells. With 3 lakh tube wells in Delhi, many of which are private, these filters present a tremendous opportunity to do rainwater harvesting. At a minimal cost of just Rs. 6000-10,000/- (including installation) they can help a 100 sq.mt. plot harvest up to 45,000/- liters of water every year for 10 years. These filters can be mass produced and made available anywhere in the country/world.

We have introduced a simple innovation ‘Shutter and Bye-Pass’ to make sure that non-rainfall water does not get into the community rainwater harvesting structures. This is important because, in urban areas people discharge washing machine water etc into the storm water drainage system. Without the Shutter and Bye- Pass system, this can get into the rainwater harvesting structure and contaminate the aquifers. This innovation can be easily made by anyone who is doing rainwater harvesting anywhere in the world.

We have initiated the JAL SANCHAY ABHIYAAN a movement to convert 100 abandoned tube wells in Delhi into Community Groundwater Recharge Wells. CGWB, Delhi Jal Board and Bhagidari cell (Delhi Govt) are supporting this movement. This movement can be replicated across the country.

Approx. 3 crores (INR 30 Million) of Non government funds have already been spent into urban water conservation efforts due to our P-4 model of partnership. This amount does not include the funds released by government and by the communities themselves for water conservation in their areas.

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