Environment Self reliance – Water Management

The major source of all water is rain. River water, water in lakes, ponds and wells, water that seeps into the ground etc are the other sources of water. To meet the increasing demands of water, it is necessary to harvest more water. Building dams across a river to block its flow, boosting water out of the ground and sucking the earth dry, building canals or laying kilometers of pipes does not help to make enough water available. Water can be harvested by storing the rain water.
 
The basis of rain water harvesting is to catch water where it falls. The water harvesting method used in each place depends on the rainfall received by that area. A step by step approach to meet our needs is necessary. One must first understand that the major source of water is not a river, underground aquifer, lake or well. Rain is the major source. Secondly in India the monsoon is a deluge and fills up ponds, lakes, rivers and other water bodies. But the monsoon is brief. Thirdly one must understand the rainwater needs to be harvested by capturing, storing and recharging it. This water can be later used during prolonged parched periods. In water management the key component is the storage of water especially in India. Rain water can be harvested on any land. The material used may vary locally according to its availability. To promote environmental self-reliance each Kochi apartment is now trying to install the rain water harvesting system to make maximum utilization of the rain water received.