| Shortage of potable water supply in urban areas is | | | | semi-circular and rectangular gutters. Semi-circular |
| one of the main problems which is being faced by all | | | | gutters of PVC material can be readily prepared by |
| countries including developed countries of the world. | | | | cutting the PVC pipes into two equal semi-circular |
| Human beings can not survive without water even for | | | | channels. Bamboo poles can also be used for making |
| a day. The underground water is depleting day by day | | | | gutters if they are locally available in sufficient quantity. |
| everywhere, whereas population of urban areas is | | | | Use of such locally available materials reduce the over |
| increasing at alarming rate, mainly, due to migration of | | | | all cost of the system. |
| population from rural areas to urban areas and hence | | | | 2. Storm Water Recharging Through Open Drains |
| increasing the demand of water. In urban areas, the | | | | In urban areas natural way rain water harvesting |
| charging of underground water in natural way like rural | | | | occurs only in areas left out for open spaces and |
| areas is not taking place due to large sprawl of urban | | | | parks. In the new areas which are being developed by |
| settlements. | | | | the Urban Development Authorities / Civic bodies, the |
| Moreover, due to non charging of rain water during | | | | storm water is disposed off through underground |
| rainy season, the urban areas are causing heavy | | | | channels of sewer lines, thus leaving no scope for |
| floods. These floods destroy urban infrastructure and | | | | recharging of this rain water into the earth. |
| crops of suburban areas every year during rainy | | | | The Haryana Government has made a step forward |
| season. Hence, there is a necessity to propagate | | | | in this direction by making necessary provisions in the |
| harvesting of rain water in urban areas. | | | | Building Bye Laws enacted under the Punjab |
| Rain Water Harvesting Techniques:- | | | | Scheduled Roads and Controlled Areas Restrictions of |
| In Urban areas rain water harvesting can be divided | | | | Unregulated Development Rules 1963. The said Rules |
| into two categories as described below. | | | | are described as below. |
| 1. Rooftop Rainwater Harvesting:- | | | | • The system of collection, conveyance and |
| The rooftop rain water harvesting system requires | | | | dispersion of rain water for harvesting shall be made in |
| four elements i.e. a catch-ment area, (ii) conduits, (iii) | | | | such a manner that only clear water is able to enter. |
| settlement tank and (iv) recharge or storage facility. | | | | No contaminated / waste water from the building or |
| For rain water harvesting system, a dried bore well, an | | | | surrounding areas should find its way into the system. |
| underground tank or soak pit are required along with | | | | • The entry points of the rain water for |
| conduits or the pipes carrying rain water from the | | | | harvesting shall be designed in such a manner that in |
| catchment or roof tops to harvesting/storage system. | | | | normal days these remain covered. Arrangement of |
| • Roof Catchment: | | | | segregation of the rain water from the first shower |
| The roof of the house is used as the catchment for | | | | (containing the wash water) should also be provided. |
| collecting the rainwater. The style, construction and | | | | • The arrangement for quick filtration of rain |
| material of the roof effect its suitability as a catchment. | | | | water shall also be made in the rain water harvesting |
| Roofs made of corrugated iron sheet, asbestos sheet, | | | | well/tube-well, so that the rain water does not pollute |
| tiles or concrete can be utilized as such for harvesting | | | | or choke the strata. |
| the rainwater. But thatched roofs are not suitable as it | | | | • The complete system of rain water |
| gives some colour to water and also the water carries | | | | harvesting will be constructed within the area of the |
| pieces of roof material (such as palm leaves). | | | | plot, defined in the zoning plan for the plot. |
| • Gutters: | | | | • The recharge well shall be located at a |
| Gutters are channels fixed to the edges of roof all | | | | distance of not less than ten meters away from any |
| around to collect and transport the rainwater from the | | | | structure handling sewage or industrial waste water |
| roof to the storage tank. Gutters can be prepared in | | | | (such as septic tank or effluent treatment plant). This |
| semi-circular and rectangular shapes. Locally, available | | | | minimum distance of ten meters will not be applicable |
| material such as plain galvanized iron sheet can be | | | | to manholes or sewer lines although it will be ensured |
| easily folded to required shapes to prepare | | | | that they are leak proof. |