RAINWATER HARVESTING
 Summers
in the city mean water scarcity. This problem is compounded
by increased salinity and receding ground water levels. But,
there is a novel idea that ensures all these fears are put to
rest.
It is called Rainwater Harvesting. This method
uses rainwater, conserved during the monsoon season, for domestic
purposes. Chennai is blessed with an average of 129 centimetres
of rainfall every year. If properly utilised, this rainwater
can be used to boost the declining ground water level and reduce
salinity in the already saline ground water.
What presently happens in the city is that ground area around
houses and complexes are being cemented. This forces rainwater,
which drains off from terraces and roofs, to drain into low-lying
areas, not allowing it to percolate into the soil. Thus precious
rainwater is wasted, as it drains into the sea eventually. Rainwater
which collects on the roofs and the area around the building
is directed into open wells through a filter tank or into a
percolation chamber, built specially for this purpose. This
method is cost efficient and no maintenance is required.
 The
Tamil Nadu government is also encouraging promotion of awareness
of rainwater harvesting, by means of a notification released
by Chennai Metrowater, urging builders to patronise this
sustainable process.
For the city residents, Sekhar Raghavan, a Resource
Person on Rain Harvesting at Chennai Metrowater, gives free
advice and helps implement rainwater harvesting in houses and
complexes.
For more details contact:
Sekhar Raghavan,
D-15, Bayview Apartments, Kalakshetra Colony,
Besant Nagar, Chennai - 600 090.
Phone: 491 8415 (Residence) 85502802 (Office)
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