CC ROAD OVER EXISTING GOOD ROAD CAMBRIDGE TO RAJLAXMI

RAIN WATER HARVESTING IN PALACE PREMISES

Mysore, July 22 (SSC)- The practice of rain water harvesting is gaining prominence everywhere nowadays in order to recharge the ground-water table and also to make optimal use of water. Though the decision to adopt rain water harvesting technology in all the heritage buildings was taken quite long ago, it is being implemented only now in the Palace premises.

The Palace Board has taken the initiative in implementing this water conservation measure as the rain water falling inside the Palace premises does not completely go waste by simply flowing into the drain. It has taken steps to collect and effectively use the rain water. Once the project is completed, the rain water will be put to proper use.

The Palace Board had decided to implement rain water harvesting during its budget meeting held last year and had fixed one-year deadline to complete the project. The first stage of the project has already begun at the Bidadi Block. The second stage is also underway at the Flag Grounds.

The aim of this project is to collect the rain water that falls on the buildings and the inter-locking tiles laid inside the Palace premises from flowing into the drain and preserve it, so that the same can be used during the summer season to water the gardens and lawns. It also recharges the ground water table for the 10 borewells that are located in Palace premises.

Palace premises is spread over an area of 72 acres. Rain water falling in about 50 to 55 acres of land was going down the drain. A team constituted under Shyamsundar, Director of NIE-CREST, inspected the premises and provided guidance and consultancy.

Bidadi Block

Beneath the Bidadi Block where the Administrative Office is located, three underground tanks with capacity to hold 20000, 25000 and 50000 litres of water are being constructed. Experts are of the opinion that with a total storage capacity of 95000 litres and under the ‘collect-utilise-re-collect’ scheme, about 9.88 lakh litres of rain water can be collected in a year.

WATER AUDIT DO IT YOURSELF

WATER AUDIT

Water is life

Virtually everything we do or use each day involves water. Yet, we do not give it the importance that is due to it. India will soon be a water-stressed country and we all need to work towards our water security. Simple actions can be adopted to reduce the wastage of water and use it wisely.

• INTRODUCTION
– What is a Water Audit?
– How does it help?
– Importance of Water Audit
– Myths
– Audit types

• AUDIT PROCESS
– Conducting Audits – First Steps
– Measurements, Water Consumption
– Water consumption Pattern

• MOVING AHEAD
– Identifying and Fixing the Problem
– Water Conservation
– Awareness

Definition: Water Audit is a qualitative and quantitative analysis of water consumption to identify means of Reducing, Reusing and Recycling of water

HOW DOES IT HELP?
• A water audit can help save money by reducing school water bills

• Water conservation helps our cities – Cities are stressed for water resources.

• A water audit will help reduce wastage and unnecessary use.

• It makes the students more aware and responsible.

• A water audit can be a student project that encompasses a number of subjects
DID YOU KNOW?
It is possible to cut your water usage by 10-30% by implementing simple conservation measures
IMPORTANCE OF WATER AUDIT
• Systematic process
• May yield some surprising results
• Easier to work on solutions when the problems are identified
• A tracking mechanism can be put into place
MYTHS
Doesn’t compromise on quality of water
Doesn’t make water a priority over studies
Doesn't require the student to stay beyond school hours

AUDIT PROCESS
Measurements
Calculations
Audit observations
Report
Discussions
Zeroing in on conservation
steps that can be taken
Planning and process finalization
Implementation

What are the sources of water ?

• Municipal supply
• Bore well
• Dug well
• Tankers
• Others

Estimate the quantity of water supplied from each source
Bore well and Dug well supplies…

1. Measure flow rate ( time taken to fill a 10 litre bucket at the outlet of the pump.)

Keep a track of number of hours the pump is on in a day (record every day of the week for two weeks).
Use these two to calculate the quantity of water
withdrawn
Estimate the quantity of water supplied from each source
Municipal Supply
Tabulate monthly municipal water supply (from bills)
for the past three years in the supply tracking sheet
For tankers….
Using bills, tabulate the amount of water received
on a monthly basis using the supply tracking sheet
Tabulate consumption patterns and depict
using graphical tools
Map the water points and usage areas
• Draw a plan of the school premises showing the building and main features.
• Mark the water supply inlets and storage tanks

• Mark all water points (toilets, hand wash points, Sinks in labs, drinking water fountains, canteen, irrigation taps, water meters, pumps etc.

• Identify each point with an alphanumeric code

• Colour code freshwater and waste water lines

• Mark where the waste water goes.

• Mark the storm water drain system in the premises, if any.

• Can you meter water consumption at various inlet points?

• Meters are expensive.

• Can you purchase one meter and use it in rotation to monitor water use at different locations?

• If you cannot afford a meter, use surveys, observations and calculations
Estimating Water use without a meter
Calculate the quantity of water that flows
out through each tap.
• Calculate the flow of water using a measuring jar and a stop watch.

• Monitor / survey the time for which the tap is open in a day.

• Fill this data in the consumption tracking sheet.
Calculations, water Consumption
• To calculate flow of toilets, turn off the water supply to the toilet, mark the water line on the inside of the tank, flush and then fill the tank with water from mug.

• Measure the volume of one mug and record number of mugs required to fill water back up to the water line mark.

• Monitor / survey the number of times each toilet is used.

• Fill this data in the consumption tracking sheet.
Estimating Water use without a meter
• Follow similar procedures to estimate water use at each water outlet.

• The consumption tracking sheet will help you calculate the total quantity of water used in a day.

Speak to the person in charge of the
water valves and pumps.

• Is water usage planned or is pump switched on when water
levels in the tank are low?
• What monitoring mechanisms are in place to check tank overflow?
• How often does the tank overflow?
• How much water is wasted each time the tank overflows?
FIXTURES AND FITTINGS
• Type of fixture (dual flush toilet, capacity
of flush tank, type of tap spring-loaded /
screw type / lever, etc.)

• Notice condition of fixtures – dirty,
stuck, leaking, broken etc
WATER CONSUMPTION PATTERN
When tabulating the consumption patterns, you may come across varied results from the normal.
Consumption of water in winter may be less
Consumption of water in summer just before the holidays may be high
Rainy season – you might not consume water for gardening purpose
Exams, Weekends and Holidays – water consumption
is likely to be less
Consumption of water in winter may be less
Consumption of water in summer just before the holidays may be high
Rainy season – you might not consume water for gardening purpose
Exams, Weekends and Holidays – water consumption
is likely to be less
Ideal scenario : no losses
Average scenario : 15 – 30% losses
There is a problem : losses > 30%

DISCUSSIONS
AND TAKING THE RIGHT STEPS
FIRST, FIX THE PROBLEMS
• Identify the points where there are losses

• Identify the solutions
• Assign the responsibility for implementation.

• Implement the solutions

• Prepare a Monitoring schedule

• Assign a person for monitoring.

WAYS TO
CONSERVE WATER
Represent water
usage graphically
. Identify areas where water can be conserved
Conduct
Group discussions
and brainstorming sessions
List down your
Suggestions for each area where water is used


Garden
Keep a check on hoses in the garden
Try out efficient devices like the spray nozzles
Drip Irrigation
Plant native plants that require less water
Change the ground surfaces and vegetation to control run
off in the school grounds
Water the roots of the plant and don't splash water all around
Toilets and washing points
• Reduce the flush water volume in toilets.
• Replace single flush cisterns with dual flush
• Install low flow fixtures for taps.
Install a rainwater harvesting system and use the water for toilets, cleaning floors and gardening.
Create interesting awareness programmes.

Why Rain water Harvesting ?

Economics
Reduces water bills
Reduced water demand - water supply utility saves money on treatment and pumping
Reduces cost of infrastructure necessary for water supply
Environment
Energy saved – no pumping of water to our homes
If water is hard, adding soft rainwater improves water quality
Improves groundwater situation
Reduces demand for water at city / village level
Other
Simple, cost-effective, easy to construct and maintain
Viable in urban and rural areas, slums, low income housing, apartments..
Can offset the need for multipurpose river projects

The naval officials installed rainwater-harvesting system in the colony, which is the first under the UMC limits.

Goal Maidan Rain Harvesting for existing

Rain Water Harvesting at Ulhasnagar

Rain Water Harvesting :- It is the simplest, indigenous technology being practiced in India for centuries. The concept involves collection of rain water by individual plot owner, either in artificial tanks and / or in natural reservoir i.e. aquifers. It helps Self Sufficiency. Raises Ground water Table. Improves Quality of Ground Water. Reduces Soil Erosion. Any body can do it. It is less expensive and easy to maintain. The only disadvantage is it requires periodic / pre-monsoon maintenance and involvement of user for monitoring. Rain Water Harvesting & it’s Benefits Catching rainwater when and where it falls for use during non-monsoon months is called rainwater harvesting.Present Situation in UlhasnagarWhat is presently happening in our city is that the areas around houses and flat complexes are paved indiscriminately. As a result all the rainwater runs off into the road and floods the area making life miserable. It is quite possible to put all this water into the soil below with a little effort and expenditure so that the precious rainwater is not lost but becomes available for our use subsequently. Persons in apartments can also harvest rainwater, but a community approach may be required in such cases. In individual / row houses, it is possible to store roof top rain water without much work / extra cost. Industries and factories can easily harvest rainwater, since large roof areas are usually available in such constructions. People who are purchasing water from private water tankers can harvest rainwater to lessen their financial outflow. Roof Top Rainwater Harvesting Recycling and reuse of water.Recharging water into the aquifers help in improving the quality of existing groundwater through dilution. Recharge of Ground water Aquifers Rain water may be collected and recharged into the ground water aquifers through the Harvesting rain water from open spaces.1