Experience of Lanka Rain Experience of Lanka Rain Water Harvesting ForumWater Harvesting Forum

Tanuja Ariyananda

Lanka Rain Water Harvesting Forum

The ProblemThe Problem Almost all the districts in Sri Lanka face the dual problem ofAlmost all the districts in Sri Lanka face the dual problem of

Floods Floods - During Monsoon- During Monsoon Drought Drought -During dry months-During dry months

COLLECTING RAINWATER WHEN AND COLLECTING RAINWATER WHEN AND WHERE IT FALLS FOR USE DURING WHERE IT FALLS FOR USE DURING

DRYMONTHSDRYMONTHS

StorageStorageRechargingRecharging

Where can rain water Where can rain water harvesting be used ?harvesting be used ?

In Rural households where water is scare,In Rural households where water is scare, dry zone where ground water is mineralizeddry zone where ground water is mineralized coastal belt where ground water is saline, ( tsunami coastal belt where ground water is saline, ( tsunami

effected areas)effected areas) hilly areas where ground water table is low where it hilly areas where ground water table is low where it

is not possible to extract ground water or have no is not possible to extract ground water or have no other water sourcesother water sources

In urban areas where water is expensive, for washing, In urban areas where water is expensive, for washing, and gardening and to prevent local floodingand gardening and to prevent local flooding

In public and commercial buildings with large use of In public and commercial buildings with large use of waterwater

◈ Uses /Benefits of Rainwater Harvesting

Water supply (Domestic, Industrial & Agriculture))

Water Saving, ( as supplementary source)

Flooding control, Drought mitigationWater quality control Disaster prevention (fire fighting)Ground water rechargingImprove quality of ground water Energy saving

Lanka Rain Water Harvesting Lanka Rain Water Harvesting ForumForum

Started by a small group in 1996Started by a small group in 1996 Membership from government, NGO’s, Private Membership from government, NGO’s, Private

and public sectorand public sector Share experience and technology on RWH for Share experience and technology on RWH for

domestic use.domestic use.

Problems faced by LRWHFProblems faced by LRWHF

Lack of awareness of technologyLack of awareness of technology Lack of skills on technologyLack of skills on technology High cost of tanksHigh cost of tanks Misconception about Water qualityMisconception about Water quality Lack of policyLack of policy

ActivitiesActivities Promotion through awareness programs Promotion through awareness programs

demonstration, media, video, symposiumdemonstration, media, video, symposium TrainingTraining Research & DevelopmentResearch & Development Networking and Sharing InformationNetworking and Sharing Information

CREATING AWARENESS CREATING AWARENESS through Demonstration through Demonstration

projectsprojectsin Districtsin Districts

Training programs for Masons Training programs for Masons , Technicians, Professionals, Technicians, Professionals

Training of Training of Trainers workshop Trainers workshop

Masons on construction

Research & DevelopmentResearch & Development

Low cost tanksLow cost tanks Improve water quality through filters, first Improve water quality through filters, first

flushflush Study User patternsStudy User patterns Use of rain water agricultureUse of rain water agriculture Ground water recharging methodsGround water recharging methods

Different Types of Tanks & CostsDifferent Types of Tanks & Costs

5000 lit = Rs. 22,000

Under ground brick tank Above ground Ferro cement

5000 lit = Rs. 28,000

1000-5000 lit = Rs. 8,000-45,0005000 lit = Rs. 12,000

Partial under ground tank Plastic Tank

Barrel tank

1200 lit = Rs. 1500

40 lit = Rs. 1000

Improve Water QualityImprove Water Quality

First FlushFirst Flush Inlet FilterInlet Filter Down pipe filterDown pipe filter

User PatternUser Pattern

0

10

20

30

40

Drinking Cooking Washing Toilet otherCons

umpt

ion in

lpcd

Beneficiary Non-Beneficiary

Home Gardening & AgricultureHome Gardening & Agriculture

Run off tanksRun off tanks

Ground Water RechargingGround Water Recharging

NATIONAL RAINWATER POLICYNATIONAL RAINWATER POLICYAND STRATEGIESAND STRATEGIES

June 2005June 2005

In the light of increasing operational and maintenance In the light of increasing operational and maintenance costs to, rationalize investments ,both by Government costs to, rationalize investments ,both by Government and non Government sectors, in the field of pipe borne and non Government sectors, in the field of pipe borne water supply, drainage, flood control, soil conservation water supply, drainage, flood control, soil conservation etc, and promote the practice on a Regional etc, and promote the practice on a Regional Community and family basis, in order to ensure that the Community and family basis, in order to ensure that the ‘City of tomorrow’ applies Rain water harvesting ‘City of tomorrow’ applies Rain water harvesting broadly ,by the control of water near its source, in its broadly ,by the control of water near its source, in its pursuance of becomingpursuance of becoming a ‘Green city’ in the future.a ‘Green city’ in the future.

Policy ObjectivesPolicy Objectives

Identified benefits to the communityIdentified benefits to the community Easy access to clean Easy access to clean

drinking waterdrinking water Less time spend on Less time spend on

collecting watercollecting water Skilled enhancement in Skilled enhancement in

the villagethe village Less reliance on Less reliance on

external water external water providersproviders

Safe water in high Safe water in high fluoride areasfluoride areas

More water security at More water security at household level.household level.

Better Sanitation Better Sanitation practice due to more practice due to more water available.water available.

Lessons learnedLessons learned Awarness to Community and officials was Awarness to Community and officials was

improtant at the initial stageimprotant at the initial stage Establishment of policy is useful in obtaining Establishment of policy is useful in obtaining

official supportofficial support Community contribution and involvement is Community contribution and involvement is

important since this creates a sense of important since this creates a sense of ownershipownership

Training on Operation and Maintenance of the Training on Operation and Maintenance of the system is important for long term usesystem is important for long term use

Education on health & hygiene to the comunity Education on health & hygiene to the comunity is important to ensure safe drinking wateris important to ensure safe drinking water

Improvment in technology > improved water Improvment in technology > improved water quality > acceptability.quality > acceptability.

Introduction of simple water treatment methods Introduction of simple water treatment methods and water quality monitoring at HH level and water quality monitoring at HH level improved use for drinkingimproved use for drinking