Self reliance in water: A book by Indukanth Ragade

In the author's words,  the books seeks 'to serve as a one-stop source for every aspect of water and its management that city and town dwellers would benefit from knowing and utilising.' Charming cartoons both illustrate the author's main points and add to the pleasure of reading this book. 

Introduction

While the powers that be have taken various steps in these 57 years, their impact at the individual household level has been none too encouraging. Therefore it is important that we citizens should strive, in our own selfish interest, to alter this sad state of affairs. And we can make a difference if only we put in efforts at the micro level - at the individual level, at the household level, at the neighbourhood level and at the community level - to reduce our dependence for water on external sources.

The tremendous advantage in acting at the micro-level is that we have the maximum control and influence on any activity undertaken by ourselves and we can therefore be that much surer of achieving results and reaping benefits of our efforts.

Three steps to self-reliance in water

And what are these efforts that can confer on us - town and city dwellers - that vital self-reliance in our daily water needs ? In essence, they are three fold:

1. Harvesting rainwater

Unlike many other areas in the world, our country is very fortunate in that it receives substantial rainfall from its two monsoons. If only this rainfall is tapped, can it meet fully our most essential daily need, i.e. water for our cooking and drinking needs, in every town and city - even in areas where the annual rainfall in scanty.

And what is more, it can meet from 20% to 100% of the total water needs of practically all towns and cities, depending on the rainfall in that place and its population.i.e. tapping rainwater wherever and whenever it falls, and diverting it to an appropriate storage for our use later. 

2. Purifying used water and putting it back for reuse

The water that we use for bathing, washing of clothes and cleaning the floors constitutes 50-60% of our total daily water usage. If only we clean this slightly contaminated water used for these purposes, it becomes available for fresh use again.

3. Conserving the water available for our daily use

Knowingly or unknowingly, we use water wastefully in our daily activities. Conservation of water is nothing but realising the value of water and adopting simple techniques of using available water more efficiently for various uses in daily life, so that what is available can meet our needs for a much longer period. Its benefits would become obvious instantly to those who are facing acute water shortages.

Together these three methods, are guaranteed to make citizens of every town and city self-reliant at least in their minimal water needs, if not their entire needs. And all three can be done at the micro-level without much expenditure or effort. 

Reliable and ready information based on practical experience

This book seeks to provide both from the author's first-hand experience in all the above fields, over more than two decades. The language used is simple and jargon is avoided, so that all readers can understand and beneficially utilise the information and guidance provided.

Rainwater harvesting in urban areas has come into vogue only recently and among them, it was in Chennai that meaningful activity could be considered to have first commenced. The technology involved in it, although simple in nature, is still evolving. 

The techniques detailed in this book abour rainwater harvesting represent the results of pioneering activity of the author in more than 200 apartment complexes in Chennai, comprising over 4000 apartments.

As for recycling of used water, the methods available till recently had been mainly chemical, requiring fairly large investments and regular maintenance efforts that are not convenient for operations in domestic environments. But alternate methods that are economic and user friendly were not so far available to city and town dwellers.

For the first time, a method is presented in this book, which is simple, easy to operate and maintain, and also eco-friendly. The method is the outcome of the author's efforts to meet the challenge of acute water shortages in manyof the apartment complexes, he was involved with in Chennai.

Efficient storage and distribution of water of various qualities available in any premises has an important role in the route to self-reliance. The guidance on this as also on conservation of water are both derived from actual experience on the field.

Frequently-asked questions

• How do you locate the right spot in your premises to dig a bore well?
• How can you influence its construction so that you can charge it with rainwater efficiently ?
• What is potable water?
• Is mineral water the same as bottled water?
• How does one decide that the water available during travelling is safe for drinking ?
• What can one do if the water from one's well or borewell becomes yellow on storage and soils clothes washed in it ?
• How can one tackle the problem of water stagnating on the road in front of one's home after the rains and in the process get more water for one's own use ?
• If your town does not have a sewerage system, how do you dispose off your sewage hygienically without contaminating your water sources ?
• What is desalination ?
• How relevant is reverse osmosis to you ?
• What does sweet water in sandy coastal areas turn saline ?

All these and many other such questions that city and town dwellers have to grapple with, are answered in simple language.

Water and soil inter-relationship

Water and soil are intimately related, as it is the soil of Mother Earth, that ulimately stores teh water we need for our use and influences its quality. Therefore, the soil-water inter-relationship and the means of locating water sources below the ground are briefly presented.

Tackling urban floods

Ironically, even while water is in short supply in our towns and cities, our streets invariably get flooded during the monsoon rains and our daily life is disrupted in many ways. And this happens in spite of the existence in many cases of a storm water drainage system.

Some ideas have therefore been offered on how individuals and communities can tackle this problem with rich benefits not only in rendering streets water free but also in the process can get more water for their use. Some suggestions have also been added on what can be done, at the macro level with only moderate outlays to mitigate the problem.

Sewerage systems

The sewerage system wherever it exists, was originally intendended to carry human faecal matter to treatment plans for hygienic dispoal. The system actually operates very inefficiently and is not only causing acute degradation of our precious waterways all over the country, but is actually the primary cause for the shortage of water experienced by our towns and cities as it carried away all the used water from them.

In places that do no have a sewerage system, contamination of good water at shallow depths by the outflow from septic tanks is becoming a major problem. Both these warrant urgent and serious attention at both the individual and governmental levels. The book not only offers some thoughts on corrective measures at the macro level but also concrete steps that individuals can take at the micro level to deal with the problem and have greater access to usable water. 

One-stop source on every aspect of water management for city and town dwellers

In short, the book seeks to serve as a one-stop source for every aspect of water and its management that city and town dwellers would benefit from knowing and utlising. It is the author's belief that the information and experience shared in this book can be beneficially utilised by residents of most towns and cities of India. The water management techniques presented in this book are all economical and derived from first hand experience.

Architects and builders should incorporate water management plans in their designs

Hopefully, architects will incorporate these techniques at the outset itself in their building designs so that builders will readily install them in the homes and colonies they construct and make life that much more comfortable and happier for those who will live in them.

It is important to note that the techniques described in this book can be applied even in buildings that have already been constructed. The outlay needed to introduce rainwater harvesting systems or water recycling systems in buildins already constructed is likely to be more than what would have been enough if they had been been incorporated during their original construction. But the resultant benefits would fully justify the expenditure. 

Sustainable urban water cycle

"Is it practicable ?", you may ask.

Yes it is !

Chapter 1: Water - In the past, present and future

This chapter takes a look at water management through the decades. It also presents the state of urban water bodies and the impact of sewerage as it exists today.

1. Urbanisation and water

For the last five decades, India has been shifing away from its predominantly rural nature and it is predicted that 60% of our population will be living in urban areas in the year 2015. However, infrastructure has not been able to meet this growth. This failure on the part of the governmental authorities should not prevent individuals from seeking solutions and making efforts to ensure access to water and its safe disposal.

2. Rain - The ultimate source of water

India receives about 110 cm of rain per unit area, against the global average of 80 cm. The distribution of this rainfall throughout the country is discussed.

3. Harvesting the rain - Our traditional wisdom

The excellent traditional systems of rainwater harvesting, especially as practised in Rajasthan are described, as are the tanks in south India. The current neglect of these systems leads to water scarcity in the dry season and floods in the monsoons.

Our urban waterbodies such as Puttenahalli lake pictured here are dying due to neglect

4. Water cycle in the 'good old days'

Before the preponderance of high-rise buildings, houses had a connection with the world outside. Water used in the kitchen, bath and septic tank would be purified as it percolated through the soil and ultimately reach the open well.

This cycle was broken with the advent of town sewerage when effluent from the toilets would directly go into the sewerage system and out of the vicinity. This not only reduced the water available for recharge, but also polluted available water sources.

5. The degradation and disappearance of water bodies

Historical tanks in our urban areas are being encroached upon while the rivers are being polluted.

Chapter 2: The language of water management

Chapter 3: The first step in self-reliance: Rainwater harvesting

A table lists the potential per capita amount of water available as rainwater. While these are ballpark figures, they inspire one to make some effort at harvesting atleast a fraction of this water. The role of soil as a store for water is also explained.

The tremendous amount of water received by rainfall can, if harvested, make us self-reliant in water (Source: Lij Jinaraj, Wikimedia Commons)

Chapter 4: Soil water inter-relationship

Chapter 5: Frequently asked questions on rainwater harvesting

• Why should I harvest rainwater and put it into the soil when my neighbour is going to conveniently pump it out for his use?
• If we put so much water into the soil around the building, will it not weaken the foundation of the building?
• The area around my house is unpaved and so the rainwater will anyway be absorbed by the soil. Why should I waste money to put up a rainwater harvesting system?       

Chapter 6: Designing a rainwater harvesting system

The three components of a rainwater harvesting system are catchment area, storage unit, and conveyance mechanism. The factors influencing design are:

• Average annual rainfall and catchment area
• Distribution of rainfall over the year
• Intensity of rainfall
• Daily consumption rate
• Runoff coefficient
• Availability of piped water supply
• Quality of the ground water available
• Sub-soil profile and depth of water table
• Financial constraints

Chapter 7: Rainwater harvesting systems to suit your need

Rooftop RWH

• Storing rooftop rainwater in tanks above ground and in underground sumps
• Storing rooftop rainwater in the subsoil or through a well

Harvesting the surface runoff

• An independent house with space around it largely or fully unpaved
• Houses and apartment complexes where open spaces are largely paved
• Rainwater harvesting in row housing or  in continuous housing areas

This chapter explains in detail the several components of rainwater harvesting such as filters, first-flush systems, gate trenches, and pipes in great detail, so as to enable a lay person to design and install his/her own rainwater harvesting system.

Chapter 8: Beneficial effects of rainwater harvesting

Other benefits to efficiency of use of electricity, quality of soil, and free alternatives to defluoridation plants are explained.

Chapter 9: Misconceptions about rainwater harvesting

The following common misconceptions are clarified in this chapter:

• Leaves from the trees near the terrace will go into the wells or storage sumps
• Dust from the terrace will go into the well along with the rainwater
• People may urinate on the terrace and this will mix with the rainwater going into the well or sump
• Bird droppings will contaminate the rainwater
• The rainwater may carry with it dead rats or dead lizards
• What if fire crackers are lit on the terrace on occasions like Diwali?
• If rainwater is allowed to flow directly into the well, the springs supplying the well will be choked leading to the well going dry
• Harmful chemical pollutants may be present in the rainwater harvested

Chapter 10: Maintenance of the rainwater harvesting system

Chapter 11: The second step in self-reliance – Used water reuse

Canna growing as part of a wastewater treatment system in Bhuj

Chapter 13: Using water of different qualities advantageously

Chapter 14: Distribution of water in housing complexes

The author has given the design for a three-compartment OHT using the same space which enables these two qualities to be stored separately and used. This model also enables the use of water treated and recovered from used grey water to be exclusively used for flushing and gardening.

Chapter 15: The last step in total self-reliance: Water conservation

Chapter 16: Locating underground water sources

Chapter 17: Storm water drainage - a costly way to waste water?

Stepwells such as this one in Mulbagal store rainwater runoff (Image courtesy: Manjunath Prasad)

Chapter 18: Sewage disposal - A mega way to spoil water !

Chapter 19: Potable water and quality standards

The red stains around this Chapakal at Khagaria, Bihar are indicative of iron contamination

Chapter 21: Desalination, reverse osmosis and distillation

Chapter 22: Water and builders

Appendix 1: Coastal residents, beware of seawater intrusion !

Appendix 2: The water poisoners: Arsenic and fluoride

Appendix 3: Monsoon: The awesome 'Mausem'

Appendix 4: Rainfall and rainy days in select towns and cities

Appendix 5: Construction of a rain gauge

Appendix 6: How Janaki stopped going down the hill to fetch water

Appendix 7: Varamihira's natural indicators for water sources

Appendix 8: Turning waste into wealth: The terrace garden

Appendix 9: Efficient water managers in nature

About the author

Since 1984, he has been with M/s Alacrity Foundations (P) Ltd, Chennai, an organisation reputed for its construction of quality apartment complexes and good corporate practices.

A keen urban environmentalist and a passionate believer in sustainable development, he has, over the past two decades, pioneered the practice of eco-friendly methods practicable in the urban environment for water management. In recent years, he has been involved in the development of simple methods of managing domestic waste and has also developed a re-engineered proto-type of a solar water heater that can be made available at a low cost.

The author can be contacted at isragade@yahoo.com or 044 -2834 3506.