Methods of Rainwater Harvesting in Coimbatore, India

Coimbatore needs to harvest rainwater to meet the needs of an expanding population.

Water is valuable in Coimbatore, South India, with demand steadily increasing. The city depends on the two monsoons a year and uses a variety of methods of harvesting the rainwater to supplement the water supply from water bodies and wells.

Rooftop Water Collection

Roofs are pre-existing flat surfaces ideally suited to collect rainwater. The rain simply needs to be diverted into tanks for storage through guttering and pipes. Some buildings in Coimbatore, including the Agricultural College, already have these systems.

Purpose-built Structures

Open-space rainwater harvesting consists of large pits filled with rocks, gravel and sand around a bore well. These collect and filter the water. Several such structures have been built in and around Coimbatore.

Runoff Diversion

You can harvest rainwater simply by diverting runoff into existing bodies of water. Places that experience periodic heavy rainfall between dry spells, such as Coimbatore, are in a good position to exploit this method.

References

• Siruthuli: Rain Water Harvesting Structures
• Directorate of Town Panchayats: Rain Water Harvesting
• United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation: Rain Water Harvesting, Conservation and Management Strategies for Urban and Rural Sectors
• International Journal of Environmental Science: Analysis of Drinking Water Problem in Coimbatore City Corporation, Tamiladu, India Using Remote Sensing and GIS Tools
• The Hindu: Coimbatore Corporation Puts Up Rain Water Harvesting Structure