Habitat Observatory
Rainwater Harvesting in Cholistan Desert of Pakistan | ||
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Background The Pakistan Council of Research in Water Resources (PCRWR) has been conducting research studies on rainwater harvesting since 1989 in the Cholistan desert by developing catchments through various techniques and constructing ponds with different storage capacities ranging between 3000 and 15000 m3. These ponds have been designed to collect maximum rainwater within the shortest possible time and to minimise seepage and evaporation losses. As a result of successful field research on rainwater harvesting system, PCRWR has developed 92 rainwater harvesting systems on pilot scale in Cholistan desert. All these pilot activities to harvest rain have brought revolution in the socio-economic uplift of the community. These activities have also saved million of rupees during the recent drought. Large scale adoption of all these interventions would ultimately help improve the socio-economic conditions of the residents of hyper arid area of the country. Development of Raineater Harvesting System Collection of Rainwater Alive to the problems faced by the population in the desert, 92 rainwater-harvesting systems have been developed on pilot scale. Each system contains the components like storage reservoir, energy dissipater (stair), boundary wall, silting basin, lined channel, and ditches network in the catchment.The storage pond is designed to collect about 15000 m3 (4.0 US million gallon) of water. The depth of the pond is 6 m. Polyethylene sheet (0.127 mm) on bed and plastering of slag mortar (3.81 cm) mixture of clay, quick lime, wheat straw and cement on sides of the pond have been provided to minimise seepage losses. The quantity of the mortar for one pond includes 6 m3 clay, 100 kg lime, 970 kg wheat straw, and 0.06 m3 cement. The energy dissipater having dimensions of 1 m wide and 23 cm each length and height along one side of the pond protects the sides and the bed of the pond from severe erosion expected from gushy water. Impacts of the Rainwater Harvesting Project
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Nothing succeeds like success – (A success story in making) | ||
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Village Somonathpur in district Balasore is one of the many villages where the Total Sanitation Campaign (TSC) is being implemented. The village comprises 487 households, including 86 APL households. Despite initial setbacks, DWSM persistent efforts have finally paid off and more and more households are now committing to the cause of sanitation. Presently, approximately 10 per cent of the total households covered have purchased 10 to 15 extra rings for the construction of upgraded toilets. Of these households, more than 10 households have already constructed the toilets. |