Rainwater Harvesting Policy for Enhanced Supply
Summary
After a drought in the early 2000s exposed the Indian state of Tamil Nadu’s vulnerability to a water crisis, the state, including its capital city Chennai, implemented a mandatory rainwater harvesting policy.
The Akash Ganga Trust, a Chennai-based NGO, recognized the benefits of rainwater harvesting in the mid-1990s and informed coastal residents of its benefits through door-to-door campaigns (Akash Ganga Trust, n.d. & Raghavan, 2018). The trust focused their efforts on areas suffering from excessive groundwater extraction and saltwater intrusion and proposed rainwater harvesting (RWH) to residents as a means to mitigate these impacts (Akash Ganga Trust, n.d. & Raghavan, 2018). RWH became more applicable after the droughts of the early 2000s in Chennai, when the sole reliance on groundwater in times of drought created a water-starved city. To ensure greater use of RWH the State government of Tamil Nadu, namely Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa enacted policy 215-A, making RWH compulsory for all buildings in Tamil Nadu (Tamil Nadu District Municipalities, 2003; Raghavan, 2018; Vivek, 2016). Making use of rainwater helps to address the seasonal appearance of precipitation by generating an immediate supplemental source of freshwater, as well as a means of replenishing local groundwater sources. The Akash Ganga Trusts' small-scale campaigning was a key piece in prompting the government to see value in and eventually mandate RWH.
Intervention
The RWH policy for the state of Tamil Nadu “Provision of Rain-Water Harvesting Structure” requires all buildings in Tamil Nadu jurisdiction to be fitted with RWH structures (Tamil Nadu District Municipalities, 2003). In addition to this statewide measure, in Chennai, the municipal board requires that all new building plans adhere to this standard before they are approved (CSE, n.d; Holand-Stergar, 2018). Before this mandate was implemented, the government provided informational workshops to plumbers and masons, while the Akash Ganga Trust continued to educate the public on the importance of RWH and proper implementation methods, through door-to-door campaigns, brochures, and other educational material (Raghavan, 2018). Once policy 215-A was enacted, those who did not adhere to the RWH mandate risked being reported to the state Executive Authority (Tamil Nadu District Municipalities, 2003). If reported, the individual or business would have to pay the cost to build their RWH system, and potentially be cut off from the water supply until their RWH system was put in place. Some individuals and businesses avoided implementing RWH because the initial cost associated with retrofitting one's home or business was the individual’s responsibility. To offset this, the government enlisted the banks to offer loans to those unable to pay the upfront cost(1) (Narain, 2006). Today, RWH is still mandated in Chennai and across the state of Tamil Nadu.
Challenges
Although the mandate for RWH was a beneficial addition to improving the region’s water security, it is apparent that not all actors respect the ordinance. Audits later revealed that some government buildings were not adhering to the mandate and some RWH systems were not technically sound (Holand-Stergar, 2018; Jayarajan, 2019), suggesting the necessity of a third-party auditor and inspector during implementation and regular maintenance checks.
Outcomes
Mandating RWH in Chennai increased overall community and individual engagement in the city’s water security. It allowed for new educational opportunities for citizens and increased personal ownership of water. In 2002 the Akash Ganga Trust launched the Chennai Rain Center, which acts as an educational hub for demonstrations, seminars, and on-site RWH implementation and training (Holand-Stergar, 2018). Immediately after the mandate, the Rain Center reported approximately 50% policy adherence across Chennai (Durga, 2016). Although policy adherence was not 100%, the benefits of widespread RWH were still notable. Groundwater recharged an average of 4 meters and well levels increased by 30% throughout the city of Chennai (Durga, 2016; Holand-Stergar, 2018). Furthermore, the collaboration between an NGO and the state government to enact this policy created a positive framework for future collaborative efforts in the city and state. Some cities may be concerned that RWH would take away potential natural groundwater recharge, in Chennai this is not the case. Due to urbanization, the city has increased the amount of impervious surface area, which creates more runoff than natural groundwater recharge. In fact, due to this runoff the city has to pay for water diversion methods (primarily directing stormwater to the sea) to avoid flooding (Rajagopalan, 2013).
Although RWH has not solved all water problems in Chennai, its implementation across the city has positively impacted the groundwater supply and has encouraged individuals as well as businesses to be a part of the water solution for the city.
References
Rainwater Harvesting Policy for Enhanced Supply
Summary
After a drought in the early 2000s exposed the Indian state of Tamil Nadu’s vulnerability to a water crisis, the state, including its capital city Chennai, implemented a mandatory rainwater harvesting policy.
The Akash Ganga Trust, a Chennai-based NGO, recognized the benefits of rainwater harvesting in the mid-1990s and informed coastal residents of its benefits through door-to-door campaigns (Akash Ganga Trust, n.d. & Raghavan, 2018). The trust focused their efforts on areas suffering from excessive groundwater extraction and saltwater intrusion and proposed rainwater harvesting (RWH) to residents as a means to mitigate these impacts (Akash Ganga Trust, n.d. & Raghavan, 2018). RWH became more applicable after the droughts of the early 2000s in Chennai, when the sole reliance on groundwater in times of drought created a water-starved city. To ensure greater use of RWH the State government of Tamil Nadu, namely Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa enacted policy 215-A, making RWH compulsory for all buildings in Tamil Nadu (Tamil Nadu District Municipalities, 2003; Raghavan, 2018; Vivek, 2016). Making use of rainwater helps to address the seasonal appearance of precipitation by generating an immediate supplemental source of freshwater, as well as a means of replenishing local groundwater sources. The Akash Ganga Trusts' small-scale campaigning was a key piece in prompting the government to see value in and eventually mandate RWH.
Issue
Intervention
The RWH policy for the state of Tamil Nadu “Provision of Rain-Water Harvesting Structure” requires all buildings in Tamil Nadu jurisdiction to be fitted with RWH structures (Tamil Nadu District Municipalities, 2003). In addition to this statewide measure, in Chennai, the municipal board requires that all new building plans adhere to this standard before they are approved (CSE, n.d; Holand-Stergar, 2018). Before this mandate was implemented, the government provided informational workshops to plumbers and masons, while the Akash Ganga Trust continued to educate the public on the importance of RWH and proper implementation methods, through door-to-door campaigns, brochures, and other educational material (Raghavan, 2018). Once policy 215-A was enacted, those who did not adhere to the RWH mandate risked being reported to the state Executive Authority (Tamil Nadu District Municipalities, 2003). If reported, the individual or business would have to pay the cost to build their RWH system, and potentially be cut off from the water supply until their RWH system was put in place. Some individuals and businesses avoided implementing RWH because the initial cost associated with retrofitting one's home or business was the individual’s responsibility. To offset this, the government enlisted the banks to offer loans to those unable to pay the upfront cost(1) (Narain, 2006). Today, RWH is still mandated in Chennai and across the state of Tamil Nadu.
Challenges
Although the mandate for RWH was a beneficial addition to improving the region’s water security, it is apparent that not all actors respect the ordinance. Audits later revealed that some government buildings were not adhering to the mandate and some RWH systems were not technically sound (Holand-Stergar, 2018; Jayarajan, 2019), suggesting the necessity of a third-party auditor and inspector during implementation and regular maintenance checks.
Outcomes
Mandating RWH in Chennai increased overall community and individual engagement in the city’s water security. It allowed for new educational opportunities for citizens and increased personal ownership of water. In 2002 the Akash Ganga Trust launched the Chennai Rain Center, which acts as an educational hub for demonstrations, seminars, and on-site RWH implementation and training (Holand-Stergar, 2018). Immediately after the mandate, the Rain Center reported approximately 50% policy adherence across Chennai (Durga, 2016). Although policy adherence was not 100%, the benefits of widespread RWH were still notable. Groundwater recharged an average of 4 meters and well levels increased by 30% throughout the city of Chennai (Durga, 2016; Holand-Stergar, 2018). Furthermore, the collaboration between an NGO and the state government to enact this policy created a positive framework for future collaborative efforts in the city and state. Some cities may be concerned that RWH would take away potential natural groundwater recharge, in Chennai this is not the case. Due to urbanization, the city has increased the amount of impervious surface area, which creates more runoff than natural groundwater recharge. In fact, due to this runoff the city has to pay for water diversion methods (primarily directing stormwater to the sea) to avoid flooding (Rajagopalan, 2013).
Although RWH has not solved all water problems in Chennai, its implementation across the city has positively impacted the groundwater supply and has encouraged individuals as well as businesses to be a part of the water solution for the city.
Issues |
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Water Scarcity and Access |
Solutions |
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Water Data, Monitoring & ICT Solutions |
References
Akash Ganga Trust. (n.d.). Akash Ganga Trust Rain Centre, Chennai. Retrieved August 18, 2020, from http://raincentre.net/
CSE. (n.d.). LEGISLATION ON RAINWATER HARVESTING. CSE. Retrieved August 18, 2020, from https://www.cseindia.org/legislation-on-rainwater-harvesting-1111
Durga, P. (2016). Chennai is not water-starved any more. GoI Monitor. https://www.goimonitor.com/story/chennai-not-water-starved-any-more
Holl, B. (n.d.). The Law and Policy of Rainwater Harvesting: A Comparative Analysis of Australia, India, and the United States. 36, 40.
Jayarajan, S. (2019, June 20). 16 yrs after landmark rainwater harvesting rule in TN, Chennai thirsts for water. The News Minute. https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/16-yrs-after-landmark-rainwater-harvesting-rule-tn-chennai-thirsts-water-103979
Narain, B. L. (2006). Water Scarcity in Chennai, India. 16.
Priya, L. (2018, November 5). Chennai Residents Nail Rainwater Harvesting, Collect 1,00,000 Litres Over 3 Hours! The Better India. https://www.thebetterindia.com/163750/chennai-rainwater-harvesting-home-apartment-news/
Raghavan, D. S. (2018). Rainwater Harvesting – The Success Story of Chennai. 13(2), 5.
Tamil Nadu District Municipalities. Provision of Rain Water Harvesting Structure, Pub. L. No. Tamil Nadu Ordinance No. 4 of 2003, 215-A 337 (2003).
Vivek, V. (2016). Rainwater Harvesting In Chennai: What Made It Work? IIM Kozhikode Society & Management Review, 5(1), 91–106. https://doi.org/10.1177/2277975215617272