Catch rain all by yourself!

Catch rain all by yourself!
DH News Service Bangalore:
“Can I adopt the rain water harvesting (RWH) system on my own?” This is the question that pops up when house owners hear about RWH. The answer is “yes”, according to experts.

“Can I adopt the rain water harvesting (RWH) system on my own?” This is the question that pops up when house owners hear about RWH. The answer is “yes”, according to experts.

“RWH is a simple system to collect rain water and store it for future use. Only that one needs to be careful about measurement of pipes to be installed and connecting them to the storage tank. It can be done by any individual on his own,” says Viswanath S, an RWH expert.

Many readers have been calling up Deccan Herald to enquire about the system ever since a series on the success story of RWH was launched. “Can I do it on my own?”, “Is there anybody who can help me adopt the system?”, “How much does it cost?”... were some common questions.

Experts suggest they take the help of an experienced plumber if they are planning it for a huge commercial complex or planning to adopt multiple methods of harvesting rain water.

Says A R Shivakumar, Principal Scientist, Karnataka Council For Science and Technology (KCST) and an RWH expert, “It’s very easy for a house owner who already has a sump (storage place). She/he just needs to channelise the rain water that falls on the rooftop towards the sump. A filter and a first flush valve should be installed to ensure collection of clean water.”

According to Jyothi Kumar, plumber, who has installed RWH systems in over 1,000 houses here, adopting RWH during the construction of the house is easier and economical compared with a ready house.

While the former needs around Rs 1,000 for adopting a simple RWH sytem, the latter (if sump is available) requires Rs 4,000. To help house owners adopt RWH system on their own, KCST is offering free advice. Call 23341652/23348840 or e-mail www.rwhkcst@vsnl.net