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http://topics.developmentgateway.org/water/rc/ItemDetail.do?itemId=1139564

http://www.indiawaterportal.org/tt/rwh/case/rainwater_rooftop.html

Rooftop Rainwater Harvesting

Rural Schools in Rajasthan
The Barefoot College Experience¹

Taken From Best Practices in Water Management-Case Studies from Rural India-2005 German Agro Action, 2005

Bunker Roy, Laxman Singh

In 2003, the Ministry of Water Resources sanctioned a pilot project to harvest rainwater in 100 rural schools across 13 states in the country through 20 village Community Based Organizations (CBOs). The project aimed to provide adequate water for drinking and sanitation by collecting rainwater from the roof tops of school buildings and storing this in underground water tanks. The Barefoot College, Tillonia outlines the simple and low cost traditional technique which can serve as a permanent sweet drinking water source for school children in rural areas.

Rainwater Harvesting (RWH) from roofs is a simple low cost technique that has been practiced for hundreds of years in the desert areas of India. For over two decades, the Barefoot College has provided drinking water in remote rural schools in 15 states for about 32 million people by collecting rainwater from rooftops of the schools and storing it in underground tanks. Barefoot College regards RWH is not only an alternative, but often as the only viable solution.

Rooftop Rainwater Harvesting is recognized as not only a simple and low cost traditional technique but as a permanent sweet drinking water source for school children in the rural areas. In remote villages where access to drinking water is a major problem, RWH structures serves two purposes:

• a source of potable water, especially during the dry season (4- 5 months)
• year-round water provision to improve hygiene, e.g. low-flush public toilets.

  Applying local techniques, particularly in rural areas, directly benefits vulnerable groups in the society in several ways, such as:

• A direct effect of providing water in schools is evident in an increased attendance of children, particularly girls. Water scarcity and trekking long distances for collecting water, specially during dry periods increases the burden on women and girls, as a result education of the girl child is neglected. Collecting water for domestic use is usually the responsibility of women and girls. The hours they spend fetching water is time that is not available for childcare, productive activities and schooling.
• More children can concentrate on reading and writing in schools instead of spending hours fetching water.
• The availability of fresh drinking water and water for sanitation also reduces the incidence of waterborne diseases.
• Connecting rainwater harvesting structures to primary schools and other community places has an immediate capacity building effect and can be linked to environmental education programmes and education for improved hygiene and nutrition.

  The Barefoot College was started in 1972 with the conviction that solutions to rural problems lie within the community. Practical knowledge and skills are emphasized rather than paper qualifications.

  (continued)

  www.barefootcollege.org
  and
  www.globalrainwaterharvesting.org