Harnessing conventional wisdom for rain water harvesting to mitigate the risks of climate change

Abstract

Rain water harvesting is the process of collection and storage of rain for various purposes. Rainwater harvesting continues to be the main source of water supply for potable and non-potable uses.  Located in a hot and semi-arid region with water scarcity, the National Innovation Foundation - India (NIF) identified a need to conserve water for office use. Building upon the expertise and experience of Lok Mitra Trust in this field, NIF got built traditional, but unique type of rain water harvesting tanks also known as “Matka tank” at its headquarters in Gandhinagar, Gujarat. The unique features of the tank are its hemispherical shaped upper dome and saucer shaped bottom surface, which is being reported for the first time.The Matka tank for rain water harvesting may be considered as a sustainable technique to mitigate the water scarcity in the context of climate change.