This presentation deals with a case study of rainwater harvesting of Thane city of Maharashtra. It begins with a discussion of the Environmental Status Report of the Thane Municipal Corporation for the year 1999-2000 which states that all the groundwater is non potable. The authors identify the research and development needs as follows –

• Factors responsible for non-potability of ground water,
• Paving of open lands,
• Low flushing rate,
• Decrease in green cover,
• Storm water drainage,
• Industrial sewage water,
• Domestic sewage water, and
• High and low tidal movement of water.

The authors then trace their search for possible answers – (a) Flushing the rainwater to replace or dilute the ground water (b) Modern sewage treatment systems and (c) Charging the tube-wells and bore-wells with rooftop rain water harvesting. Their awareness creation strategy comprises of –

• Study of rain-pattern to understand the potential,
• Awareness through programmes,
• Study of distribution system of city water supply and possible problems,
• Economics of drinking water,
  • Threats to quality of drinking water,
  • Chlorination,
  • Technology for rainwater harvesting

The stress on socializing and economizing technology is founded on the following –

• Benefit to everybody
• Low cost factor
• Use of existing structure pipelines
• Revolution started with breaking of paved areas
• Soak pit concept with sand filter accepted as economic solution
• Online filters developed to charge the water to tube wells and bore wells.

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