Mumbai Man is Setting Up Low-Cost Rainwater Harvesting Systems in Schools!

2. Second method

Mukherjee’s second method gaining rapid popularity on social media involves a blue barrel and PVC pipes. This method is used not only to recharge groundwater but also to use the collected water for secondary purposes.

Take a barrel of the size and capacity you need and drill some holes around its surface.

Dig a 3×3 ft or 5×5 ft pit, install the drum in it and connect it with a PVC pipe leading to the terrace. Fill the cavity with pebbles and stones to prevent mud from entering the drum and wedge the drum firmly.

A sketch to explain the functioning of the system

Benefits?

Mukherjee adds how the drum can hold water for seven to 10 days as it takes time for the water to seep entirely into the ground. He has suggested the institutes, who have installed the system, to use the harvested water to mop floors, water trees or clean toilets.

“Think about it, a school, on an average, needs at least 5,000 litres of water every month for floor mopping. Imagine saving 5,000 litres of rainwater every month during the monsoon season. This accounts for saving close to 20,000 litres of water for cleaning and mopping over four months.”

Also, if installed in societies, this water can be used for the secondary purpose of washing vehicles, adds Mukherjee.

“There are more than 18 lakh vehicles in the city. If we use five litres of water to clean one vehicle, imagine the lakhs of litres of water that is being wasted. This harvested rainwater can be used to tackle that wastage or even mop common spaces within societies.”

While installing these units, one must remember to keep them at least 10 to 20 feet away from the main building to prevent the water from seeping into the building walls and making them weak.