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Water Harvesting
Water harvesting measures
These are artificial recharge measures that capture
rainfall and run-off and store it in the soil profile or
add to the recharge
Water harvesting measures
There are many different types of water harvesting
techniques – depending on:
 natural conditions (slope, soil, rainfall patterns)
 local knowledge and traditions
Some examples of water harvesting measures

Recharge wells

Percolation ponds

Contour bunding

Checkdams and gully-plugs

Subsurface dams
By channelling run-off to disused dugwells,
recharge wells are created
Recharge well
Percolation tank
These tanks collect rainwater and
run-off and make sure it infiltrates
Contour Bund
Intercepts the sheetflow and ponds up water in the gully, so that it
infiltrates
Some examples of water harvesting measures
Block and impound
stormwater flow in
riverbeds and gullies
Subsurface dams
These are built underground
- They intercept subsurface flows
in river beds
- They serve both to recharge and
to increase water tables in the
area
Local water harvesting measures
Where possible small and low cost water harvesting structures
– such as recharge wells - may be promoted, as these:
 can be made with local and even individual investment
 can be easily maintained
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When people invest themselves in recharge it is also more likely
that they will develop local rules on using groundwater
There are also many opportunities to integrate
road planning with artificial recharge by having
road bunds slowing down surface run-off
This bridge for instance
doubles up as a checkdam!
Water
retained
here
Flood water in the river
bed is retained before it
flows through the
culverts