Hello all, I am currently writing from Chennai, India, in a town called Ayanavaram. Chennai has suffered chronic water shortage problems for many years. Under the administration of former Chief Minister of Chennai, Dr. J. Jayalalithaa (served from 1991 – 1996 and 2001 – 2006), an intensive rainwater harvesting scheme was developed in order to reduce water demands and increase supply. The Chennai Corporation, the civic body that governs Chennai, has adopted rainwater harvesting methods in order to raise the ground water level, prevent water stagnation, and divert water from being wasted. The Chennai Corporation started installing rainwater harvesting systems from 2001 in all Corporation owned buildings, including schools, hospitals, office buildings, community centers, bridges, parks, etc. In total, the Chennai Corporation installed 1,344 catchment structures in government owned buildings. Currently, building plans are only sanctioned if provisions are made for rainwater harvesting. After the implementation of such widespread rainwater harvesting systems, many of the water problems in Chennai have been solved.

Within the past couple of days, heavy rains have hit Chennai. Luckily, because of the great progress the government of Chennai made to alleviate the water crisis, rainwater catchment systems have been installed in the majority of urban areas. In fact, rainwater catchment systems have been installed in almost 350,000 residential, commercial, and institutional buildings. The apartment building where I am staying has a rainwater catchment system. Several pipes are attached to the roof that transport rainwater from the roof to an underground storage unit. The pictures below show how rainwater is harvested.

The monsoon season commences in South India in June. Within just half an hour of rainfall, the crowded streets became flooded. The picture below shows a street near where I am residing. As you can see, in such a short amount of time, nearly three inches of rain already collected on the surface.

Unfortunately, although there has been a great deal of investment in rainwater harvesting, there has not been that same commitment to utilizing stormwater and surface runoff. The Chennai Corporation has developed a storm water drainage system, however, it appears that much of the surface runoff remains stagnant until the water evaporates. The flat terrain of Chennai requires an effective stormwater drainage system in order to prevent water stagnation, which can facilitate the spread of diseases such as malaria. Just recently, construction has begun on a 21.4 km stormwater drainage system, on the Royapuram watershed, that will benefit nearly ten large areas. This project has been funded by the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM). Under the JNNURM, 12 additional projects are under development in Chennai.

In today’s world, resources are limited. One of the most precious resources, that many of us take for granted, is water. The work done by the Chennai Corporation is extremely commendable. The rainwater harvesting initiatives have helped a good proportion of the 4.2 million people that live in Chennai gain access to clean water. However, many still do not have access to clean water. Further development must be made to expand and improve rainwater harvesting systems. In addition, a comprehensive plan must be devised to minimize the waste of stormwater and the amount of water runoff. Investment should be made in a greater stormwater drainage system. Chennai has already seen a great deal of improvement in meeting its water demands; hopefully with continued government support and public awareness, the entire population of Chennai will have access to clean water.

Tags: Chennai, rainwater
Posted in Design, India, Water management | No Comments »