Experience of Lanka Rain Water Harvesting Forum

1. Experience of Lanka Rain Water Harvesting Forum Tanuja Ariyananda Lanka Rain Water Harvesting Forum

2. The Problem • Almost all the districts in Sri Lanka face the dual problem of Drought -During dry months Floods - During Monsoon

3. COLLECTING RAINWATER WHEN AND WHERE IT FALLS FOR USE DURING DRYMONTHS Storage Recharging

4. Where can rain water harvesting be used ? • In Rural households where water is scare, • dry zone where ground water is mineralized • coastal belt where ground water is saline, ( tsunami effected areas) • hilly areas where ground water table is low where it is not possible to extract ground water or have no other water sources • In urban areas where water is expensive, for washing, and gardening and to prevent local flooding • In public and commercial buildings with large use of water

5. ◈ Uses /Benefits of Rainwater Harvesting • Water supply (Domestic, Industrial & Agriculture)) • Water Saving, ( as supplementary source) • Flooding control, • Drought mitigation • Water quality control • Disaster prevention (fire fighting) • Ground water recharging • Improve quality of ground water • Energy saving

6. Lanka Rain Water Harvesting Forum • Started by a small group in 1996 • Membership from government, NGO’s, Private and public sector • Share experience and technology on RWH for domestic use.

7. Problems faced by LRWHF • Lack of awareness of technology • Lack of skills on technology • High cost of tanks • Misconception about Water quality • Lack of policy

8. Activities • Promotion through awareness programs demonstration, media, video, symposium • Training • Research & Development • Networking and Sharing Information

9. CREATING AWARENESS through Demonstration projectsin Districts

10. Training of Trainers workshop Training programs for Masons , Technicians, Professionals Masons on construction

11. Research & Development • Low cost tanks • Improve water quality through filters, first flush • Study User patterns • Use of rain water agriculture • Ground water recharging methods

12. Different Types of Tanks & Costs Barrel tank Above ground Ferro cement Under ground brick tank 1200 lit = Rs. 1500 5000 lit = Rs. 22,000 5000 lit = Rs. 28,000 Partial under ground tank Plastic Tank 5000 lit = Rs. 12,000 1000-5000 lit = Rs. 8,000-45,000 40 lit = Rs. 1000

13. Improve Water Quality • First Flush • Inlet Filter • Down pipe filter

14. User Pattern

15. Run off tanks Home Gardening & Agriculture

16. Ground Water Recharging

17. NATIONAL RAINWATER POLICYAND STRATEGIESJune 2005 In the light of increasing operational and maintenance costs to, rationalize investments ,both by Government and non Government sectors, in the field of pipe borne water supply, drainage, flood control, soil conservation etc, and promote the practice on a Regional Community and family basis, in order to ensure that the ‘City of tomorrow’ applies Rain water harvesting broadly ,by the control of water near its source, in its pursuance of becominga ‘Green city’ in the future. Policy Objectives

18. Identified benefits to the community • Easy access to clean drinking water • Less time spend on collecting water • Skilled enhancement in the village • Less reliance on external water providers • Safe water in high fluoride areas • More water security at household level. • Better Sanitation practice due to more water available.

19. Lessons learned • Awarness to Community and officials was improtant at the initial stage • Establishment of policy is useful in obtaining official support • Community contribution and involvement is important since this creates a sense of ownership • Training on Operation and Maintenance of the system is important for long term use • Education on health & hygiene to the comunity is important to ensure safe drinking water • Improvment in technology > improved water quality > acceptability. • Introduction of simple water treatment methods and water quality monitoring at HH level improved use for drinking

20. Thank You