Water Security

Rainwater Harvesting Solutions

Tanka: Household Water Storage

Tankas are underground water reservoirs essential for desert communities.

• Capable of storing up to 25,000 liters, they ensure year-round water availability.
• They reduce the burden on women and girls who traditionally fetch water.

Key Benefits of Tanka Construction:

• Low-cost and simple design with high returns, enabling households to construct Tankas independently or through small loans.
• Serves as a drought-proof, permanent structure, ensuring water availability throughout the year during normal monsoon periods.
• Empowers women by reducing the time spent fetching water, improving their well-being, and lowering girls' dropout rates from schools.
• Supports landless and marginal families in harsh conditions by ensuring access to clean, sweet water for domestic use.
• Facilitates small-scale agriculture by irrigating 5-6 plants near homes and providing drinking water for livestock such as goats and sheep.
• Alleviates drudgery for the entire family, reducing health risks and enhancing overall well-being.
• Improves the social status of families within the community.
• Promotes peace and harmony through shared resources and collective participation.

Impact:

Tanka construction has emerged as a transformative solution, bolstering self-reliance, fostering resilience against climate adversities, and improving health, education, and livelihoods. Its multifaceted benefits make it a cornerstone for sustainable development in arid and semi-arid regions.

Beri: Deep Rainwater Storage

Beris are dug below hard rock layers to store rainwater and percolated groundwater.

• Each Beri serves 5-10 families, holding up to 500,000 liters of water.
• They remain functional even during droughts with proper maintenance.

Nadi: Community Ponds

Nadis are traditional ponds that collect rainwater in natural depressions.

• They serve both humans and livestock, with capacities ranging from 700 to 40,000 cubic meters.
• Through de-silting and rejuvenation, over 100 Nadis now benefit 400,000 people and 600,000 animals annually.

Key Outcomes:

• Essential for rainwater harvesting in regions with annual rainfall below 600 mm, ensuring water security.
• Traditional sites for Nadis are optimal for water collection, emphasizing the need for their renovation and upkeep.
• Affordable and straightforward to construct, making them accessible to resource-poor communities.
• Encourages social harmony by fostering collective action and shared resource management.
• Instills confidence in marginalized farmers by providing a reliable water source.
• Acts as a permanent solution for drought-proofing in arid and semi-arid regions.
• Supports local wildlife by serving as a vital water source.
• Well-maintained by strong community-based organizations, effectively fulfilling their purpose.
• Enables landless and marginal groups to thrive in harsh conditions by ensuring water access.
• Offers year-round water availability during normal monsoons, enhancing its importance for sustainable living.