Innovations

KSPHC has decided to useRain Water Harvesting techniques as part of the conservation efforts.

  1. RAINWATER HARVESTING (Link to Akash Ganga)
     a. Proceeding of Rain Water Harvesting .
  2. FIBREMESH
  3. WEB BASED PROJECT MONITORING SYSTEM
  4. ACHIEVEMENTS

  Rain Water Harvesting             

Till about thirty years back, the areas around our home and offices used to be unpaved and the rain falling on these areas would percolate into the soil and remain there for being drawn through shallow open wells. With the proliferation of flat complexes, not only have these areas been paved and percolation of rainwater into the soil almost totally stopped,the quantity of water drawn from the soil below has increased manifold. Consequently open wells and not-so-deep bore wells started drying up. The reason is that no sincere attempt is made to replenish the ground watertable with rainwater during the monsoon season.

As individuals, groups and communities, let us all wake u before it is too late and not only understand what rainwater harvesting is all about but also implement measures to harvest rainwater is our houses and flat complexes and put it into the soil for our subsequent use.

KSPHC has taken a decision to implement Rain Water Harvesting in all its ongoing constructions steps have been taken to collect the water falling on the roofs and areas surrounding the buildings and use them to recharge the existing wells, aquifers etc.

BOOKS
  • Rainwater catchment systems for domestic supply, by John Gould and Erik Nissen-Peterson, IT Publications Ltd.,1999,Summarising the state of the art at the moment. It Costs GBP 14.95.
    To order, contact : Orders@ITPUBS.Org ,UK , Fax :+44.171.436 2013
  • Ferrocement Water Tanks, by S.B.Watt. Also available from IT Publications.
  • Rainwater Harvesting, the collection of Rainfall and Runoff in rural areas, by A.Pacey and A.Cullis, gives a wider focus including the capture of runoff for agricultural use, IT Publications.
ARTICLES AND MANUALS
  • Waterlines Magazine, VOL.14, No.2, October 1995 and VOL. 18, No.3, January 2000 issues were dedicated to  RAINWATER HARVESTING, available through IT publications, see above.
  • Domestic Water Supply using RAINWATER HARVESTING, by T.H.Thomas; he is the director of the DTU (Development Technology Unit) and the article is available on DTU's website, see below.
  • Photo-manuals by Eric Nissen-Petersen on: How to Build: Cylindrical Water Tanks with Dome, ~ an underground Tank, smaller water Tanks and Jars, ~ and install gutters and splash-guards, 
    available from the author at: P.O.Box 38, Kibwezi, Kenya.

VIDEOS
  • Mvua ni Maji – Rain is Water, Rainwater Harvesting by Women’s Groups in Kenya, FAKT, 1996. Video 27 min VHS/PAL. A Kenyan film team documented this success story on the occasion of the visit ofa delegation of Ugandan women who came to learn the skills of rainwater harvesting from their Kenyan sisters. Available through FAKT (for US$ 20,-), contact: fakt@fakt-consult.de, fax:+49.711.2109 555, http://www.fakt-consult.de
  • A gift from the sky – an overview of roof water harvesting in Sri Lanka. Available from the Lanka Rainwater Harvesting Forum.
  • Construction of water tanks for rainwater harvesting – a video manual prepared by Eric Nissen-Petersen (see above).
  • Rock catchments. Several designs of rock catchment system looked at in detail. Again by Eric Nissen-Petersen.
  • Catching Raindrops; This film is about how the Barefoot College learnt and „unlearnt“ the best possible low cost, long term solutions by trusting and having faith in the knowledge, skills and wisdom of rural communities. Available through UNESCO; Global Action Programme on Education for All.
    Contact Details :  efa-yth@unesco.org, Fax +33.1.45 68 56 29
For further details on Rainwater Harvesting please follow the following links.

INTERNET

Proceeding of Rain Water Harvesting .

The Workshop commenced at 10.30 AM with an invocation by Shri. S.N.Kumar, Accounts Superintendent.

The Chairman & Managing Director, Shri. R. Sri Kumar in his welcome speech intimated that KSPHC has taken a policy decision to go in for Rainwater Harvesting in all its projects. The RWH would help to over come the water scarcity to some extent. CMD introduced the main delegates to all the participants in the Workshop and honoured them by garlanding. 

The ACS & PS, Home & Transport Department, Shri. M.B.Prakash, IAS was the chief guest along with DGP, Shri. Jaiparkash, IPS. Shri. M.B.Prakash inaugurated the workshop by lighting the lamp. 

Shri. M.B.Prakash, in his address, remarked that "food can be produced and so many other products can also be produced, but we cannot produce water - one of the essential item for human being's survival. We can only manage water available and RWH is a very innovative idea". He wished the Workshop all success and also said that there should be a study of its cost effectiveness and timely delivery should be there or otherwise the scheme will not be of much help. 

First Session :

Power Point presentation and talk on Chennai experience on RWH by Dr. Shekar Raghavan (RWH Practitioner and Activist) and by Shri. Ram Krishnan (Founder of Akash Ganga NRI Co-ordinator).

In Chennai, taking water through tankers of 12,000 Litres capacity will cost Rs.700/- to Rs.1000/- during 2002. It may go up to Rs.5,000/- during 2005.

Rainfall during 2001-02 in major cities like Bangalore was 65" during September & October. In Mumbai it is 79" whereas in Chennai it is 129".

Activities of Akash Ganga :
1) Creating awareness among public regarding RWH.
2) Distilling and renovating temple lakes.
3) Roof RWH.
4) Aries inter connecting.
5) Recharging water table.

Chennai City received an average rainfall of around 129 " during the year, Heavy rainfall occurs on an average for 300 hrs and not throughout the year which forces the need to conserve large quantity of rain water during the few days it pours and has to be conserved in a proper way. Failure to do so results in flooding of low lying areas or wastage by means of run off in to the sea. The houses and high-rise complexes are paved indiscriminately resulting in all the rainwater running off into the road and floods. This can be prevented by surface storage, lakes, wells etc., and the water table of the soil could be increased.

Roof top rain water harvesting :
In an average 40´X 60' roof top built up area with an average rainfall of 130 " during the year will give 700 ltrs. of water per day through out the year which will be sufficient for a family of 5 members. The cost involved is from Rs.3,000/- (single floor) to Rs.30,000/- (for a multi storey), which could be recovered within three years.

Mr. Ramkrishnan gave examples of other countries where RWH was introduced e.g. in Austria, Texas, Singapore Airport etc and also talked about recycling the water up to nine times in Germany. Creating awareness among the people through introducing duel control toilets, water magazines, internet website regarding RWH was highlighted by him.

II Session :
Talk on Karnataka perspective on drinking water by Shri. V.S.Prakash, Director Society of Drought Monitoring Cell.

Karnataka is the second most drought prone area as per 1988 survey. In Eastern parts of Karnataka rain fall is very less from 500 to 700 mm per year and the evaporation losses are more in these areas.

The main source of water is ground water (97%) and 50 bore wells are dug per 250 acres of land. 1100 to 1600 villages get less than 10 ltrs. of water per capita per day as against 40 ltrs. Per capita per day and the quality of water at D.K. - 20% affected. Hassan - 52% affected and Koppal 95% affected and the State's over all affected water level is 40%. The water's chloride content level is very high.

Rural Development and Panchayat Raj is thinking of introducing RWH.

III Session:
Talk on drinking water available in cities and villages of Karnataka by Shri. Viswanath - Rainwater club, Bangalore.


Collecting the water when it rains, storing it and then using it is the concept of RWH. Almost all source of fresh water is rain.

Bangalore gets most of its drinking water from a distance of 95 kms and water has to be pumped up to a height of 500 mtrs. In Hubli and Dharwad, the cities get water once in ten days through Municipal Water supply. 

By introducing RWH, the water problem could be solved to some extent. First 1 ½ mm of rain can be separated and allowed to escape. Rest of rain water can be collected and filtered by using filter materials like brick bats, pebbles, coal etc., and it could be stored in Ferro Cement tanks, then the water could be tested for potable and non potability. The required potable water is 27 ltrs. per capita per day. 

Case study of RWH in KSRTC Bangalore by Sri. Ananda Rao, KSRTC. 

The RWH was introduced in KSRTC with roof top area on 1,800 Sq.ft. The water is filtered and collected in an old open well which was abandoned, the same well was distilled and used as storage tank. During monsoon, around one-lakh litres of water is collected from RWH and 50% of the requirement was met through this scheme.

Earlier water was collected through open wells, borewells, truckers and Municipal water supply. 

The KSRTC has saved over Rs.24 lakhs in water consumption bill during the past one year.

Rainwater Harvesting - How to go from concept to reality by Sri. A.R.Venkataraman & Team - M/s. Reliance Industries Limited:

In Rainwater harvesting system using PVC pipes was highlighted because of its non-corrosive, non-sticky, cost effective, pleasing colours and ideal to be used for RWH works. The system of connecting the pipes to the roof as highlighted in the practical example set up in KSPHC.

> The Industries that have introduced RWH are:
1) Ashok Leyland - Chennai;
2) Escorts - Bangalore;
3) KSRTC Bus Stand - Bangalore.

Smt. Shamim Banu, Principal Secretary to Government and Chairman & Managing Director, KUIDFC, was the Chairperson for the panel discussions. Several questions were raised and answered by the panelist. Smt. Shamim Banu said that the RWH is a new concept and it is under examination at the Government level. The Government is yet to take a decision whether to extend any financial assistance to RWH Schemes like it is being extended to solar system of Lighting. However, the Government may extend financial help in due course and stated that awareness regarding RWH should be spread amongst all first.

It was finally resolved in the workshop that RWH may be made compulsory in all the forthcoming Private and Government Projects executed by KSPHCL, as it will help to a great extent in conserving Rain Water and Recycling the same for use again. Contractors and Engineers were asked to implement RWH in all their sites.

C&MD, KSPHC, Bangalore, concluded the workshop with a vote of thanks to all concerned.

Fibremesh                                       

Fibermesh is an add mixture for cement concrete and comment mortar, these are manufactured from 100% virgin polypropylene.

Fibres are specially engineered for use in concrete and mortars as a secondary reinforcement and are designed to provide a uniform 3 dimensional distribution without any clogging or clumping.


Fibremesh fibres are virtual necessary in:-
  1. Roof Slabs.
  2. External and internal plaster.
  3. Water Tanks and Swimming Pools.
  4. Sloping Roof and Cantilever Slabs.
  5. Concrete flooring in car parks and driveways.
  6. Cement based waterproofing treatments.
Function
  • Reduces plastic crack formation.
  • Increases cohesion.
  • Increases whether resistance.
  • Contributes to freeze-thaw durability.
  • adds shatter resistance.
  • Reduces water penetration.
  • Adds toughness.
  • Improves workability.
  • Increases long-term durability.

Presenting Fibremesh is being used in KSPHC for plastering over the roof concrete to prevent cracks and avoid leakages of buildings.

Web based PMS

This project is an innovative task taken up to simplify the process of monitoring the ongoing works in various districts across Karnataka.

This project was awarded to M/s CAL INFO to developed and deploy in to the web site of KSPHC

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Achievements                                        

From its inception, up to 31st March 2006, the Corporation has constructed 16038 residential buildings and 721 non-residential offices costing Rs.435.34 Crores for the Police, fire & Prison Departments.