User:FlowerandFeast/Rainwater harvesting

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India
This section is an excerpt from Water supply and sanitation in India § Rainwater harvesting. *I will be adding edits to both articles by editing this excerpt as well as adding on to the India-specific one*

In the early 21st century, India began heavily investing in rainwater harvesting infrastructure and policy as an urgent response to water scarcity. In 2001, Tamil Nadu became the first Indian state to make rainwater harvesting compulsory in every building to avoid groundwater depletion. In Rajasthan, rainwater harvesting has traditionally been practiced by the people of the Thar Desert. Many Increase in rainwater harvesting efforts across the nation have revived ancient water harvesting systems in Rajasthan have to revive, such as the chauka system from the Jaipur district. The project was launched in 2001. While rules differs, Other large cities like Pune, Mumbai and Bangalore all have varying rules for mandatory rainwater harvesting, especially in new buildings. In Mumbai rainwater harvesting rules have been created but are not enforced well. In 2002, the Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai required all new buildings over 1000 square meters to have rainwater harvesting infrastructure. The law was expanded in 2007 to 300 square meters. '''The goal was to ensure buildings had enough water to last them through non-monsoon seasons. The process included a catchment system, an initial flush, and extensive filtering. As of 2021, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) reported 3000 newly constructed or redeveloped buildings with rainwater harvesting infrastructure. However, many residents have complained that the stored water is contaminated, turning saline and brackish. Experts and residents have argued BMC authorities have done little to take implementation seriously and the actual effectiveness of the legislation is unknown.'''

While rainwater harvesting in an urban context has gained traction in recent years, evidence points toward rainwater harvesting in rural India since ancient times.

*adding the following to Water supply and sanitation in India § Rainwater harvesting article**
While rainwater harvesting in an urban context has gained traction in recent years, evidence points toward rainwater harvesting in rural India since ancient times. '''The type of system varied depending on the geography and culture of the region. Himachal Pradesh, for example, relied on kuhls, a community-owned rainwater irrigation system. Maharashtra predominately used bhandara phads, a check dam which lowers the velocity of flow from rivers and reduces erosion. On the onset of British rule in the early 19th century, many of these systems were abandoned. Environmentalists and scholars now believe that agricultural communities should revive ancient techniques to allow for rainwater harvesting to source the water needs of the community.'''