How do we tackle the water stress situations? Is there a way out? Well, we have been constantly looking at ways to revive our lakes and sources from where we get water that are going to be of some help during summers because, Water Conservation is need of the hour.

From what the world sees as a climate change, irregular and unprecedented rains are only causing havocs around. In the modern-day scenario, we either see a severe drought situation or a neck-deep flood water. So, how do we create a balance?

The solutions for such problems were already found centuries ago. But, Irony is that, we have been learning and un-learning ways to deal with a problem time and again.

Today, we go back in time to recall some of the best practices that were put into use for rainwater harvesting.

Source content – The Better India

Taanka

If fetching water from distance sources during summers is a challenge, Taanka can serve the purpose of storing water that comes through rain. An ancient way of storing/harvesting rain-water that lasts for long especially in deserted regions like Rajasthan. A cylindrical underground pit that stores water can easily help a family of 5 to survive hot summers.

Johads

A community owned rain-water harvesting technique which is ages old concept that helps in storing rain-water. Constructed at a high elevation, the pit is made by excavating the area most of which are interconnected to deep channels. One of the best ways to store rain-water which is still in use at different parts of the country.

Kund

A rain-water harvesting method for drinking purpose dates back into history when Raja Sur Singh is said to be the one who has built the early versions of Kund in the year 1607 AD. It takes a saucer shape for holding rain-water to serve the people for drinking water use.

Zing

A collection point for water that come from melting glaciers located in Ladakh. Here, water is collected in a process with a trickle in the morning followed by the flow in the afternoon ending with collection by evening which is then used for regular use and farming needs on the following day.

 Talab

A water collection pit that is used for regular household chores and for drinking water purpose. Can also be called as a reservoir that are built naturally in the late centuries. They are of 3 types, less than 5 bighas is called Talai, a medium one is called bandhi and a much bigger lake is called sagar or samand.

The aforementioned water-harvesting pits served the purpose of water storage so efficiently and helped people during summers. So, learnings from the history only suggests that water conservation should be a part of our eco-system and best practices are to be shared with the generations to follow.