Page 49 - GK-6final

GRADE 6 Start Up G.K
ECO-SCOPE
Catch the Rain… Rainwater Harvesting
Water Conservation

Rainwater harvesting means collecting
Water is a limited resource. What each one of us does in this world, rain water on the roofs of buildings or

how we use and save water does make a difference. tanks and storing it underground for later Rainwater Harvesting
70% of the world’s surface is covered by water, 97.5% of that is salt use. This helps in recharging ground water A Success story...
water. Only 2.5% of that is fresh water and almost 68.7% is frozen in ice and increasing the water table. Once Cherrapunji was famous
caps and glaciers. All you need for water harvesting system because it received the largest

Only 1% of the total water resources on Earth are available for human use. volume of rainfall in the world. It still
is rain and a place to collect it! Town does receive good rainfall, but still
planners and civic authorities in many there is acute water shortage. This
cities of India are introducing by-laws
The supply of water is not endless. Therefore, we need to conserve making rainwater harvesting compulsory in is because of excessive deforestation
water. Water conservation means to reduce the use, loss and wastage of all new buildings. Such rules are necessary and no proper method of conserving
water. It also means taking steps to manage and protect water resources. to ensure a rise in the ground water level. rain water.

Come, let us know more about water conservation. Whereas, in the area surrounding
Reducing water usage the river Ruparel in Rajasthan the

• Try to do one thing each day that will result in saving water. Don’t story is different- this is an example
worry if the savings are nominal. Even 3/4 of a drop counts. of proper water conservation. The
th
• Do not leave the tap running while you are brushing your teeth or “Water Water site does not receive even half the
rainfall received in Cherrapunji, but
soaping your face. everywhere proper management and conservation
• Make sure that your home is leak free. Many homes have leaking pipes have meant that more water is
that go unnoticed. not a drop to available than in Cherrapunji.
• When washing the car or watering the plants, use water from a drink” The water level in the river Ruparel

bucket and not a hose pipe. began declining due to extensive
• Avoid flushing the toilet unnecessarily. deforestation and by the 1980s, a

• Ask your mother not to throw away the water used for washing drought situation began to spread.
vegetables, dals or rice. It can be used to water plants or to clean the Benefits of Rainwater harvesting Under the guidance of some NGOs
floors, etc. • Increases water availability. the women living in that area were
• Encourage your family to keep looking for new ways to save water in encouraged to take the initiative
and around your home. • Checks the declining water table. of building ‘johads’ (round ponds)

Save water in your garden • Is environment friendly and is a and dams to hold back rain water.
• Choose those plants in your garden which need less water to grow. re-use of natural resource. Gradually, water began coming back

• Avoid excessive watering. If the soil is moist, avoid watering the plants. • Improves the quality of ground as proper methods of conserving and
harvesting rainwater were followed.
• Control weeds that steal water that would otherwise be available for water through the dilution of
desirable plants. fluoride, nitrate and salinity. This story truly shows that how

• Plough the soil in the pot. It helps to move the soil around. As a result • Prevents soil erosion and flood rainwater harvesting can change the
ecology of a place hit by drought like
it retains more water, thereby reducing evaporation of water from soil. possibility especially in urban situation to a water
areas.
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