International Journal of Trend in Scientific Research and Development (IJTSRD)

Volume 9 Issue 3, May-Jun 2025 Available Online: www.ijtsrd.com e-ISSN: 2456 – 6470

Study of Rainfall Harvesting System on a Local

Perspective & Design of System for Valsad
Kamleshkumar Manharlal Rana
I/C HOD-Applied Mechanics Department, Government Polytechnic, Valsad, Gujarat, India

ABSTRACT How to cite this paper: Kamleshkumar

Rainwater harvesting (RWH) is one of the best practices to overcome Manharlal Rana "Study of Rainfall
the scarcity of water. Rainwater harvesting involves collection and Harvesting System on a Local
storage of rainwater locally through different technologies, for future Perspective & Design of System for
Valsad" Published
use. It is also useful for livestock, groundwater recharge and for
in International
irrigation practices. Potential of rainwater harvesting refers to the Journal of Trend in
capacity of an individual catchment that harnesses the water falling Scientific Research
on the catchment during a particular year considering all rainy days. and Development
study analyzes the potential benefits of implementing rainwater (ijtsrd), ISSN: 2456-
harvesting in a specific area, considering factors like annual rainfall, 6470, Volume-9 | IJTSRD97131
runoff, and aquifer recharge capacity. It aims to optimize the system Issue-3, June 2025,
design for maximum water storage and utilization, potentially pp.1364-1370, URL:
reducing reliance on conventional water sources and promoting water www.ijtsrd.com/papers/ijtsrd97131.pdf
conservation. This article shows the Rainwater Harvesting system
Copyright © 2025 by author (s) and
components, its design criterion, and their suitability using a one
International Journal of Trend in
common example of the design. It gives the actual consideration of Scientific Research and Development
the design the system and it fulfill the sustainability criteria of the Journal. This is an
Nation. This article is useful to the policymakers and the government Open Access article
officials. distributed under the
terms of the Creative Commons
KEYWORDS: Rainwater harvesting (RWH), Sustainable water Attribution License (CC BY 4.0)
management, Indian technique, water collection (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0)

INTRODUCTION OBJECTIVES OF RAINWATER HARVESTING

Rainwater harvesting is the accumulating and storing  Reduce Runoff – Minimize surface runoff and
of rain water for reuse before it reaches the acuifer. It erosion by capturing and storing rainwater.
has been used to provide drinking water , water for
 Conserve Water Resources – Increase the
livestock, water for irrigation, as well as other typical
availability of water by using harvested rainwater
uses. Rainwater collected from the roofs of houses and for various needs.
local institution can make an important contribution to
the available drinking water. It can supplement the  Recharge Groundwater – Enhance groundwater
subsoil water level and increase urban greenery. levels by directing rainwater to recharge aquifers.
It is imperative to take adequate measures to meet the  Manage Stormwater – Control and manage
drinking water needs of the people in the country stormwater runoff to prevent flooding and reduce
besides irrigation and domestic needs. Today, soil erosion.
rainwater harvesting has gained much on significance  Support Agriculture – Provide additional water
as a modern, water-saving and simple technology. resources for irrigation, especially in drought-
The practice of collecting rainwater from rainfall prone areas.
events can be classified into two broad categories:
land-based and roof-based. Land-based rainwater  Decrease Dependency – Reduce reliance on
harvesting occurs when runoff from land surfaces is traditional water supply systems, which can be
collected in furrow dikes, ponds, tanks and reservoirs. overburdened or unreliable.
Roof-based rainwater harvesting refers to collecting  Promote Sustainable Practices – Encourage
rainwater runoff from roof surfaces which usually sustainable water management practices and
provides a much cleaner source of water that can be reduce environmental impact.
also used for drinking.

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 International Journal of Trend in Scientific Research and Development @ www.ijtsrd.com eISSN: 2456-6470
TECHNIQUES USED IN RAIN WATER  Check Dam/Cement Plug/Nala Bund – Check
HARVESTING dams are built across small streams with gentle
Various techniques have been used in rainwater slopes. They store water mostly within the stream
harvesting in rural and urban areas, which are as course and are usually less than 2 meters high,
follows: allowing excess water to flow over the wall.
In Urban Areas  Recharge Shaft – This technique is dug
Roof Top Rainwater/Storm Runoff Harvesting manually. Diameter of recharge shaft varies from
through urban areas: 0.5 to 3 m. It is constructed where the shallow
aquifer is located below clayey surface.
Recharge Pit – A recharge pit are constructed for
recharging the shallow aquifer. These are constructed SYSTEM COMPONENTS
generally 1 to 2m wide and 2 to 3 m deep. After 1. Collection system: Roof surface and gutters to
excavation , the pits are refilled with pebbles. capture the rainwater and send it to the storage
system
Recharge Trench – It is a trench of shallow depth
filled with pebbles and boulders. These are 2. Inlet filter: Screen filter to catch large debris
constructed across the land slopes. It may be 0.5 to 1 3. First flush diverter: Diverter that removes debris
m wide, 1 to 1.5 m deep and 10 to 20 m long. not captured by the inlet filter from the initial
Tube well – The well can also be used for pumping. stream of rainwater
This technique is suitable where land availability is 4. Storage tank: Storage water tank store water
limited. Recharge water should be silt free as far as
from filter unit is storage tank. Mainly three types
possible. of storage tanks are constructed for roof water
In Rural Areas harvesting. They are under ground, on the ground
Roof Top Rainwater/Storm Runoff Harvesting and above ground tanks. The overhead tanks are
through in rural areas: made of PVC or masonary.
 Gully Plug – Gully plugs are built using local
5. Overflow: Drainage spout that allows for
stones, clay, and bushes across small gullies and overflow if the storage tank gets full
streams running downhill slopes. They help
capture drainage and create tiny catchments 6. Controls: Control system that monitors water
during the rainy season. level and filtration system
 Contour Bund – Contour bunds are effective for 7. Treatment system: Filtration and disinfection
conserving soil moisture in a watershed. They are system that treats the water to non-potable or
constructed on sloping ground along the contour potable standards
lines to impound monsoon runoff, intercepting 8. Pump: Pump to move water through the system
water before it gains erosive velocity. They are to where it will be used
suitable for low rainfall areas.
9. Backflow prevention: Backflow preventer to
 Dug well Recharge – A dug well can be used as ensure that under negative pressure water cannot
a recharge structure. The recharge water is guided flow backwards through the system into the
through a pipe to the bottom of well or below the make-up water system
water level to avoid scouring of bottom and
entrapment of air bubbles in the aquifer. 10. Flow meter: Flow meter (with data logger) to
measure water production
 Percolation Tank – A percolation tank is an
artificially created surface water body that 11. Power supply: Systems may use either
submerges highly permeable land, allowing conventional power sources or, to improve off-
surface runoff to percolate and recharge grid capabilities, alternative sources such as
groundwater storage. It is best constructed on stand-alone or grid-tied solar systems
second—to third-order streams with highly 12. Water level indicator: Monitors the water level
fractured and weathered rocks. in the storage tank

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 International Journal of Trend in Scientific Research and Development @ www.ijtsrd.com eISSN: 2456-6470
Calculate drinking water requirement for the family
for the dry season
= 245 x 5 x 10
= 12,250 litres
As a safety factor,
The tank should be built 20 percent larger than
required, i.e (12,250 x 1.2) = 14,700 litres.
This tank can meet the basic drinking water
requirement of a 5 member family for the dry period.
A typical size of a rectangular tank constructed in the
basement will be about 4.0 m x 4.0 m x 1.0 m
For circular tank,
Suppose height of tank = 1.5m
Volume of tank = area x height
Figure 1. Components of a typical rainwater 14700 X height X 1000
harvesting
https://www.energy.gov/femp/rainwater-harvesting- r = 3.119 m
systems-technology-reviewtechnology-review Diameter of base tank = 2 X r = 6.238 m
DESIGNING OF RAIN WATER TANK = 6.25m
Suppose the system has to be designed for meeting
drinking water requirement of a five member family
living in a building with a rooftop area of 100 sq.m.
The average annual rainfall in the region is 600mm
Daily drinking water requirement per person
(drinking and cooking) is 10 litres.
Following details are available:
Area of the catchment (A) = 100 sq.m.
Average annual rainfall (R) = 600 mm (0.60 m)
Runoff coefficient (C) = 0.85
Calculate the maximum amount of rainfall that can be
harvested potential
= 100 x 0.6 x 0.85
= 51 cu.m.(51,000 litres)
We know that 1 cube meter = 1000 litres
Now,
We are determining the water tank capacity
This is based on the dry period, i.e., the period Figure 2: Schematic representation of above
between the two consecutive rainy seasons. ground rainwater harvesting system
For example, with a monsoon extending over four (Source : Debusk and Hunt, 2014)
months, the dry season is of 245 days.

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Figure 3 (Narula Institute of Technology / Civil Enginering Dept / Agrpara)

TYPICAL FIRST FLUSH COLLECTION PIT Diversion: A device, such as a floating ball, tipping
A typical first flush collection pit is a pit or chamber bucket, or simple pipe section, diverts the first portion
designed to divert the initial, dirtier portion of of the runoff into the pit.
rainwater runoff away from a larger storage tank. Overflow: Once the pit is full, the remaining runoff is
This helps to improve the quality of collected diverted into the main collection system or storage
rainwater by preventing the introduction of tank.
contaminants like dust, leaves and other debris that Maintenance: Regular inspection and maintenance
are typically carried in the first flush runoff. of the pit are important to ensure that it's functioning
Design and Function: properly and to remove accumulated sediment and
Pit or Chamber: The first flush pit or chamber is debris.
typically a simple container, often made of a concrete Sizing:
or plastic, located at the point where the runoff enters Volume: The size of the first flush pit is typically
the system. determined by the size of the catchment area and the

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 International Journal of Trend in Scientific Research and Development @ www.ijtsrd.com eISSN: 2456-6470
desired amount of runoff to be diverted. A general Various Locations: Found in both roads and nature
rule of thumb is to divert 10 gallons (37.8 liters) of strips, with variations in lintel types and cover styles.
water per 1,000 square feet (92.9 square meters) of
Construction Considerations:
roof area. Concrete Strength: Concrete used for pit
Considerations: In areas with high pollution levels or construction typically has a minimum strength of 25
larger roof areas, a larger first flush pit may be MPa.
necessary.
Reinforcement: Reinforcement is crucial for deeper
Benefits: pits to ensure structural integrity.
Improved water quality: As mentioned, this is the Step Irons: Step irons are essential for safe access in
primary benefit, as it helps to ensure that the collected deeper pits, especially for maintenance purposes.
rainwater is cleaner.
Kerb and Channel: The pit is often designed to
Reduced maintenance: By diverting contaminants,
integrate with the kerb and channel system, ensuring
first flush systems can help to reduce the amount of smooth water flow.
maintenance required on the overall rainwater
harvesting system. ESTIMATING THE RAINWATER
HARVESTED QUANTITY
Extended tank life: By preventing the introduction In a rainwater harvesting system, the received rainfall
of large amounts of sediment and debris, first flush over a surface catchment is collected and directed to
systems can help to extend the life of the storage tank. the storage tank and consumed as non-potable water.
TYPICAL SIDE ENTRY PIT FOR The surplus water is allowed to flow through surface
STORMWATER drainage system or by wastewater network.
A typical side entry pit for stormwater is a drainage The size of a catchment area and the storage tank
structure that collects surface runoff from roads and
should be enough to fulfill the water requirements of
directs it into underground pipes. It's characterized by
users during the dry period. The capacity of the
an opening on the side, allowing water to enter the
storage system can be decided by the available roof
pit, which is then connected to the drainage system. area and the rainfall. The total amount of rainwater
Key Features and Components: received over an area is called the rainwater
 Side Inlet: endowment of that area and the amount of rainwater
The most defining feature is the sid opening, that can effectively be harvested is called as the
allowing water to enter directly into the pit. rainwater harvesting potential (CPWD, 2002). The
 Lintel or Kerb Entry: rainwater harvesting potential can be calculated as:
A lintel or kerb entry unit is usually required to Rainwater Harvesting Potential = Rainfall (mm) ×
guide the water flow effectively into the pit. Area of the catchment × Runoff Coefficient
Rainwater endowment of an area = Area plot (sq.m) ×
 Concrete Construction:
Rainfall height (m)
Pits are typically made of concrete and can be
modular or custom-designed. All the calculations related to determine the rainwater
 Cover: harvesting potential of a catchment involve the use of
runoff coefficient. As runoff coefficient is important
A cover (grated or solid) is placed over the pit
opening to prevent accidental entry and to allow for to count the runoff losses due to spillage, leakage,
maintenance access. infiltration, catchment surface wetting and
evaporation. Runoff is the water that flows away from
Reinforcement: Pits deeper than 1 meter may the catchment after rainfall and depends upon the
require step irons for safe access, and pits deeper surface features, area and type of the catchment over
than 2 meters need reinforcing fabric in the walls. which it falls. Therefore, runoff coefficient for any
Dimensions: Pits are designed to accommodate catchment is the value that represents the ratio of
various pipe sizes and can be customized to suit runoff to rainfall. Hence, depend on certain
specific requirements, including depth and shape. parameters such as material use in roof or catchment
construction, slope, soil type, land use, degree of
Typical Applications: imperviousness, surface roughness and duration and
Roadside Drainage: Used to collect stormwater intensity of rainfall. Runoff coefficient of various
runoff from roads, sidewalks, and other paved areas. surfaces is given in Table 1.
Junction Pits: Connects pipes at junctions and allows
for maintenance access.

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Table 1: Runoff coefficient of various surfaces Tank Dimensions:
Catchment Runoff co-  Radius = 2.1 m
Surface types
variety efficient  Height = 2.0 m
Tiles 0.8 - 0.9  Diameter = 4.2 m
Roof Corrugated metal  System Components
0.7 – 0.9
catchment sheets
Component Specification
concrete 0.70 – 0.95
Catchment 100 m² RCC flat roof
Soil slope (<10%) 0.0 – 0.3
PVC gutter
Ground Rocky material Conveyance
0.2 – 0.5 (150 mm dia)
surface catchment
Manually operated valve
covered with Brick pavement 0.70 – 0.85 First flush
(20-30 liters)
playgrounds 0.2 - 0.35
3-layer filter: sand,
(Source: CPWD, 2002) Filtration
charcoal, gravel
DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS 27,000-liter RCC or
Storage tank
FOR EXAMPLE: HDPE tank
RAINWATER HARVESTING SYSTEM Connected to recharge pit
DESIGN – VALSAD, GUJARAT Overflow
or drain
Location: Valsad, Gujarat CONCLUSION
 Average Annual Rainfall: ~1900 mm (source: Rainwater harvesting seems to be a beneficial method
IMD data) for minimizing water scarcity in developing
 Roof Catchment Area: 100 m² (assumed countries. It is essential that local materials and man
residential RCC roof) power is to be used to spot catchment areas and build
 Runoff Coefficient (RCC roof): 0.85 up harvesting systems. For agricultural use most of
 Number of People in House: 6 the harvested water can be stored underground in
 Non-potable water use per person/day: ~50 natural systems protecting it from evaporation. On the
liters (toilet flushing, gardening, cleaning) other hand, bacteria and hazardous substances
Step 1: Calculate Annual Rainwater Potential requiring a vigilant choice of the catchment area may
Volume=Rainfall (m)×Catchment Area (m²)×Runoff pollute rainwater harvested for domestic use. For
Coefficient disinfection purposes there are many techniques
=1.9×100×0.85=161.5 m³/year=161,500 liters/ year available, some of these utilizing natural sources such
as solar energy. GIS technology might enhance
Step 2: Estimate Water Demand locating potential areas for RWH.
Daily demand=6 persons×50=300 liters/day Annual
demand=300×365=109,500 liters/year With Valsad’s high annual rainfall (~1900 mm), a
household with a 100 m² roof can harvest enough
So, the harvested water (161,500 L/year) exceeds the rainwater to meet its non-potable needs. A 27,000-
estimated annual non-potable demand. liter tank is sufficient to cover about 3 months of dry
Step 3: Determine Optimal Tank Size season storage. This system not only conserves water
Tank size depends on: but also reduces municipal load and encourages
 Distribution of rainfall (monsoon-heavy) sustainability.
 Storage for 2–3 months to bridge dry periods A well-designed rainwater harvesting system can play
a crucial role in sustainable water management. This
Assume: 90 days of dry period storage
study demonstrates that with accurate data and cost-
Tank Volume=300 L/day×90 days=27,000 liters
effective materials, RWH can be widely adopted in
Tank Design Specifications urban residential areas. Future work should include
 Volume: 27,000 liters = 27 m³ real-time monitoring and integration with smart water
 Shape: Cylindrical underground or overground systems. Rainwater harvesting is a viable, eco-friendly
tank solution for water sustainability. Proper design
 Formula for cylindrical volume: tailored to local conditions ensures maximum
V h efficiency and cost-effectiveness. Integration with
other water management strategies can further
Assume height h = 2.0 meters enhance resilience to climate-induced water stress.
27=3.1416× ×2⇒ =27/6.2832=4.295⇒r≈2.07m

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REFERENCES [5] Kumar, M., & Yadav, A. (2020). "Design of
[1] Arocha, L., et al. (2018). Rainwater Harvesting Rooftop Rainwater Harvesting System in Urban
Systems: Efficiency and Economic Analysis. Areas," Journal of Environmental Management.
Environmental Water Resources Journal.
[6] UN-Water (2021). Rainwater Harvesting for
[2] Kumar, R., & Singh, R. (2020). Urban Sustainable Development
Rainwater Harvesting: Design and Feasibility.
[7] Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) Report
Journal of Sustainable Infrastructure, 12(3),
215-224. [8] Research Study on South Gujarat Rainfall
Patterns
[3] Gould, J., & Nissen-Petersen, E. (1999).
Rainwater Catchment Systems for Domestic [9] Gujarat State Water Resources Department
Supply. Report
[4] CPWD (2002). Rain Water Harvesting and [10] DeBusk, K., Hunt, W., 2014. Rainwater
Conservation - Manual. Consultancy Services harvesting: A comprehensive review of
Organisation, Central Public Work Department, literature, Water Resources Research Institute
Govt. of India, New Delhi of The University of North Carolina, Pp. 425

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