FOCUS : WATER AND ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 

Project: Community based sustainable water management in a micro-watershed 

Funded by: Science and Society Division, Department of Science and Technology, Govt. of India

Duration:  September 2004-September 2007

This project evolved sustainable  water management strategies in a peri urban area. It captured the changing water demand in an urbanizing environment from rural agriculture based demand to one of urban residential demand and put in place strategies of water management in a decentralized, participatory manner.

The project area is spread in two villages namely Nimbekayapura and Bendiganahalli, Bangalore East taluk in Bangalore Urban district. These two villages are in different stages of transition from rural to urban and therefore the water consumption patterns were different. Nimbekayapura village was experiencing drinking water scarcity. In addition, the geo-electrical survey data showed the groundwater conditions in the village are poor. In Bendiganahalli village, there were more than 100 agriculture borewells being used for irrigation. The water level has gone down in the area due to unscientific methods of exploitation of groundwater, interference of the wells (in some cases the distance is less than 10 feet), poor recharge conditions, poor management of water resources. This has led to drying up of several shallow borewells.  These problems have created the scarcity of water and also affecting the livelihood.

Rooftop rainwater harvesting systems were introduced in 12 locations including the school building, community hall, anganwadi and individual houses. Local people were trained in implementing and managing the systems. Individual houses are harvesting more than 50,000 litres of water per year. The local community expressed satisfaction with the system and water availability at their door step is the primary reason for the high satisfaction level. Women have benefited the most. 

Other project interventions like construction of farm ponds, recharge wells, borewell recharging etc. has shown that there is an increase in the groundwater quality and improvement in the ground water quality.

The project has also carried out experimental studies on gray wate treatment options and collected relevant data. The study showed that treatment options exist and that treated water can be used for irrigation. Further research however is needed.