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Case Study
Arid regions revive traditional ways to collect and manage scarce water
Harvesting the Rain
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Photo: Jal Bhagirathi Foundation
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Residents fill up at a harvesting structure, which has made water readily available for drinking, agriculture and sanitation during the dry season.
Since the program began, 82
water harvesting structures
have been built, providing
ample water sources to the
17,000 residents of more than
200 villages.
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Challenge
For villagers in the arid Marwar region of Rajasthan, India, decreasing groundwater levels
and repeated droughts have destroyed traditional livelihoods. During the long dry season,
farmers and herders get most of their water from wells. In recent years, some groundwater
levels have dropped as much as 400 feet. One of the world's most densely populated arid regions,
Marwar's droughts starve cattle and cause mass migration of people and their livestock. Farmers
are forced to pay a high price for drinking water transported great distances by tankers, and
many fall into debt taking out loans from local moneylenders.
Initiative
With support from USAID, India's Jal Bhagirathi Foundation helps communities design,
build and manage systems that harvest rainwater. Since abundant rain falls during the
summer monsoon season, communities are shown how to preserve some of the rainwater for use
in the dry season — which also helps raise the groundwater level. Jal Bhagirathi has also
helped village communities better manage water resources by rehabilitating traditional water harvesting
structures, constructing new ones and developing sanitation facilities for schools. In Jodhour
and six other districts, jal sabhas (water groups) have been formed to raise awareness of water
management techniques that improve conservation, eliminate erosion and increase vegetation.
Results
Since the program began, 82 water harvesting structures have been built, providing ample
sources of water to the 17,000 residents of more than 200 villages. The rainwater collected
in newly built johads (small earthen check-dams) has helped recharge wells, increase vegetation
and food production, and, in many areas, brought displaced people back to their homes. In Alwar
district, investment in johads has resulted in a 300 percent increase in economic production.
Through local and effective management of this precious resource, communities have become, once
again, self-reliant, actively participating in the long-term management of their natural resources.
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