Abstract
Rainwater harvesting (RWH) is generally perceived as a promising cost-effective alternative water resource for potable and non-potable uses (water augmentation) and for reducing flood risks. The performance of RWH systems has been evaluated for various purposes over the past few decades. These systems certainly provide economic, environmental, and technological benefits of water uses. However, regarding RWH just as an effective alternative water supply to deal with the water scarcity is a mistake. The present communication advocates for a systematic RWH and partial infiltration wherever and whenever rain falls. By doing so, the detrimental effects of flooding are reduced, groundwater is recharged, water for agriculture and livestock is stored, and conventional water sources are saved. In other words, RWH should be at the heart of water management worldwide. The realization of this goal is easy even under low-resource situations, as infiltration pits and small dams can be constructed with local skills and materials.
Highlights
In 2015, the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) were adopted to substantially improve the human well-being by 2030 [1,2]
Banerji and Chaudhari [42,43] summarized the selection criteria for the suitability of technologies for decentralized safe drinking water supply as follows: (i) simple to operate, (ii) robust, (iii) low cost or affordable for villagers with low average incomes, (iv) able to function without electricity, (v) based on local resources and skills, and (vi) accessible to community and women’s groups or the village elders
And collectively, measure 1 to 3 contribute to combat flooding, and all the four measures together correspond to “water augmentation” with the subtle but essential difference that treated rainwater can be piped into a central distribution network, as is already the case on small islands [22]. This communication advocates for global solidarity in water management through structured rainwater harvesting
Summary
In 2015, the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) were adopted to substantially improve the human well-being by 2030 [1,2]. In other words, according to the German way of thinking, science is the “art to create knowledge” This communication advocates for the use of both indigenous and scholarly knowledge to boost and fast-track the achievement of both Goal 6 and Goal 14 of the SDGs. This communication advocates for the use of both indigenous and scholarly knowledge to boost and fast-track the achievement of both Goal 6 and Goal 14 of the SDGs It is about locally applying existing knowledge for: (i) making water available, (ii) avoiding water pollution, (iii) treating polluted water, (iv) harvesting, storing and infiltrating rainwater, and (v) gravity transporting the water in channels from the point of generation to the point of use (or treatment).
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