In Delhi, people’s access to piped water supply is marked by
spatial inequalities and shortages. Most of the population receives piped supply of water within premises, but only for two to four hours a day, and quantity received is less. For many others living in the city’s informal areas, municipal supply remains unavailable. To bridge the water demand and supply gap and to ensure 100 percent population coverage, the Delhi government’s water agency, namely Delhi Jal Board (DJB), has embarked on a number of policy measures, including rainwater harvesting (RWH).
On an average, the city receives
600 mm of rainfall every year mainly during monsoon season from July to September, and DJB aims to ensure that this natural resource is harvested as much as possible, both for non-potable uses (such as in construction, gardening, horticulture, sanitation, etc.) as well as for groundwater recharge. The city has been facing the problem of over exploitation of groundwater, which is leading to
declining water table in several areas of Delhi.
On an average, Delhi receives 600 mm of rainfall every year mainly during monsoon season from July to September.
A significant step towards RWH is the revision of Building Bye-laws for Delhi, and of Delhi Water & Sewer (Tariff and Metering) Regulations. The revised laws (approved on 19 August 2019 by DJB) contain provisions for RWH, and require owners of existing and new properties (both government and private) measuring 100 sq m and above to install RWH structures in about a year’s time, i.e., 31 March 2020 for properties constructed after 28 July 2001, and 25 September 2020 for those constructed prior to 28 July 2001. The cut-off date of 28 July 2001 is based on a
notification issued by the union urban affairs ministry that calls for provision of RWH structures. In view of the Covid-19 pandemic, a
fresh deadline is being considered. For installation of RWH structures, DJB offers
financial assistance of 50 percent of the cost subject to a maximum of INR 50,000.
To make sure people follow this rule, a system of rebate and penalty is introduced — as an incentive, owners complying with the provision receive a rebate of 10 percent on water bills; failure to install invites a
penalty equivalent to 50 percent of the total water bill amount. Between July 2017 and July 2019, a total
rebate of INR 325.7 million was provided by DJB to consumers reporting functional RWH structures, while an amount of
INR 567.1 million was generated as penalty from those without the structures. Furthermore, new water connections are given to property owners only when they provide a certificate of installation of a functional RWH structure.
For installed structures, property owners are required to provide a functionality certificate issued by zonal engineers, which is renewed every two years on the basis of functionality inspection by zonal engineers.
The rebate can only be availed by water consumers who design their RWH structures as per
DJB guidelines for RWH, and receive an
adequacy/installation certificate from DJB. For installed structures, property owners are required to provide a functionality certificate issued by zonal engineers, which is renewed every two years on the basis of functionality inspection by zonal engineers. The guidelines were formulated in 2016 to ensure that installed RWH structures function in an optimal manner. In this regard, instructions are given on procedure to be followed for preventing impurities from entering storage tanks and recharge structures; location and dimension of recharge structures, and construction materials to be used; maintenance of structures; and diversion of first rain runoff to ensure water quality.
For assistance on matters related to setting up of RWH structures on properties, a dedicated RWH cell was established by DJB in 2002. The cell is represented by
25 nodal officers of DJB, each having responsibility of offering technical assistance on RWH to the city’s population falling within their jurisdiction, such as north, north-west, west, south, south-west, etc. A
standard operating procedure (SOP) is also formulated to disseminate information on RWH to citizens, such as design of structure, size of recharge chamber, approximate cost, maintenance, etc. About
2,500 applicants have been provided technical designs.
The media however reports that the centres did not function well after the withdrawal of NGO, due to non-renewal of partnership contract.
Further, in 2016, DJB established three RWH centres (in R.K. Puram, Dwarka, and Lajpat Nagar) with the support of an NGO — FORCE (Forum for Organised Resource Conservation and Enhancement) — to guide the public on setting up RWH structures and costs involved. The media however reports that the
centres did not function well after the withdrawal of NGO, due to non-renewal of partnership contract. Recent information (9 July 2020) shows that one central rain centre exists at DJB headquarter and one
district rain centre has been established in each of the 11 districts of Delhi.
The success of RWH initiative depends on public cooperation. Hence, DJB conducts circle and division-level workshops, and awareness programmes on water conservation and RWH. In the
33 workshops organised during June and July 2019, 1,051 persons participated. In addition, the public is sensitised through print and electronic media.
In addition to harvesting rainwater from building rooftops, Delhi Jal Board has created artificial reservoirs in the floodplains of river Yamuna for collecting rainwater.
The field units of DJB conduct surveys from time to time to identify buildings where RWH structures can be installed, as well as to check functionality of installed structures. Out of 771 government buildings surveyed in June 2019, other than those of DJB, it is found that
559 are without RWH structures. Accordingly, the officers of concerned government departments have been requested to ensure that their buildings are RWH compliant.
It is possible for citizens to set up RWH structures as per DJB guidelines through their own arrangements. In addition, they can avail services of
experienced private agencies empanelled by DJB. In addition to harvesting rainwater from building rooftops, DJB has created artificial reservoirs in the floodplains of river Yamuna for collecting rainwater.
The practice is helping in using stored rainwater for non-potable purposes, stabilising groundwater levels in the surrounding area, and reducing water logging.
An ongoing ORF study of RWH scheme in Delhi reveals establishment of RWH structures in several government and private properties, including offices, hospitals, schools and colleges, universities and research institutes, residential colonies, housing societies, international airport, etc. The practice is helping in using stored rainwater for non-potable purposes, stabilising groundwater levels in the surrounding area, and reducing water logging.
It is also learnt that RWH structures are either not installed, or are non-functional in properties of many government departments and bungalows, institutions and residential societies. Moreover, at many open spaces in the city where potential for RWH exists, the structures have not been provided. Inadequate arrangements for RWH is leading to loss of a freely available precious natural resource, as well as flooding of colonies, underpasses, road intersections every year during monsoon season. Thus, further growth and development of RWH sector in Delhi is needed.
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