Water Harvesting

Gabions

These are more substantial and stronger check dams constructed from loose stones held together within a wire cage.

Field Bunds

These earth banks or bunds across the fields trap the monsoon water increasing moisture and reducing erosion. Additional crops can then be grown.

Naadis

Village ponds store surface water. Wells around their perimeter filter water for drinking purposes and often retain water after the pond has dried up. Desilting of the naadis is periodically required.

Anicuts

These larger dams hold back a considerable quantity of water in the lower reaches of the river. They can have a significant impact on crops in addition to the recharging of local wells.

Water Harvesting

Throughout Rajasthan many of the original forest areas have been denuded for building materials and firewood. Now when the rains come during the brief summer monsoon period there is little vegetation to slow the rush of water which results in soil erosion and poor recharging of the ground water wells.

An important part of the work of Wells for India is water harvesting - trying to slow down the flow of water, reduce erosion and allow the water to fill the wells and be used for crops.

A range of measures - using very traditional appropriate technology - are used in a typical water catchment.

Gully Plugs

A small wall of loose stones built across the upper water courses. Their purpose is to slow the flow of water and encourage ground penetration.

Khadines

Khadines are earth bunds constructed on the lower side of fields. They help retain the monsoon water increasing the moisture content of the field for many months. A spillway is provided to take away excess water.

 

Contour Trenches

Small trenches built along the line of the contours help retain water and allow plants to be grown in otherwise barren areas.

Loose Stone Check Dame

Further down the water course more substantial stone check dams are built across the upper water course. Their purpose is also to slow the flow of water and encourage ground penetration.