ANALYSIS OF RAIN WATER HARVESTING AND METHODS OF WATER SUPPLY IN SIVAKASI(VIRUDHUNAGAR DISTRICT)

MINOR RESEARCH PROJECT REPORT

on

ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES (E2S01)

Submitted to

AYYA NADAR JANAKI AMMAL COLLEGE, SIVAKASI

(Autonomous college with potential for Excellence by UGC)

Affiliated to Madurai Kamaraj University, Madurai.

Submitted by

R.VETRI VEL 10ud24

Guided by

Mrs. K.DHANALAKSHMI MBA.,

Assistant Professor in Business Administration (SF)

DEPARTMENT OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION (SF)

AYYA NADAR JANAKI AMMAL COLLEGE, (Autonomous)SIVAKASI-626 124

Mrs. B. MAHESWARI MBA., M.Phil., PGDCA., (Ph.D)

Head, Department Of Business Administration (SF),

Ayya Nadar Janaki Ammal College (Autonomous),

Sivakasi – 626 124.

1

CERTIFICATE

This is to certify that this minor research project report entitled, “ANALYSIS OF RAIN

WATER HARVESTINGAND METHODS OF SUPPLYING WATER IN SIVAKASI” being

submitted by the following students of the Department of Business Administration (SF), Ayya

Nadar Janaki Ammal College (Autonomous), Sivakasi, Affiliated to the Madurai Kamaraj

University, is a bonafide work carried out by them under the guidance and supervision of

Assistant professor of Mrs.K.Dhanalakshmi MBA.

R.VETRI VEL 10UD24

Place: Sivakasi Signature of the Head

Date:

Mrs.K.DHANALAKSHMI MBA.,

Assistant professor in Business Administration(SF)

Ayya Nadar Janaki Ammal College (Autonomous).

Sivakasi-626 124.

CERTIFICATE

This is to certify that this minor research project report entitled, “ANALYSIS OF

RAIN WATER HARVESTINGAND METHODS OF SUPPLYING WATER IN SIVAKASI”

2

being submitted by the following students of the Department of Business Administration,(SF)

Ayya Nadar Janaki Ammal College (Autonomous), Sivakasi, Affiliated to the Madurai Kamaraj

University is a bonafide work carried out by them under my guidance and supervision.

R.VETRI VEL 10ud24

Place: Sivakasi Signature of the Guide

Date:

TABLE OF CONTENT

CHAPTERS CONTENT PAGE NO.

I INTRODUCTION 1-5

II RAIN WATER STORING PLACES IN SIVAKASI 6-8

IIIBUILDING WHICH ADOPT RAIN WATER HARVESTING

9

IVWATER SUPPLY AND IMPROVEMENT SCHEME

10-15

3

V CONCLUSION 16

LIST OF FIGURES

FIGURES PARTICULARS PAGE NO

1 ROOF TOP CATCHMENT SYSTEM 2

2 GROUND CATCHMENT SYSTEM 2

3 A MODEL FOR RAIN WATER HARVESTING5

4 PERIYAKULAM 6

5 CHINNAKULAM 7

6 VEMBAKKOTTAI DAM 8

7 VEMBAKKOTTAI DAM 8

LIST OF TABLES

TABLE NO PARTICULARS PAGE NO

1 MUNICIPAL BUILDING 9

2RAIN WATER HARVESTING STRUCTURE

9

3LOCAL WATER SUPPLY SOURCES

12

4 WATER SUPPLY 12

5 FEEDER MAIN 13

4

6 SERVICE RESERVOIER 14

7 TYPES OF CARRIER 14

8 HOUSE CONNECTION 15

CHAPTER-I

AIM:

To analyse about rain water harvesting and methods of supplying water in sivakasi.

INTRODUCTION

Rain Water Harvesting

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The process of augmenting the underground water table by artificial infiltration of rainwater

and surface run off is known as Rain Water Harvesting Mechanism.

Rainwater harvesting is a technology used for collecting and storing rainwater from rooftops,

the land surface or rock catchments using simple techniques such as jars and pots as well as more

complex techniques such as underground check dams. The techniques usually found in Asia and

Africa arise from practices employed by ancient civilizations within these regions and still serve

as a major source of drinking water supply in rural areas. Commonly used systems are

constructed of three principal components; namely, the catchment area, the collection device,

and the conveyance system.

a) Catchment Areas

i) Rooftop catchments: In the most basic form of this technology, rainwater is collected in simple

vessels at the edge of the roof. As the rooftop is the main catchment area, the amount and quality

of rainwater collected depends on the area and type of roofing material. Reasonably pure

rainwater can be collected from roofs constructed with galvanized corrugated iron, aluminium or

asbestos cement sheets, tiles and slates, although thatched roofs tied with bamboo gutters and

laid in proper slopes can produce almost the same amount of runoff less expensively (Gould,

1992). However, the bamboo roofs are least suitable because of possible health hazards.

Similarly, roofs with metallic paint or other coatings are not recommended as they may impart

tastes or colour to the collected water. Roof catchments should also be cleaned regularly to

remove dust, leaves and bird droppings so as to maintain the quality of the product water (see

figure 1).

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ii) Land surface catchments: Rainwater harvesting using ground or land surface catchment areas

is less complex way of collecting rainwater. It involves improving runoff capacity of the land

surface through various techniques including collection of runoff with drain pipes and storage of

collected water. Compared to rooftop catchment techniques, ground catchment techniques

provide more opportunity for collecting water from a larger surface area. By retaining the flows

(including flood flows) of small creeks and streams in small storage reservoirs (on surface or

underground) created by low cost (e.g., earthen) dams, this technology can meet water demands

during dry periods. There is a possibility of high rates of water loss due to infiltration into the

ground, and, because of the often marginal quality of the water collected, this technique is

mainly suitable for storing water for agricultural purposes. Various techniques available for

increasing the runoff within ground catchment areas involve: i) clearing or altering vegetation

cover, ii) increasing the land slope with artificial ground cover, and iii) reducing soil

permeability by the soil compaction and application of chemicals (see figure 2).

Clearing or altering vegetation cover: Clearing vegetation from the ground can increase surface

runoff but also can induce more soil erosion. Use of dense vegetation cover such as grass is

usually suggested as it helps to both maintain an high rate of runoff and minimize soil erosion.

iii) Increasing slope: Steeper slopes can allow rapid runoff of rainfall to the collector. However,

the rate of runoff has to be controlled to minimise soil erosion from the catchment field. Use of

plastic sheets, asphalt or tiles along with slope can further increase efficiency by reducing both

evaporative losses and soil erosion. The use of flat sheets of galvanized iron with timber frames

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to prevent corrosion was recommended and constructed in the State of Victoria, Australia, about

65 years ago (Kenyon, 1929; cited in UNEP, 1982).

iv) Soil compaction by physical means: This involves smoothing and compacting of soil surface

using equipment such as graders and rollers. To increase the surface runoff and minimize soil

erosion rates, conservation bench terraces are constructed along a slope perpendicular to runoff

flow. The bench terraces are separated by the sloping collectors and provision is made for

distributing the runoff evenly across the field strips as sheet flow. Excess flows are routed to a

lower collector and stored (UNEP, 1982).

V) Soil compaction by chemical treatments: In addition to clearing, shaping and compacting a

catchment area, chemical applications with such soil treatments as sodium can significantly

reduce the soil permeability. Use of aqueous solutions of a silicone-water repellent is another

technique for enhancing soil compaction technologies. Though soil permeability can be reduced

through chemical treatments, soil compaction can induce greater rates of soil erosion and may be

expensive. Use of sodium-based chemicals may increase the salt content in the collected water,

which may not be suitable both for drinking and irrigation purposes.

b) Collection Devices

i) Storage tanks: Storage tanks for collecting rainwater harvested using guttering may be either

above or below the ground. Precautions required in the use of storage tanks include provision of

an adequate enclosure to minimise contamination from human, animal or other environmental

contaminants, and a tight cover to prevent algal growth and the breeding of mosquitos. Open

containers are not recommended for collecting water for drinking purposes. Various types of

rainwater storage facilities can be found in practice. Among them are cylindrical ferrocement

tanks and mortar jars. The ferrocement tank consists of a lightly reinforced concrete base on

which is erected a circular vertical cylinder with a 10 mm steel base. This cylinder is further

wrapped in two layers of light wire mesh to form the frame of the tank. Mortar jars are large jar

shaped vessels constructed from wire reinforced mortar. The storage capacity needed should be

calculated to take into consideration the length of any dry spells, the amount of rainfall, and the

per capita water consumption rate. In most of the Asian countries, the winter months are dry,

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sometimes for weeks on end, and the annual average rainfall can occur within just a few days. In

such circumstances, the storage capacity should be large enough to cover the demands of two to

three weeks. For example, a three person household should have a minimum capacity of 3

(Persons) x 90 (l) x 20 (days) = 5 400l

ii) Rainfall water containers: As an alternative to storage tanks, battery tanks (i.e.,

interconnected tanks) made of pottery, ferrocement, or polyethylene may be suitable. The

polyethylene tanks are compact but have a large storage capacity (ca. 1 000 to 2 000 l), are easy

to clean and have many openings which can be fitted with fittings for connecting pipes. In Asia,

jars made of earthen materials or ferrocement tanks are commonly used. During the 1980s, the

use of rainwater catchment technologies, especially roof catchment systems, expanded rapidly in

a number of regions, including Thailand where more than ten million 2 m3 ferrocement

rainwater jars were built and many tens of thousands of larger ferrocement tanks were

constructed between 1991 and 1993. Early problems with the jar design were quickly addressed

by including a metal cover using readily available, standard brass fixtures. The immense success

of the jar programme springs from the fact that the technology met a real need, was affordable,

and invited community participation. The programme also captured the imagination and support

of not only the citizens, but also of government at both local and national levels as well as

community based organizations, small-scale enterprises and donor agencies. The introduction

and rapid promotion of Bamboo reinforced tanks, however, was less successful because the

bamboo was attacked by termites, bacteria and fungus. More than 50 000 tanks were built

between 1986 and 1993 (mainly in Thailand and Indonesia) before a number started to fail, and,

by the late 1980s, the bamboo reinforced tank design, which had promised to provide an

excellent low-cost alternative to ferrocement tanks, had to be abandoned.

PURPOSE

River water; water in lakes, ponds and wells; water that seeps into the ground, collecting

in the belly of the earth; tapwater; even bottled water! The source of all water is rain.

i) In areas where there is inadequate groundwater supply or surface resources are either

lacking or insufficient, rainwater harvesting offers an ideal solution.

ii) Helps in utilizing the primary source of water and prevent the runoff    from going into

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sewer or storm drains, thereby reducing the load on    treatment plants.

iii) Reduces urban flooding.

iv) Recharging water into the aquifers help in improving the quality of    existing groundwater

through dilution.

Figure:3 A model for rain water harvesting

CHAPTER-II

RAIN WATER STORING PLACES IN SIVAKASI

Based on sivakasi rain water or mainly stored in periyakulam in sivakasi an chinnakulam

sivakasi and vempakkottai dam

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Figure:4 Periyakulam

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Figure:5 chinnakulam

And there are 28 canals, 4756 tanks, 7797 tube bore wells, 721 ordinary wells and 358 other sources in sivakasi from this sources about 13660 hectare of lands get irrigated

CLIMATE WHICH BRINGS RAINFALL IN SIVAKASI

The weather in this region is primarily semi-arid tropical monsoon type with high mean

temperatures and a low humidity. Temperature ranges from 20.c to 37.c. The month of April to

June is the hottest period of the year. Sivakasi receives scanty rainfall with an annual average of

812 m.m. The South west monsoon with an onest in June and lasting until August brings scanty

rain . Bulk of the rainfall is received during the North East monsoon in the months of October,

November and December

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Figure:6 Vembakkottai dam

Figure:7 Vembakkottai dam

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CHAPTERIII

THE BUILDINGS WHICH ADAPOT RAIN WATER HARVESTING.

TABLE:1-Municipal Building

Sl.No. Name of the Department Total No. of Buildings No. of buildings covered with RWH structures

1 Sivakasi Municipality 44 44

TABLE:2-Rain Water Harvesting Structures Created In Non Government Buildings (Urban)

Sl.No. Category Total No. of BuildingsNo. of buildings covered

with RWH structures

1 Private Houses 23456 23266

2 Commercial Buildings 677 677

3 Private Institutions 41 41

Total 24174 23984

Consider a building with a flat terrace area of 100 sq.m. The average annual rainfall in sivakasi

is approximately 1100 mm (44 inches). In simple terms, this means that if the terrace floor is

assumed to be impermeable, and all the rain that falls on it is retained without evaporation,

then, in one year, there will be rainwater on the terrace floor to a height of 1100mm.

Area of plot = 100sq.m.

Height of rainfall= 1.1. (1100 mm or 44 inches)

Volume of rainfall over the plot= Area of plot x Height of rainfall = 100 sq.m.

1.1cu.m.110cu.m.(1.10.000 liters)

Assuming that only 60% of that total rainfall is effectively harvested.

Volume of water harvested= 66,000 liters

This volume is about four times the annual drinks water requirement of a five member family.

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The average dally water requirement per person is 10 liters according to IS172: Indian standard

code of Basic Requirement for Water Supply, Drainage and Sanitation.

CHAPTER-IV

WATER SUPPLY AND IMPROVEMENT SCHEME

The source of  water supply to Sivakasi Municipality is the Vaipar River  developed in

1960’s  which is the  subsurface source in the form of infiltration gallery and wells  at

Vembakottai  about 14 KM from Sivakasi town . The water supply headworks of this

scheme– I was constructed to tap 3.10 MLD of water to supply to a population of 50,000

expected in 1991 at Lpcd . This water is collected in a collection cum suction well of 3.6 m in

diameter situated on the bank of river and pumped to the town through 300 mm  dia C.I main

with centrifugal  pumps of duly 2160 Lpm against 60m head . At Sivakasi town this quantity

of water is received in an overhead tank of 9 lakhs liters capacity and distributed  through a

water  distribution  network of about 30 Km length with CI pipes of sizes ranging from

300mm to 8 mm. In 1990 the water supply improvement scheme to Sivakasi Town was

implemented with abstraction of surface water from Vembakottai dam of 398.7 Mcft capacity

and 7 m storage depth constructed across the Vaipar river by Public Works Department

The dam is situated at about 1 K M  from  upstream of the existing water supply

headworks . The quantity of  water allotted  from the dam to water supply to Sivakasi  Town

is 50 Mcft which is equal to 3.15 Mld .  The raw water from the dam is drawn through an

intake well of 3.6m in dia with three  intake pipes at different levels. The bottom most intake

pipe is extended well in to the deepest portion of the dam .  The pump sets 2 Nos. ( 1 No.

standby ) of duty 3587 Lpm. Against a head of 15m and conveyed through a raw water

transmission main of 1 k.m.  length 315mm outer dia PVC  pipe  to the water treatment plant

(WTP ) . The WTP is situated in a site adjacent to site where the suction well and pump house

of Scheme – I.

There are  10194 water supply House Service  Connection  to supply water to the

consumers and 147 Public Fountains  on to serve the population below poverty line . The

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population of the town as per the 2001 census  is 72170 with recommended per capita water

supply rate  of 90 lpcd the total daily water demand is in the order of 6.5 Mld. But the present

water supply is 4.5  MLD during  the  normal season with good  rain fall , 1.8 MLD  during 

the worst season  with inadequate  rainfall.

  Today with meager water potential supply to the public is effected once in 10 days  for 2

Hours  only ( once in 3 days  for 2 Hours in normal season ) . Further the Municipality  is

possessing  the Five  numbers  mobile  water tanker for supplying water to the  public  who

are  not afforded with Water Supply House  service  connections  and not  served  with Public

Fountains  and slum area throughout  the year . To mitigate the water scarcity situation 206

bore  wells of  30 m to 125m depth drilled and fitted with India  mark II hand pump but water

from these borewells are Brackish and the public is unsing this only for non – portable

purposes. Affluent people are managing with their own arrangements. Private tanker

operations  are also  selling  water  in small quantities  of  tanker.

 It is proposed to supply bulk quantity of 5.0 MLD water from the combined  water

supply scheme  from MANNUR and few other habitation with an estimated cost of Rs. 13.85

Crores .  For which Council has passed the resolution to implement the scheme through

TWAD  Board. If the above  scheme is implemented , the water problem in Sivakasi

Municipal area can be solved .

There are 6 water supply zones in this  town. They are in the west of Railway line. 

Zone-I and Zone-II are covered with the wards 25, 30, 29, 31 and Zone III to the east of the

Sattur Road and Southern wards like 22, 2 , 1 etc. Zone IV covers the wards to the west of the

Srivilliputtur road and those towards the North like 3, 4, 5 etc., Zone 5 covers east of the

Thiruthangal Road which covers the wards 10, 11, 12 and 13.Ward 3, 20, 21, 27 and 28 which

are to the east of the railway line towards the hills are yet to be provided. Water is supplied to

these wards are through water tankers.

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LOCAL WATER SUPPLY SOURCES

TABLE:3-Local water supply sources

Name of the River Vaipar River

Location of river Vembakottai village

Name of the Dam Vembakottai Dam

Date of Commencement 30.12.1986

Irrigation area 8100 Sq.km

Production of food 6273 Tonnes

Full water level 87.50 mts

Sea level 80.500 mts

Full depth of water 7.00 mts

Transmission Main 

Two  transmission mains , 300mm  CI  and 400 mm  AC  for scheme- I and scheme-II

respectively  has been installed to pump the water to Sivakasi Municipality from the water

supply headworks .

TABLE:4 Water supply

Scheme Raw  water transmission

main

Clear water transmission

Main

I 150 mm CI /  250 m 300 CI /  14,360 m

II 315 mm PVC  /  1000 m 400 AC / 14, 360 m

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TABLE:5-Feeder Main

Sl. NoLocation of

OHT

Capacity

(LL)

Booster

station

Feeding

from

Pumping

HP

Detail

Duty

1Kamarajar

Road9.00 I 50 HP

2160 lpm

X60m head

2Gandhi Nagar

3.00 II Direct 7.5 HP450lpmX29

m

3Kamarajar

Road12.00 III Booster 15  HP

1980 lpm X

22 m

4M.G.R.

Thidal3.00 IV Booster 20 HP

1956

lpmX22 m

5Coronation

colony3.00 V Booster 20 HP

1956 lpm X

27 m

6Palaniandavar

colony3.00 VI Booster 10 HP

738 lpm X

26 m

Details of existing services

Details of  reservoirs  and its   capacity , year of construction ,  staging height , average 

ground level , lowest water level (LWL) and maximum water level (MWL)  are furnished  below

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TABLE:6-Service Reservoir

No. Location  of  Service reservoir

CapacityLL

Year of Construction

Aug LWL MWL StagingHeight

1 Gandhi Nagar 3.00 1990 108.23 119.23 123.23 11.00

2 KamarajarRoad  12.00 1990 102.70 115.00 118.00 12.30

3 Kamarajar Road 9.00 1960 102.45 108.30 110.80 5.85

4 MGR Thidal

Road

3.00 2001 102.85 114.85 118.00 12.00

5 Coronation

Colony

3.00 2001 104.29 116.29 119.44 12.00

6 Palaniyandavar

Colony

5.00 1990 102.93 113.93 117.93 11.00

7 Cattle Shed 3.00 2001 101.43 113.43 116.58 12.00

Details of  distribution and transmission system

Sivakasi Municipality maintains mobile water  tankers for  supplying water to

unserved and slum areas year round. Details of water  supply facility  provided by this

Municipality to various areas   which is furnished  below :

TABLE:7-Types of carrier

Type of Carrier Capacity

(Litres)

Units Trips per day Water supply/ day

Lorry 9,000 2 6 108,000

Lorry 6,000 1 6 36,000

Tractor with

trailer5,000 2 6 60,000

Power Tiller 1,000 2 10 20,000

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House Service connections

A total of  11290 House Service Connections  have been provided of which 8348

connections  are domestic  and remaining  are commercial / industrial. All non-domestic 

connections are metered . Details of existing water supply connection are  furnished in the

following table :

TABLE:8-House connection

Water supply Improvement Schemes

Now the Manur Combined Water Supply Scheme is being executed by TWAD board,

with municipal contribution of Rs.13.71 crores. Now it is informed by the E.E. TWAD, that

the works is nearing completion with a due of 8.5 km length pumping main laying and will be

completed before the end of the month of June 2006. On completion of this scheme, the daily

water supply will be achieved to 90 LPCD.

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Details Water supply

connection

Tarrif      rate    Rs. /Month

Total HSC’s 11290 --

Domestic 10410 61.00

Commercial 292 301.00

Industrial 588 301.00

CHAPTER-V

CONCLUSION

Sometimes, you have to grab an existing problem by the scruff of its neck. It will cringe and cry.

It will bring tears to your eyes. Give it a hard shake. To its demands, say "NO!"

In this way, you stop focusing on the problem, and move on to the solution. You say: "YES!"

You move from "NO!" to "YES!” From despair to problem-solving. From now to the future. It is

a very useful process during rainy season and during the scarcity of water.by doing this process

we can safe water for domestic purpose,drinking purpose and for future needs.it is a very simple

and affordable process.with the decreasing availability of water, rain water harvesting is the best

option .

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REFERENCE:

WWW.GOOGLE.COM

WWW.GOOGLE MAP.COM

WWW.PHOTO BUCKET.COM

WWW.SIVAKASI MUNICIPALITY.COM

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