Visakhapatnam: Importance of tapping every drop of rainwater stressed

Visakhapatnam: In an effort to nudge residents' welfare associations (RWAs) to adopt best practices for saving groundwater and promoting its efficient use, president of Jagannadharaju Nagar Residents Welfare Association K.S.R. Murthy brought out a booklet on 'Rainwater conservation and harvesting – Role of RWAs'.

Popularly known as JR Nagar, the colony itself houses 15 rainwater harvesting (RWH) pits, stands out in growing greenery and setting up community composting unit. The launch of the 25-page booklet, Murthy says, aims at encouraging other RWAs to follow suit.

The booklet authored by Murthy explains the quantum of water saved through reviving forgotten traditional practices and simple measures.

Sharing his views with The Hans India, Murthy, who is also associate president of Andhra Pradesh Federation of Resident Welfare Associations (APFERWAS) and secretary general of Confederation of RWAs (CoRWA), said, "Community involvement plays the key in resolving water woes. Optimum utilisation of rainwater is one of the means to overcome water crisis in the district."

In addition to over a dozen RWH pits that dot the colony, some of the apartments here collect the water in the terrace by channelising it to the recharge pits. "Space is never a constraint to do our part in addressing the looming water crisis. Two of the sewage sumps left unused in our neighbourhood have been converted into RWH structures, connecting the terrace water pipe to the pit. Also, three wells are being used as RWH pits as well. Fortunately, the colony never experienced water shortage till now," elaborates the 71-year-old resident of JR Nagar.

The colony has been in the news for quite a while. Last year, JR Nagar RWA bagged a national award at the seventh National Conference of Residents' Welfare Association for its rainwater harvesting system.