The Delhi Government has started a major step towards water conservation by restoring and making operational the rainwater harvesting systems in 75 CM Shri Schools across the city. Chief Minister Rekha Gupta said the project is expected to create an annual rainwater harvesting capacity of nearly 50 crore litres.
Audit finds many systems lying unused for years
A detailed review of rainwater harvesting facilities has already been completed in all 75 schools. Technical teams inspected the sites and submitted reports to the government about the present condition of the systems, the issues found, and the steps needed to restore them.
The inspection showed that most schools already had rainwater harvesting structures, but many had not been working for years because of poor maintenance. Several harvesting pits were found blocked with plastic waste, silt, debris and garbage. In some schools, authorities were not even aware that such systems existed on their campuses.
Officials also found that rainwater at several locations was directly flowing into drains instead of being stored, which was defeating the purpose of water conservation. Some structures were also found to have design-related problems.
‘Ehsaas’ model to be used in schools
CM Rekha Gupta said the government will use the “Ehsaas” model for the project. The model was approved by the Delhi Jal Board in 2021 and is known for being low-cost, requiring less space and almost no maintenance.
Under this system, rainwater collected from rooftops will first be filtered and then connected to storage units and borewells. This process will help recharge groundwater and may also help revive dry borewells.
School rooftops can save a huge amount of water
The Chief Minister highlighted that Delhi receives around 775 mm of rainfall every year. She explained that a rooftop area of nearly 2,500 square feet can save about 2 lakh litres of rainwater annually. According to her, this amount can meet the yearly water requirement of a family of five.
The stored water can later be used for drinking, gardening, cleaning, flushing and other daily needs.
The government estimates that school rooftops alone can conserve around 130 million litres of rainwater every year. When the total catchment area of all 75 schools is included, the overall capacity may reach nearly 50 crore litres annually.
Government prepares action plan for restoration
To make the systems functional again, the government has prepared a corrective plan. The work will include connecting rainwater pipes properly, cleaning drainage routes regularly, removing silt from harvesting pits, replacing filter materials and improving access points through larger manholes for easier maintenance.
The government will also install effective rooftop rainwater harvesting systems in every school to improve water storage and groundwater recharge.
CM Gupta further announced that a separate budget will be provided for the maintenance and upkeep of rainwater harvesting systems in schools.
Awareness drive to involve students and parents
Along with infrastructure work, awareness workshops on water conservation will also be organised for students, teachers and parents in all participating schools.
The Chief Minister said the government wants to turn water conservation into a public movement, with schools playing an important role in teaching children and communities the importance of saving water. She added that the initiative could become a strong model for groundwater conservation and environmental protection in the future.
