Make the soil absorb rain

Water scarcity is becoming a bane in many parts of the world. Resources are being used up and not replaced by sufficient rain. Rainwater harvesting is being popularized to save the resources, esp. the rivers and tanks. Many farmers here are not aware [those esp. in slopy regions] that water running away takes away nutrients and invaluable soil and does not help the earth to absorb water. Radio programs are featuring the importance of keeping rainwater at the site longer, by building bunds where water runs away. Making the ground level, without slopes will also help retain water longer, promoting absorption. Many farmers report excellent results in two years, esp. in areas defecient of rain. I also have dug up pits so that rainwater can fill and let the water seep in to the earth as the water table also is depleting with increase in consumption and population. Kitchen water is let out to the soil to be absorbed. It forms a huge water bulb underneath and helps the soil supply its moisture. Impressed by all this, I have made bunds where water used to flow off in a rush in heavy rains. Now, it should slow down and overflow the bunds [about 4-5 inches high or slope to the opposite direction]. I should see results in a year as some good results were seen this year itself - I had made this excercise to some extent. Now, I have improved upon it. Aside from this, I collect rainwater in barrels in 3 places. My bath gets a direct flow in to a tank inside for washing. I think it is worth the effort. I now plan to build cement tanks to hold bigger volumes of water. I have also not swept the dry leaves this fall to enable better retention of water. Paving the soil on larger areas is not beneficial to this purpose and this is another reason why the water tables are not allowed to recharge. If you have a borewell, it is an advantage to allow/direct excess rainwater to fill that area. I do not have a borewell but I suggested a friend of mine that had closed his well as no water was available after a couple of years - this is an unwise thing to do. Recharge is the keyword! Luckily this summer, we have been supplied with water till now following good monsoon season last year [fills up in reservoir 19kms from here and supplied to nearby districts and also for irrigation]. But due to climatic changes taking place of late, we can't predict the seasons properly. Adapting such useful methods will help conserve natural resources.

Dinu

Hey, Dinu,
That's wonderful information. If more individuals took such care with their resources, we would all benefit. Good luck with the cement things!
Mmoyer

Thank you Mmoyer. I just tried to put my thoughts into words up there hoping it will help people. The methods may be already in practice at many places, but now since the pressure is on the natural resources, I thought of reminding. It certainly was an eye opener to me. I realized how much water went down the gutters, unused and even unabsorbed by the soil. Plants like rainwater more than what we put. My frontyard may be soggy with the rainwater, but I'll try to place slabs to walk upon. Waiting for the monsoon rains that's round the corner. But an unusual rain this week rather helped me stiffen the bunds I made.