Mazhapolima Rain Bounty · rain, first rain is flushed out along with impurities; then water...
Transcript of Mazhapolima Rain Bounty · rain, first rain is flushed out along with impurities; then water...
Rain BountyRain Bounty2008-2016 Album
MazhapolimaDistrict Rainwater Harvesting MissionDistrict Collectorate, Ayyanthole P.O, Thrissur District,
Kerala, India Pin 680 003. Phone: 0487 2363616
Mazhapolima
KERALA STATE - INDIA
Basic FactsRain Fall : 3000mm
No. of Households : 7.5million
No. of Dug Wells : 6.5 million
Population : 34.8 million2Land Area : 38,863 km
Rain, the Gift of nature. We enjoy the incessant rain but often we ignore to save this gift
for tommorrow. It is in this context, Mazhapolima initiative of Thrissur District
Administration (Goverment of Kerala) reaches out to the people and becomes a boon to
them. In the rainy seasons, the roof top rain water is led through pipes with a filter at the
end, filtered rain water is led to open dug wells to replenish the aquifers. This is
Mazhapolima well recharge programme. In such recharged wells, even in scorching
summers availability of adequate water is a proven fact. Not only the abundance of
water, In coastal areas it helps to reduce the salinity, turbidity and color of water from
the wells, and provides pure and clear water. The roof top is cleaned before the first
rain, first rain is flushed out along with impurities; then water harvested will be pure.
Around 70% of the houses in Kerala depend on dug wells for their drinking water. The
proposed solution to deal with the district’s water woes was a logical extension of this –
divert rainwater from roof tops to dug wells within the premises.
Thus 'Mazhapolima' meaning 'bounty of rain' was born. Thiruvilwamala Gram
Panchayat was the first in the state to experiment with ‘Mazhapolima’, which was
floated as a participatory effort at groundwater recharge using shallow dug wells.
Arghyam Trust Banglore, India, District Rainwater Harvesting Mission ,Government of
Kerala, Local Governments, Private Agencies and Beneficiary households are some of
the institutions that support us.
Mazhapolima
MazhapolimaDistrict Rainwater Harvesting Missionwww.mazhapolima.org
Message
The scarcity of water during summer is a regular phenomenon
across the state. Though a lot of agencies and departments are in
the field to mitigate the drought situation, no substantial
improvement is noticed during the yester years. The District Rain
water Harvesting Mission (Mazhapolima ) envisages raising of
the ground water table of the water sources is a replicable mode
of water conservation which can be emulated anywhere.
The Roof water harvesting is a unique device for channeling
water to the open dug wells for recharging Ground water table.
The method adopted in Mazhapolima is as simple as a technique
which can be executed even by a layman. The community based
conscientisation will make strides in confronting water crisis of
the state. I hope Mazhapolima has a major role in conserving
water through the scheme by the localized and affordable
methods.
Dr. A. Kowsigan IAS
District Collector & Chairman Mazhapolima
MazhapolimaDistrict Rainwater Harvesting Mission
The Thrissur District Administration (Government of Kerala,
India) together with the Panchayathi Raj Institutions (Local
Self Governments) of the district jointly launched a well
recharge programme through roof rainwater harvesting by
name, 'Mazhapolima' means “bountiful rain” in 2008 when
Dr.V.K.Baby IAS was the District Collector, Thrissur. 70% of
the population in the district depends on an approximate
4.5 lakh open wells in Thrissur district for their domestic
water needs. A vast percentage of these wells are non
perennial and unsustainable. An attempt is made to
recharge these wells through 'Mazhapolima well recharge'
programme through roof rainwater harvesting and make
these sustainable both in terms of quality and quantity.Major Objectives in the two phases
MazhapolimaDistrict Rainwater Harvesting Mission
Thrissur District is located in the Kerala state of Indian
Peninsula at the south western corner. Kerala state has
three physiographaic areas such as coastal low lands near
the Arabian Sea, midland planes and the high & sloppy
landscape in the eastern boundary hills. Ground water table
at the shallow aquifers fluctuates between less than
2 meters to even nearer to 15 meters during pre monsoon
and post monsoon rainfall periods.
Main rainfall season is June, July and October, November.
Summer begins from January till May. Light Summer
showers falls during March to May.
MazhapolimaDistrict Rainwater Harvesting Mission
The Thrissur District had one ground water over exploited
block called Kodungallur and four other semi critical zones
(Mathilakam, Mala, Thalikulam and Ollukara blocks) as per
the Central Ground Water Board parameters. Now after the
introduction of Mazhapolima Well recharging scheme in
the Kodungallur block, the status of over exploited block
turned down into Critical block
The ProblemKerala households were self reliant with homestead dug
wells till the introduction of modern supply system. When
the state government started intervening the supply of,
domestic and irrigation water to the households, traditional
wisdom of conserving the dug wells becomes obsolete.
Coupled with climate changes and irregular monsoon
rainfalls, about the two third strength of dug wells in the
state becomes either dry or polluted particularly during
summer. The coastal wells are seen saline ingress shown
below.
As per the estimates of Centre for Water Resources
Development and Management (CWRDM) Kozhikode –
Kerala State Water Research Agency- there are about 65
Lakh wells in the state in which two third majority of this are
seasonal wells. State government pumping money to
combat drought situations every year. And to combat this,
Thrissur District Administration tried to make humble
attempt in association Arghyam Trust Banglore since 2009.
This is a story of Rain Bountry – Mazhapolima Open Well
Recharging through rainwater harvesting, being scaled up
into all districts of the state, learning the experience from
Thrissur District. It all happened when Dr.V.K.Baby IAS took
charge as District Collector and likeminded people joined
under the banner of District Collector to have a water
movement that is known as Mazhapolima.
Water solution:The technology adopted for the Mazhapolima programme is
mainly the roof water harvesting for open well recharging.
As mentioned above, households in Kerala mainly depend
upon homestead open dug wells than the inefficient public
water supply systems. However, ground water depletion in
general calls forth large scale replenishment of unconfined
aquifers from where open dug wells make avail water in
Kerala. The pictures below shown how the roof water is
collected from the roof top and filtered before injecting down
to dug wells. While doing so a fresh water zone is formed at
the source of dug wells. The cost for such well recharging is
about INR 6000(nearly $100)
MazhapolimaDistrict Rainwater Harvesting Mission
Before Recharging After Recharging
MazhapolimaDistrict Rainwater Harvesting Mission
Well recharging can be done from run offs available in the homesteads, leading rainwater to percolate down in the premises of wells. It has been taken under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Programme (MGNREGP).
Also well recharging can be done with first flush valve to clear out the dirt over the roof. First Flush is meant for first rain or rain after the intermittent gaps of rain. It is user friendly. A user can operate this valve to separate out the roof dirt if any. Also the first flush valve can be directed to a percolation pit so as to percolate the rainwater into premises of wells that would in turn recharge the unconfined aquifer of the well underneath. To affirm the sides of the pit, a cement ring can be fixed around the percolation pit.
MazhapolimaDistrict Rainwater Harvesting Mission
Harvesting rainwater under the coconut tree and in the
garden by building check bund and contour trenches is
another form well recharging easily possible in Kerala
conditions.
Implementation Process:Once the hot spots of water scarcity and contaminated
areas are located, it is the first step to talk about well
recharging the local stakeholders in the presence of Grama
Pancahayat members.
Thereafter, Grama Panchayat level awareness building is
conducted on the subject before the implementation of well
recharging scheme. Grama Panchayat Presidents are
requested to execute agreements with District Collector for
the proper implementation of the scheme. Mazhapolima
plumbers install the well recharge system.
MazhapolimaDistrict Rainwater Harvesting Mission
Information, Education and Communication (IEC)Intensive IEC programmes have been held to adopt well
recharging programme by people themselves at their cost.
Appropriate methods suited to their land terrain can be
applied to recharge the wells. The dessimination of well
recharging methods are through IEC campaigns. Various
tools of IEC have been made use. School and college level
campaign along with implementation of the Mazhapolima
units are one among the prominent methods of IEC.
MazhapolimaDistrict Rainwater Harvesting Mission
College level classes as well as Teacher Trainings on the
subject added more strength to the campaigns from the
grassroots levels.
Exhibitions Mazhapolima exhibition pavilion was one of the attractions
in the Thrissur Pooram Exhibition which will be held every
year before Thrissur Pooram prolongs for nearly 2 months.
The major attraction behind this is the free water quality
test held in the pavilion in association with CCDU,
Trivandrum.
Posters and StickersPosters in Malayalam language (local language) were
affixed every nook and corners of the district and beyond the
district particularly in the government offices where large
number of people come across or gather together. The
poster given above is about the technique of Mazhapolima
which is self explanatory. Similarly, the stickers on the theme
like “ Well Recharging is done in the Well of this house” and
“Water availed in this house is collected through Well
Recharging” were affixed on the doors and walls of houses
where Mazhapolima unit is installed. This is to give
information for the visitors to this house about the well
recharging. It includes the phone number of Mazhapolima
office so as to call up office if any repair required.
Road Shows & RalliesRoad shows highlighting the need of well recharging is
mounted upon the vehicle were shown to the public during
Onam festival Rallies conducted by District Administration.
This was repeated in number of years.
MazhapolimaDistrict Rainwater Harvesting Mission
MazhapolimaDistrict Rainwater Harvesting Mission
Training for Women Plumbers: Kudumbasree is a Gender
Movement promoted by State Government. Kudumbasree
members were given plumbing so as to equip them to install
Mazhapolima units locally. Such members from
Vadakkanchery and Pazhayannur blocks that consists of 12
Grama Panchayats were given training in 6 training
programmes. This has been repeated in nearby districts like
Malappuram. They were made use for implementation.
Research
The Water samples from mazhapolima installed wells were
tested before and after the implementation of Well
Recharging of particular wells. And water samples are
tested during and pre and post monsoon rainfall periods as
to assess the impact of the scheme at the local level.
MazhapolimaDistrict Rainwater Harvesting Mission
Some of the schools were given the task of taking rainfall
data using simple rain gauges. This was to assess and
compare the local rainfall data with IMD data from
Government. Centre for Water Resources Development
and Management (CWRDM) which is premier water
research agency of Government of Kerala conducted
scientific research analysis and the Impact Assessment
about the Mazhapolima project sites. CWRDM ascertained
that Mazhapolima scheme is found improving the ground
water table scenario of the local areas and recommended
to replicate and scale up to all districts of the Kerala state.
District Rainwater Harvesting Mission alias Mazhapolima locates in District Collectorate
Mazhapolima II phase was initiated from February 2013
with the continued support of Arghyam Trust Banglore.
Remarkable changes happened in this phase was placing
the Project Management Unit into the District Collectorate
office, Thrissur. This has facilitated the government's
genuine interest in the Mazhapolima movement. The
scheme Mazhapolima was then brought under the
registered society called District Rainwater Harvesting
Mission in which District Collector is the Chairperson. This
was made possible with the concerned effort of P.M.Francis
IAS, District Collector during 2012-2013 and Arghyam
Grants Manager Manohar Rao.
This face was witnessed with the influx of visitors from other districts to Mazhapolima sites to replicate the same in their own districts.
MazhapolimaDistrict Rainwater Harvesting Mission
Visitors were showing their interest in the beginning of the
project period also during 2009. Unicef had shown interest
in the subject and arranged a Mazhapolima Water Solution
Workshop at Kerala Institute of Local Administration during
June 2009.Vulnerable groups were given particular focus in the implementation of the project.
MazhapolimaDistrict Rainwater Harvesting Mission
Mazhapolima Units Across Kerala State
Pathanamthitta 01%
Alleppy 01%
Ernakulam 01%
Kozhikode 03%
Kottayam 02%
Kollam 10%
Palakkad 02%
Malappuram 05%
Thrissur 75%
MazhapolimaDistrict Rainwater Harvesting Mission
Mazhapolima Units Implemented outside Thrissur District
Pathanamthitta
Alleppy
Ernakulam
Kozhikode
Kottayam
Kollam
Palakkad
Malappuram
0 10 20 30 40 50
Mazhapolima Units Implemented outside Thrissur District-Source of Fund
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
MGNREGP*
IWMP*
Govt./
Plan f
und
Wester
n Gha
ts
Priva
te
World B
ank
NABAR
D*
* MGNREGP : Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Programme
* IWMP : Integrated Watershed Development Programme
* NABARD : National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development
MazhapolimaDistrict Rainwater Harvesting Mission
Recognitions
Mazhapolima won the best NGO award for Rainwater Harvesting at UNESCO sponsored Water Digest Award during 2010-2011.
World Water Council recognized Mazhapolima as the Outstanding Water Showcase in the 7th World Water Forum held at Deague, South Korea April 2015.
MazhapolimaDistrict Rainwater Harvesting MissionDistrict Collectorate, Ayyanthole P.O, Thrissur District,
Kerala, India Pin 680 003. Phone: 0487 2363616
www.mazhapolima.org