Water Ponds and Reservoirs

Needs Address

• Supply of fresh water for domestic use
• Conservation of water resources
• Traditional methods of water management

Adaptation effects

• Increases water security
• Provides a source of freshwater for agricultural use and consumption, increasing agricultural yields and enhancing economic resilience
• Provides a source of water in periods of drought

Overview and Features

Collection and storage of rainwater for domestic and agricultural use via ponds, reservoirs, micro-catchments, external catchments and floodwater farming. These can be installed at individual, community and industrial scales.

Cost

• Costs for equipment dependent on catchment type
• E.g. Reinforced cement jar in Thailand – USD 25 for 2 metre squared
• E.g. Concrete ring in Thailand – USD 250 for 11.3 metre squared
• Wire Framed Ferrocement in The Philippines – USD 67/125 for volume of 2/4 metre squared

Energy source

Human resources to install

Ease of maintenance

Catchments require maintenance and cleaning

Technology performance

Enable collection of large quantities of water 

Considerations

• Open water catchments may become contaminated therefore water must be treated before consumption and other domestic use
• Users must have ownership of or access to land upon which harvesting equipment is installed
• Climate and water policy need to be integrated in order to support water harvesting
• Planning processes should include consideration of the intended use of the water and be designed accordingly, affixing water treatment equipment where necessary
• Consideration of the particular context of application must be considered, to account for material availability, intensity of rainfall and socio-economic differences

Co-benefit, suitability for developing countries

• Affordable and sustainable – can be constructed by the community with minimal equipment
• Traditional technology therefore familiarity with communities enhances sustainability – long history of use and adaptation to context
• Users and community should be involved in the planning, construction and management of this technology
• Lack of land tenure can pose a barrier to the implementation of this technology

Information Resources

Critchley, W. and Siegert, K. 1991. Water harvesting. FAO. Available from: http://www.fao.org/docrep/U3160E/u3160e00.htm#Contents [17 January 2015]

SOPAC, 2004. Harvesting the Heavens. South Pacific Applied Geoscience Commission (SOPAC). Available from: http://www.pacificwater.org/userfiles/file/Harvesting%20the%20Heavens%20-%20Guideline%28JC0178%29.pdf [17 January 2015]

UNEP, n.d. Sourcebook of Alternative Technologies for Freshwater Augmentation in Some Countries in Asia. Available from: http://www.unep.or.jp/ietc/publications/techpublications/techpub-8e/rainwater2.asp [20 January 2015]