Rainwater Harvesting System at Jamia Hamdard University New Delhi

Location: Hamdard Nagar, New Delhi
Scale: zonal level
Implementing organisation: Jamia Hamdard University
Average annual rainfall: 611 mm

Total volume of rainwater harvested: 67,444000 liters
Area: 3,15,380 sq. m.
Operational since : 2002
Capital cost : Rs. 6.52 lakhs

Jamia Hamdard University is located in South Delhi, which suffers from water scarcity, large parts of the area have to rely on tankers. It is connected with Mehrauli-Badarpur road near Tughlaqabad fort. The University campus is home to various departments like Pharmacy, IT and Medicine etc. The main objective of installing the RWH system was to recharghe the ground water since water levels in Jamia Hamdard were declining at alarming rates. Rainwater from various catchments, such as rooftop, surface runoff from open areas and runoff from the Jahanpanah Reserve Forest are harvested.

TECHNOLOGY & DESIGN

1) Rooftop rainwater harvesting at the Library building
Rainwater from the rooftop is directed towards a 2 chambered desilting chamber of 2mX2mX3m. The desilted water flows into a recharge well of 1.5mX1.5mX3m which has gravels as filter material. Through the filter, the water recharges the aquifer with a 30 m deep bore of 100mm diameter.

2) Rooftop rainwater harvesting at the girls' hostel
Rainwater from the roof is diverted into a circular recharge well of 2 m diameter . A desilting chamber is created by constructing a baffle inside the recharge well. The overflow from this chamber passes through a filter layer into a bore that is 3 m deep and 100 mm diameter (upto the first permeable layer of soil).

3) Surface runoff harvesting
a. Near Library - Surface runoff from the paved and unpaved areas surrounding the library is collected in two trenches located in eastern part of the campus (near gate number 5 & 6). The runoff collected near gate 5 is diverted into a recharge well. Similarly, the runoff from the northern side of the building is drained into an abandoned open dug well near Gate 6.

b. Near Jahanpanah Reserve Forest – Surface runoff from the forest collects in a pond from where it flows through a storm water drain adjacent to the Scholar’s House. This runoff water is channelized into a desilting chamber and then into a recharge well which measures 2mX2mX3m with the help of 1m high diversion wall.

BENEFITS

Before installing the rainwater harvesting system water levels in Jamia Hamdard were declining at alarming rates. Most of the tube wells that are the only source of water supply in the 100-acre campus were going dry every year. The water level in May 2002 was 47.5m below ground level (bgl). After successfully implementing rainwater harvesting in the campus at different locations, the water level rose to 38.0m (bgl) in September 2002, after the monsoon. The water level in May 2003 was around 45.0 m (bgl). The water level in July 2003 stands at 39.0 m (bgl), representing a net rise of 6m, or 19.68 feet.

Mr. Shamshi
Civil Engineer
Jamia Hamdard University, New Delhi