Our dependency on groundwater resources and overuse thereof has led to a decline in water table
so that in the last couple of decades the focus has shifted back to the traditional practices
of rainwater harvesting and ways and means have been sought to promote Rainwater harvesting in
Urban areas to recharge the stressed groundwater systems. This book discusses in brief the
classifications of Rainwater harvesting and the various rainwater harvesting systems that are
currently applied. The most important aspect for achieving any groundwater recharge is the
availability of source water this can be evaluated by analyzing the monsoon rainfall pattern
its frequency number of rainy days and maximum rainfall in a day and its variation in space
and time. The Deccan basalts are one of the most enigmatic rocks in India and pose a very
difficult task when it comes to ground water exploration and groundwater recharge especially
in the urban areas where due to constraint of space one needs to resort to borewells for
recharge purpose. It is important for any such undertaking to understand the applicability and
sustainability aspects of Rainwater harvesting as it is being practiced. This book tries to
differentiate the Basaltic Aquifers from the other hard-rock Aquifers and highlights the
difficulties in trying to implement rainwater harvesting by groundwater recharge with the
basaltic terrain. It also deals with the issue of long term sustainability of roof top
Rainwater to meet the growing demands of fresh water. It also highlights some of the
shortcomings in the methodologies used and the requirements for being considered in the various
categories of green building rating agencies. It furthermore clarifies the possibility and
limitations of dependence of roof top harvesting in addressing the question of water shortages
which is of common occurrence within most urban centres of India. It also helps in clarifying
major misconceptions that are currently prevailing regarding Roof top Rainwater harvesting
especially within the low capacity aquifers within the hard rock terrain of the Deccan basalts.
