Remembering Rain

Abstract:     
The story of drought is common and old. Civilizations have come and gone in its wake. This is a story of survival, a story of rain. In many arid regions of the world, survival has long demanded an intricate relationship with and understanding of the rain. As the source of fresh water on Earth, rain is a crucial part of the natural cycle which sustains life. For millennia, across diverse cultures of the world, people employed rainwater harvesting methods as a means of providing for this most precious need.

As societies turn ever-increasingly to modern, highly engineered water projects characterized by large, bureaucratic governments, we have forgotten the rain. It has receded from our daily concern. In turn, we have overexploited other freshwater sources, threatening our rivers and aquifers and the ecosystems they support.

Fortunately, the human memory is resilient, and we have not forgotten the ancient understanding of rain. In countries as diverse as the United States and India, traditional water harvesting methods that sustained cultures in their most arid landscapes have re-emerged to play a vital role in community water management.

Keywords: rainwater harvesting, rainwater capture, rain barrel, johad, Tarun Bharat Sangh, graywater

Accepted Paper Series