New Delhi: The Municipal Corporation of Delhi has completed cleaning of rainwater harvesting systems (RWHS) in nearly 394 parks across its 12 municipal zones, officials said on Tuesday.
The systems, developed by the civic body’s horticulture department, are designed to recharge groundwater
using defunct borewells previously used for irrigation in parks, the department said in a statement.
“The rainwater harvesting structures have been constructed as low-cost, sustainable solutions to promote water conservation and improve urban climate resilience. The initiative is aimed at ensuring the systems operate efficiently during monsoon,” it further added.
Each RWHS comprises a 5x5x5 feet pit built around a perforated vertical pipe inserted into a defunct borewell. The pipe is wrapped in geotextile fabric to prevent clogging, while the pit is filled with small and medium-sized pebbles to aid filtration and percolation.
The surrounding area is levelled to direct surface runoff into the pit, enabling effective groundwater recharge.
“This technique helps prevent waterlogging and contributes to restoring the local water table. Each unit is constructed at a cost ranging from Rs 15,000 to Rs 25,000, using eco-friendly and locally available materials,” a Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) official said.