The prohibitive costs of rainwater harvesting systems might be a deterrent for many. Fret not, there is a system for just Rs 250.

Dayanand Krishnan, a 50-year-old from Chennai, created a DIY innovation in rainwater harvesting that helps him save over 200 litres of water in just 10 minutes!

Starting in 2019 during a water shortage in Tamil Nadu, the civil engineer wanted to save fresh water.

Krishnan used a drum he already had at home, and bought a three-foot PVC pipe, two pipe bends and a cloth filter.

His terrace, spreading over 1,000 square feet, was the collection point to which the pipes were attached. The other end of the pipe was directed to the drum, secured with the cloth filter.

“Every terrace and most balconies have an exit pipe attached to them that directs the water out. My trick was only to secure the end of these pipes and get them to collect water in the drums. I put a cloth filter for obvious reasons,” he says.

His cleverly designed storage system allows a family of three to take care of their daily needs such as washing clothes and utensils, mopping floors and flushing.

He shares that with 10 cm rainfall, he manages to collect over 6,000 litres of water during the rainy season.

If one person requires 150 litres of water per day, this water would suffice a family of three for almost two weeks.

If you need more water, all you need to do is add another drum to the system. The system is equally good for flats and independent houses, for small families and big.

So, how to make this Rs 250 rainwater harvesting system at home? Here are the steps:

1. A water storage drum (but if you wish, you can collect the water directly in an underground sump) 2. PVC pipes of enough length from your collection point (usually terrace or open balconies since they have a large surface area) to the desired drum/sump 3. Pipe bends to join the PVC pipes at corners 4. A cloth filter to eliminate impurities.

Connect the terrace/balcony water exit pipes with PVC pipes and direct them to the sump or drums. Please note that depending upon the distance between your collection point and the drum, you may incur more or lesser expenses than Krishnan.

A plumber is not required to attach the system but it's best to get an expert’s guidance to ensure the water flows smoothly.

You can contact Krishnan for further details or guidance at dayatiger73@gmail.com.