Traditional Rainwater Harvesting and Water Conservation Practices of Kerala State, South India

Kerala state ('God's Own Country') experiences copious rainfall with an average annual rainfall of 3000 mm received during northeast & southwest monsoon seasons spread over 106 rainy days. Due to physiographic set up of Kerala State and very less recharge, the state is experiencing severe water scarcity during lean period (March to May). The problems like decline in the depth to the water level, drying up of dug-wells, water salinity along the coastal areas due to tidal effect are the common other problems in Kerala State. Fortunately, saline water has not been reported in any of the areas in Kerala State due to steep slope towards the Laccadive sea in the western part of this tiny state. In order to circumvent the various problems faced by the people in water sector, people of Kerala State has increasingly adopted various types of artificial recharge method, traditional rainwater harvesting and water conservation practices for the sustainability of water resources. The present concept paper also briefly discusses tanks and ponds especially temple ponds, sacred groves very rare in different parts of the world, surangams, role of coconut and arecanut basis in water conservation and simplest traditional rainwater harvesting structures.