Rainwater Catchment Systems & Ecological Management Jessica Calfoforo Salas President, IRCSA Paper presented at the 4 th World Water Forum Rainwater Catchment System Session Mexico City, March 20, 2006
From this presentation: I. IRCSA and its purpose II. III. IV. Creating Ecological Awareness I. Evolution of thought on rainwater catchment systems (RCS) II. Synergistic Impact of conferences on the area/ region/ country RCS Utilization Themes A way to the future
I. Introducing IRCSA Movement started in 1982, organized in 1989, legalized in 2003. Purposes: Exchange information Distill good practices from Innovation Study results Testing of ideas Advocacy for change Build knowledge, culture based Establish international guidelines
II. Creating Ecological Awareness - Evolution of Collective Thinking & Synergistic Area Impact 1982 to 1984- Hawaii, Virgin Islands, USA; Kohn Kaen, Thailand Technology Development How, where, how much, how large, what to use, when In the context of an island, a developed country (America), a developing country (Asia)
1989 Manila, Philippines Ferrocement Tank Community Participation Technology Review Social Acceptance Economic Analysis Communication
Area impact: Government program for small water impounding use of RCS in agriculture Use in commerce and industry Integration of RCS practitioners in Philippine watershed Management Coalition (PWMC) New initiative in watershed/ catchment management of local government units
1991 Keelung, Taiwan Regulating catchment water quality Cistern Management guidelines Steps in Operationalization National Taiwan Ocean University Dept of Harbour & River Engineering
AREA IMPACT Regular national conferences on RCS Creation of EARCSA New initiatives: RCS in agribusiness-an alternative to surface water irrigation. Reduces impact of water flow disturbance in river systems. RCS for flood mitigation small and natural water retention areas in the upstream to mitigate flood RCS for watershed planning conditions soil, improves vegetation, resources conservation
Taiwan Keelung River Basin Shijr Wudu :Retarding facilities :Channel dredging :Levee embankment General layout of comprehensive flood mitigation measures in Keelung River Basin
Regional Conference in Japan, 1992
1993 Nairobi, Kenya Focus on low-income groups and sustainability, Policy issues, technology Other topics: socio-economic factors, water quality, hydrology and agriculture Participation emerged to be the key sustaining factor for RCS use in low income groups
Area Impact Creation of eleven country organizations Creation of South East Africa Rainwater Network or SEARNET Improvement in participation technology RCS-based Livelihood Development Self-reliance scheme materials, first capital, organization
1995 China Discussion on the environmental aspects of RCS RCS and ground water salinity Desertification issues Soil conditioning for forest and vegetation in arid zone Learning from traditions
Area Impact Formation of a committee for RCS under the national Hydrological and Engineering Society Offering of a yearly course in International Rainwater Harvesting Training Program - GRIWAC Showcase of RCS in 20 million hectares of farm in Lanzhou RCS as a central strategy in proverty reduction program drinking water, domestic use and livelihood generation
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1997 Tehran, Iran Flood water utilization Groundwater artificial recharge Watershed management Micro-catchment/ RCS per tree Spiritual and religious dimensions Ecological concerns integrated in other sessions: storm water management in urban areas, desertification and soil conservation, sustainable agriculture
Area Impact Creation of a national headquarter for rainwater catchment systems operation Holding of national confeences under the Ministry of Agriculture & Watershed Management Department Holding of regional conferences influencing other countries in the Middle East Latest conference was in February, 2004, Shiraz, Iran
1999 Petrolina, Brazil Use of RCS to fight desertification Managing micro watersheds Promotion of sustainable agriculture Address problem of poverty through available drinking water and livelihood development in semi-arid micro watersheds
AREA IMPACT Creation of ABCMAC national association for Rainwater Catchment Systems Yearly national workshops Leading the Latin American Region Active leadership in organizing sessions in 3 World Water Fora
2001 Mannheim, Germany Industrial and urban applications New session on Legal and political aspects Display of industrial products Area Impact Involvement of fbr, an association of industrial engineers, architects in Germany. Study and documentation of use of rcs in other countries in Europe. Market mainstreaming of RCS
2003 - Mexico Focus on desertification RCS and sustainable agriculture Area Impact A national organization for RCS Lead in the participation of IRCSA in the 4 th WWF.
III. Summarizing the Impact in Thematic Classification of RCS Utilization Domestic Agriculture Urban, Industrial Conservation
DOMESTIC USE Water supply Safe drinking water Health & Sanitation Self-employment/ Livelihood
Productivity Poverty Alleviation Food Security Agriculture Use Soil Improvement Erosion Reduction Prevention of Desertification IN BRAZIL 28 Water storage in terraces 12
URBAN & INDUSTRIAL USE IN JAPAN Water Supply, health & sanitation, Recycling and reuse, Drainage system management, Water demand management, adaptation in cooling system & architecture Disaster management
Ecological Conservation 32 34 33 # Wudu 26 35 27 20 Ruefung 24 # 30 21 25 23 19 18 17 22 31 29 28 14 16 12 13 6 7 15 8 10 11 4 5 3 9 1 # Houshaoliau 2
Conservation Use Ground water recharge Pollution mitigation Flood mitigation Enhancing reforestation Capacitating water cycle Reduced demand for dams Disaster prevention Restoration of hydrologic cycle
IV. Way forward? In addition to reaching out to communities to spread use and continue the development of the technology for appropriateness to conditions IRCSA proposes to strengthen RCS as a technology for the ecological management of water, that it shall be a critical addition to integrated water management in balancing utilization and conservation.
A crtical look at two local actions The China Experience The Brazilian Experience
Discussion of a draft guideline for using rainwater catchment systems Aspects to be considered: Ecological Social Economic Technical