Participants were from A&D, The Rainwater Club, CED, PMSSS and CSC .
The workshop was organized with the primary aim to ‘Train and Equip’ with the basic know how of RWH, those who would be involved in implementing the RWH in the tsunami affected regions, undertaken by A&D, under the VKC and the RDC programmes. The first hand experience of the systems, ideas and technologies would then help the participants to internalize and then communicate the same more effectively to people at large
Divided into two sessions on the first day at the Rainwater Club in Bangalore, Vidyaharanyapura, all the basic systems and techniques of RWH which were actually in use at the club were demonstrated and explained. The participants were taken round the club, and the various systems starting from the simple ‘Rain - Barrel system, to the water-treatment and reuse possibility were explained to them.
The second day started with a field visit to the RWH projects already implemented by the Rainwater Club in Bangalore. This gave them an idea of how the systems actually work on ground, their related issues and the peoples response. Specific places included the Vivekanda School in Dodballapur, an individual house, and a village where ‘Swaraj’, the NGO operating in partnership with RC, had recently built a RWH system for a community hall, being used as milk-collection center. The participants also got a chance to interact with the villagers and get their feedback as to how much of a positive impact the RWH system has had on their day to day lives.
Day three saw a presentation by A&D Bangalore during which they gave a brief account of what are the field conditions as far as water is concerned. Various issues relating to water in rural areas were also explained. Methods of calculation of rainwater collection from different roofs and locations were also explained as well as the basic data required and factors that affect the rainwater availability etc.Participants, divided into groups also undertook exercises in designing RWH schemes, and show cased them to each other. These presentations were followed by discussions and suggestions.
The fourth and last day began with a presentation by CED based on a small survey done by the participants in a village which was followed by a film prepared by the Rainwater Club. The final session primarily focused on evolving and developing strategies for taking the RWH activity further.