1.3.
Where Water Harvesting is required
Water harvesting is necessary in all parts of the country even if the technology varies
depends of the type of available water resources. Particularly rainwater harvesting systems
can be applicable in all agro- climatic zones and can be more appropriate in arid, semi-arid
and sub humid areas; where water demand of crops is higher than the supply because of
low and uneven seasonal distribution of rainfall, and high evapo-transpiration; in areas
where other permanent water sources such as rivers, shallow wells and springs are not
available or uneconomical to develop (Gary, 1994).
In humid climates rainfall is > 1200 mm per year and amount of rainfall is sufficient to cover
the water needs of crops (assuming even distribution). Even excess water may cause
problems for plant growth and therefore, drainage is required.
In sub-humid and semi-arid climates rainfall is between 400 and 1200 mm per year and
amount of rainfall is often not sufficient (unreliable) for crops production. Therefore,
supplementary irrigation required. In semi-arid, arid and desert climates rainfall is < 400 mm
per year and reliable crop production based on rainfall is not possible.
Irrigation or Rainwater harvesting is, therefore, a necessity to alleviate problems of
agricultural production and food shortages in the country. Rainwater harvesting may be of
small scale but certainly have edge over large scale schemes due to its low external input,
their being labor intensive and are easily manageable and participatory in nature (Arnold P.
and A. Cullis, 1986).
2. Components of Water Harvesting System
Every water harvesting system consists of the following components (catchment, delivery system,
silt trap, storage pond, and water lifting (abstraction system) & irrigated land as shown in the figure
1 & 2, and briefly explained below.
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DELIVERY
SYSTEM
Fig.1: Components of Ground catchments Runoff/Rainwater-harvesting system
Fig.2. Typical Roof catchment Rainwater Harvesting system
2.1. Catchment
Catchment is an area where rainwater is concentrated and contributes some or all its share
of rainwater to a target area. It can be agricultural, rocky or marginal land, or even a rooftop
or a paved road. The catchment area can be as small as a few square meters or as large as
several square kilometres. The rainwater harvested from catchment area should be
proportional to command land. Off course, water can be also harvested or collected from
other temporary sources of water in the rainy season or permanent water sources other
than runoff from catchment/watershed.
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2.2. Runoff delivery systems
2.2.1. Diversion channel and guiding bund for Ground Catchments: In order to convey
runoff from the catchment to the storage, some sort of delivery system is normally required.
The diversion channel leading runoff from the ground catchment area to the silt trap and
into the tank should be made of compacted earth, or lined with cement or other materials.
2.2.2. Gutters and down pipes for Roof Catchments: If the catchment area is a roof top, fix
a gutter and flush guard to carry water from the roof into the silt trap and the tank.Gutter
and down pipes is a major part of the system that used to transport rainwater from the roof
to the storage tank.
2.3. Silt trap or sediment pond
It is used to allow the sediment to settle which is being carried in the runoff from the
ground catchment area. It is dug at least 3m away from the storage tank to prevent water
from over topping during heavy rains and damaging the tank (MoA, 2002/03). If the runoff
has no sediment, the structure may not be necessary.
If the runoff harvested is also required for livestock drinking, cattle trough can be included
as one component of the system.
2.4. Storage facility
It is the place where runoff water is stored from the time it is collected until it is used.
Different size and shape of surface and sub surface storage structures are available. Storage
tanks and ponds are the common ones. Storage tanks can be above ground tanks, which are
common in the case of roof catchment systems or underground tanks, which are normally
associated with ground catchment systems.As it is practically seen in Ethiopia andKenya, the
ponds have commonly trapezoidal shape. But ponds can also have other shapes such as
round, rectangular, hemispherical, and cylindrical; and also in different size. The water
storage tank usually represents the biggest capital investment element of a system. It
therefore usually requires the most careful design to provide optimal storage capacity and
structural strength while keeping the costs as low as possible.
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2.4.1. Storage pond using Roof Top Rainwater harvesting system
Roof catchments have a number of advantages over other forms of catchment. If buildings
with impervious roofs are already in place, the catchment area is effectively working with a
runoff coefficient of around 0.7 to 0.9 expected in most localities depending on the type of
roofing material. The water harvested from the roof is cleaner than ground catchments.
The two types of ponds/tanks are recommended as storage reservoir.
a) Above ground/surface storage tank
b) Below ground/sub-surface storage tank
2.4.2. Storage Pond using Ground surface Runoff water harvesting system
Ground catchment system include natural, treated and covered surfaces; and the systems
are cheaper than roof catchments; and are normally employed where suitable roof surfaces
are not available. The main advantage with using the ground as a catchment surface is that
large volume of water can be collected from a larger area. This is particularly advantageous
in areas of low rainfall. The main disadvantage in using the ground as a collecting surface is
that the water supply can easily become contaminated with sediment load. The only type of
pond recommended is sub-surface storage tank.
2.4.3. Types of Storage Ponds based on its construction materials
The actual site selected for the pond and availability of the construction materials at the
nearest distance including its cost determines the type of pond recommended. The very
common types of ponds constructed in Ethiopia are the following.
a) Earthen pond; b) Masonry pond
c) Concrete pond
d) Soil & cement mixed lined pond
e) Geo-membrane lined pond; and other types
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2.4.4. Types of Storage Ponds based on its Shape
The excavated ponds can be constructed to any shape, as desired, but trapezoidal shapes,
rectangular, cylindrical and circular are assumed to be most convenient whereas its storage
volume varies as required.
2.5. Water abstraction System
It is the means used to deliver the stored water to the target area. This abstraction could be
gravity system where the storage area has sufficient head to derive the water; or pumps
(manual & motor) may be adopted.
2.6. Command Area for crop production and/or water supply
It is the land area where the harvested water is beneficially used for crop production. The
size of the irrigable area depends upon the amount of water harvested from the runoff area.
The harvested water can also be used for other water needs such as human and livestock
consumption.
3. Study and Design of the Storage Pond and its Components
3.1. Major steps of the study
Different size and shape of surface and sub surface storage structures are commonly
constructed for individual or group of farmers. As mentioned above, the structure can be
constructed with different types of materials based on its availability and cost.
Study and design of the HHMI scheme or water storage structure and its components
follows the following steps:
3.1.1.Site selection: The critical criteria to be considered are sufficient size and suitability of
the land for catchment, pond site and command area; and absence of other easily accessible
alternative permanent water sources. The site selected should not create upstream and
downstream conflict.
The soil survey should be conducted so as to determine whether the soil textures at the
selected site are suitable (clay, silty clay or sandy clay) and have a low permeability and a
friable nature to a depth of at least 3 m. A hardened layer or soil with very high clay content
(more than 60%), will reduce the workability of the soil and significantly reduce the
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