Underground Water Bank
An Alternative Water Management
Rotary Club of Sakon Nakhon District 3340, Thailand
Definition
An alternative water management technique to recharge rainwater and or used household water to the unsaturated zone below plant roots known as unconfined aquifer, it is technically called man-made underground water reservoir or underground water bank. They are classified into 2 types namely “close system” and “open system”
Rainfall is stored at the unconfided aquifer as underground water bank
How underground water bank works
Close System
Minimize water logging caused by rainwater or used household water in the community as well as enhance water harvesting and water saving for small farm activities during dry season.
How to do
1.Dig a pit diameter 1.5 - 2.00 m and depth of 1.5 - 2.00 m, fill with large size rock or gravel or broken brick and install 1.5 - 2.00 inch PVC pipe as air vent
2.cover the rock filled pit with sand filter made of plastic net
3.topped the plastic net with small size gravel
4.Rain water is ponding and seeping into the ground through close system underground water bank
Open System
Recharging run-off to the unconfined aquifer by farm pond (water harvesting pond) equipped with shaft to force water into the permeable rock and created underground reservoir. This system is very useful for irrigated agriculture as well as minimizing large scale water logging.
How to do
1.Construct a farm pond with shaft down to the permeable rock or unconfined aquifer
2.Rainfall during wet season will fill-up the pond and seeping down to the permeable rock to create underground reservoir
3.More number of the ponds in the neigbouring area are recommended to create large scale underground reservoir
Objectives
1. 1. Maximize utilization of rainwater for community uses and irrigated agriculture
2. 2.Minimize water logging in the household and community area, thus reduced the risk of mosquito infected diseases such as dengue fever and malaria as well as enhancing environmentally friendly landscape
3. 3.Reducing inflow of contaminated water to the natural lake or reservoir
Solar pump is recommeded for the remoted area
Grow rice with less water is one of the best friend to underground water bank
Drip irrigation is recommeded for high value crops
D
Advantages
1. They are appropriated technology with very low construction cost as well as operation and maintenance cost
2. Environmentally and socially friendly project
3. Strengthening local participation and community development
Procedure
1. Conducting participatory planning with the community leaders and local government agencies
2. Arranging training program with on hand demonstration
3. Construction
4. Follow up and evaluation
Well prepared of the Rotarian technical staffs
Technical staffs of Rotary District 3340 are well trained and equipped with modernized innovation, during the year 2017-2018 many underground water bank projects had been operating by the local administrations under supervision of “Rotarian Team Work 3340 “
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