Seeing is Believing : BIOME organizes a trip to Rainbow Drive

Rainbow Drive, a layout on Sarjapura Road spread over 34 acres now has 320+ recharge wells of varying sizes (the highest density of recharge wells in Bangalore - capable of recharging a minimum of 1.3ML of water per rainfall event). Continuous and intensive ground water recharge has resulted in the shallowest borewell of 250ft yielding over 1 lakh litres of water per day . The layout is mostly self sufficient for its water needs and is able to guarantee 20KL per month to all households - this, in an area where most other residential localities are buying water.  The achievement of the community has been way more than just raising the funds to create the infrastructure for rainwater harvesting.

Introduction of an intelligent water tariff and several knowledge sessions with residents has resulted in a community that is very responsible with its water and which is also fairly aware and proud of what it has achieved. BIOME helped catalyse this process in 2008 with help from key residents in this layout by conducting the first knowledge session around RWH and digging the first 10 recharge wells

Pictures below document the visit of key Water Experts from across India (from ACWADAM, Arghyam, WASSAN, Megh Pyne Abhiyan) that are working on Participatory Ground Water Management. There is deep acknowledgement from the Water Experts of what the community has achieved. Only a visit to the layout can tell you the complete story - Seeing is Believing

The first well that was dug -
now holds some water

Muniyappa and Pedanna - 2 well diggers

6ft diameter and  40ft deep well
- 32,000 litres

Not many people are digging wells this
size in Urban India

Well digging in progress

Thats how rings are lowered

A recharge well - but with Pulley and the works -
waiting to fill up with water - HOPE

In the DNA: "Bangalore and Its Water" by Vishwanath

A very simply and succinctly written article by Vishwanath Srikantaiah on how Bangalore used to get its water, the current state of water management and what would be a wiser way to manage water in the future
The full article is here
So What If Pipelines dont give Water. Skies do

Words of Praise - from the Earthian Community

BIOME Trust put in significant effort into conceptualising and putting together the resources for this year's Water themed Earthian Programme.  All the Booklets and Videos that were put together as resources are here . We are glad to share words of acknowledgement from the Earthian community

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Dear Shubha, Vishwanath,

Wanted to share a quick note of thanks for all the great work done on the Water Activity booklet and also the support in making the videos… please do share this with others from Biome who helped out on this.

Both these were very central to this year’s earthian program. They were both well used by the participants and there are many words of feedback and thanks from the schools in having such a set of resources. One such feedback is below:

On Wednesday, 13 November 2013 4:33 PM, Jayanthi Sridhar (CBSE) <jayanthi.sridhar@kumarans.org> wrote: Dear Shaheen Thanks.One person called back from the earthian team and clarified my doubts,after I sent you this mail. Students who worked hard on this have really learnt a lot and are thinking  differently ,some have become more eco conscious.Some teams have shown great team work and time management The format this year demanded more time but it's worth it! Kudos to you and your team for putting this together! Dinni :Sorry for the trouble Warm Regards Jayanthi

Muniyappa buys a TATA SUMO

Muniyappa (in white), a well digger known to BIOME for very many years now buys his own TATA SUMO. He says it makes it easier for his team of well diggers to get to work alongwith their tools -  on time. Despite the larger vehicle it is a tight fit for the entire team to get to site. Since he does not know driving he has got a driver who can also double up as a well digger - thereby saving space.  His youngest son (in the checked shirt) has learned to drive the SUMO.

BIOME is delighted to have enabled this and Muniyappa gracious to acknowledge.