Traditional Rainwater Conservation in Tamil Nadu

The 2019 water crisis in Chennai has made us realize the importance of saving water more than ever. Water, as we all know, is a finite resource without which our planet would be a barren wasteland. Today with our increasing population it would be logical to say that our water consumption has also increased. And with increasing demand and lesser supply, water scarcity arises. Our ancestors who had foreseen the potential dangers of water scarcity had developed methods to conserve water that was suited for the varied terrain of the Tamil-speaking kingdoms.

Traditional Rainwater Conservation methods of Tamil Nadu

Eri

There are no perennial rivers in Tamil Nadu except the Thamirabharani River which flows through Thirunelveli district. And so, several hundred years ago a simple system was devised to utilize the rainwater to the fullest. An Eri or tank system is one of the oldest forms of water conservation systems in India. Many Eris are still in use in Tamil Nadu and play an active role in irrigation. They act as water reservoirs and flood control systems. They prevent soil erosion, recharge groundwater, and prevent wastage of runoff water during heavy rainfall.

Kudimaramathu

Kudimaramathu is one of the old traditional practice of stakeholders participating in the maintenance and management of irrigation systems. During earlier days, citizens of a village used to actively participate in maintaining the water bodies of their village by deepening and widening the lakes and ponds and restoring the water bodies back to their original form. The silt, rich in nutrients, collected in the process would be used by the farmers themselves in their field. A sense of collective ownership ensured the continued survival of the water bodies.

Oorani:

Oorani’s are very similar to Eri’s. But unlike an Eri which supplies water to irrigate fields, oorani is used to provide drinking water. Oorani’s are much smaller and are shallower than Eri’s. Oorani’s catch rainwater and the water stored by them is more preferably used for drinking.