Traditional water conservation techniques have been used for centuries to manage water efficiently in different regions. Here are some notable examples:
1. Rainwater Harvesting
- Rooftop Harvesting – Collecting rainwater from rooftops and storing it in tanks for household use.
- Kunds & Tankas (India) – Underground storage systems used in arid regions like Rajasthan to store rainwater.
- Zing (Ladakh, India) – Small reservoirs built to capture glacier meltwater for irrigation.
2. Stepwells & Reservoirs
- Baolis & Stepwells (India) – Deep wells with steps leading down to water, designed to store and provide water year-round.
- Surangas (South India) – Tunnel-like structures that collect groundwater through seepage.
- Hafirs (Sudan) – Shallow reservoirs designed to store rainwater for livestock and agriculture.
3. Terracing & Contour Farming
- Contour Bunding (Africa, India, China) – Building embankments along slopes to slow runoff and encourage water absorption.
- Terracing (Asia, South America) – Creating step-like fields to prevent water runoff and erosion, commonly used in rice farming.
4. Traditional Irrigation Systems
- Qanat (Persia, Middle East, North Africa) – Underground channels that transport groundwater to the surface using gravity.
- Aflaj (Oman) – A network of ancient irrigation channels distributing water to communities.
- Acequias (Spain, Latin America, USA) – Open ditches that direct water from rivers to agricultural fields.
5. Floodwater Management
- Johads (India) – Earthen embankments that store monsoon water and recharge groundwater.
- Bamboo Drip Irrigation (India) – Traditional method in Meghalaya using hollow bamboo pipes to transport water.
- Zai Pits (West Africa) – Small pits dug in dry regions to trap rainwater and improve soil moisture for crops.
6. Check Dams & Ponds
- Khadeen (India) – A combination of check dams and water storage for agriculture.
- Cheruvu (South India) – Village ponds used to collect and store water for irrigation and domestic use.
- Bhandaras (Maharashtra, India) – Barrages constructed across rivers to store water.