PT Chapter
AU Mekuria, W
   Tegegne, D
TI Water harvesting
BT Encyclopedia of Soils in the Environment (Second Edition)
PY 2023
BP 593
EP 607
DE Climate change; Ecosystem services; Environmental benefits; Population growth; Resilient community; Resilient environment; Socio-economic benefits; Urbanizations; Water harvesting; Water quality; Water security
AB Water harvesting is the intentional collection and concentration of rainwater and runoff to offset irrigation demands. Secondary benefits include decreased flood and erosion risk. Water harvesting techniques include micro- and macro-catchment systems, floodwater harvesting, and rooftop and groundwater harvesting. The techniques vary with catchment type and size, and the method of water storage. Micro-catchment water harvesting, for example, requires the development of small structures and targets increased water delivery and storage to the root zone whereas macro-catchment systems collect runoff water from large areas. The sustainability of water harvesting techniques at the local level are usually constrained by several factors such as labor, construction costs, loss of productive land, and maintenance, suggesting that multiple solutions are required to sustain the benefits of water harvesting techniques.
PI Oxford
ER