Rainwater Catchment Ponds: Costs and Benefits
"A small demonstration rainwater catchment pond in a village south of Manila
The picture below is a 10-square meter rainwater pond that author dug in the lowest part of a small patch of land south of Manila. It is a simple illustration of how a rainwater catchment pond looks like and what the benefits are:
Being on the lowest portion of the land, that is where water will naturally accumulate. By digging a hole there, the excess waters will have a place to go.
Since the bottom of this pond is unpaved with concrete (and would normally be permeable lime or sand and stones), the excess water is absorbed back into the ground to replenish the depleted groundwater table (aquifer).
It only cost P1,000 pesos of labor -- two people digging for two days, and this is only half a meter deep. What if more people dug for more days? Or better yet, what it heavy equipment are used for larger areas? The work will certainly be accomplished much faster.
To prevent it from being a breeding ground for mosquitoes, populate it with fish. Then it becomes a source of protein. Also, frogs (which eat mosquito wrigglers by the hundreds) will normally populate these ponds.
To prevent it from being stagnant, put water lilies and water hyacinth – Nature’s amazing water cleansing and aeration mechanism. The roots of the water hyacinth suck in the dirt from the stagnant water and release dissolved oxygen.
Kangkong can also be planted on the shallow portions of the pond. Other vegetables and fruits (bananas, papayas, etc.) can also be planted along the banks. There is no reason why one in five of our people should be hungry-poor.
Bigger ponds and mini-lakes also provide a place for inexpensive recreation (fishing, boating, even swimming). Of course, a ready source of food.
These reservoirs will provide a source of water during the dry season.
Oh, by the way, it will also prevent flooding."
No, not a scene from Monet.
