--- title: "How geomembranes can be used for rainwater harvesting?" date: 2021-01-21 author: "Pawan Khatri" url: https://oceangeosynthetics.com/how-geomembranes-can-be-used-for-rainwater-harvesting/ --- January 21, 2021 | [Geomembrane](https://oceangeosynthetics.com/category/geomembrane/), [Insights](https://oceangeosynthetics.com/category/insights/) # How geomembranes can be used for rainwater harvesting? Tamil Nadu was the first Indian state to make rainwater harvesting compulsory for buildings; the state scheme was launched in 2001. Many states and cities now require rainwater harvesting structures in new buildings above a set plot size, and farm ponds that store monsoon runoff are promoted under state and central schemes. Storage tanks and ponds were traditionally lined with lime and clay or built in masonry. Today a [geomembrane](https://oceangeosynthetics.com/products/ocean-geomembrane/) liner is a common choice for rainwater harvesting ponds, because it is quicker to install and usually cheaper than concrete or masonry for large areas. Rainwater is collected in two main ways. Surface runoff harvesting captures rainwater that would otherwise run off the land and stores it for later use or to recharge aquifers. Rooftop rainwater harvesting catches rain where it falls, collecting it from the roof of a house or building. The water is then stored or used straight away for gardening, [landscaping](https://oceangeosynthetics.com/suitable_sectors/landscaping-and-sports-infrastructure/) or crops, or, once properly filtered and treated, for cooking, bathing and drinking. Either method has 4 main parts besides storage: the catchment, conveyance, the first flush and the filter. The catchment is any surface that receives the rain, such as a roof, a courtyard, or open ground draining to the system. Once collected, the rainwater is carried through gutters and pipes to storage. The first flush diverts the first rain of each shower, which washes dust, leaves and bird droppings off the catchment, so it does not reach the store. The filter then removes turbidity and, with treatment, microorganisms from the stored water. Geomembranes are used mainly in the storage stage. A geomembrane liner in a man-made pond holds the harvested water and stops it seeping into the ground. The same material can line the inlet channels and protect the pond banks from erosion. A geomembrane cover over the pond reduces evaporation and keeps out dust and debris during storage. A liner also keeps stored rainwater separate from the groundwater beneath. For smaller volumes, fabricated geomembrane tanks and bladders give sealed storage. Sand-filled [geobags](https://oceangeosynthetics.com/products/geo-bags-manufacturers/) can be used to build pond bunds and small check dams at lower cost than masonry. For filtration, the right material is a geotextile, not a geomembrane: a nonwoven geotextile lets water percolate through while holding back soil and larger particles, for example around recharge pits and in filter beds. Farm ponds are commonly lined with 500 micron HDPE; larger or deeper reservoirs often use 1 mm or thicker sheet, laid over a nonwoven geotextile cushion where the ground is stony. The liner is anchored in a trench around the top of the bank. Ocean examples include a [500 micron HDPE pond liner at Navi Mumbai](https://oceangeosynthetics.com/hdpe-liner-500-micron-for-pond-lining/) and an [HDPE-lined water storage project at Amreli](https://oceangeosynthetics.com/hdpe-liner-for-water-storage/). The bank slopes outside the lined area can be protected with geocells or erosion mats (see [soil stabilisation](https://oceangeosynthetics.com/solution/soil-stabilisation-pavements/) solutions). ## **FAQs** ### **Can geomembranes be used for rainwater harvesting? ** Yes, geomembranes can be used in rainwater harvesting systems to create storage reservoirs or cisterns that retain water for later use. ### **What are the advantages of factory-fabricated geomembrane panels? ** Factory-fabricated geomembrane panels offer advantages such as precise dimensions, quality control, reduced installation time, minimized field seaming, and enhanced reliability. ### **Can geomembranes be installed on slopes?**  Yes, geomembranes can be installed on slopes to prevent erosion, control water migration, or provide additional containment measures. 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