Sand dams
In arid areas, the riverbeds of seasonal, intermittent rivers and streams often hold shallow groundwater reserves, which are recharged every time the rivers flow. While individuals may dig down to scoop out water for their families, these water resources are rarely ever used on a systematic scale for agriculture and other activities.
Sand dams are walls dug into the ground across the river bed. On the Sashane river in Zimbabwe, sand dams have been built and fitted with low-cost, solar-powered pumps. By heightening the dam in stages, sediment builds up behind the dam, increasing the amount of water stored and making it accessible via the pumps.
This supplementary water source extends the cropping season for local farmers and helps produce extra yield, which in turn encourages biodiversity. Community-based monitoring systems help manage the resource and ensure there is enough for domestic as well as commercial uses.
Landscape restoration
Unusually low rainfall in 1985–86, combined with excessive logging, led to the worst droughts in the history of Rajasthan. The district of Alwar, one of the poorest in the state, was severely affected. The groundwater table had receded below critical levels, which led to Government restrictions on any further groundwater extractions.
With the support of local NGOs, communities in the area constructed small-scale water harvesting structures combined with the regeneration of forests and soils, particularly in upper catchments, to help recharge groundwater resources.
Water supplies were re-established in 1,000 villages across the state; five rivers that used to run dry after the annual monsoon season began flowing again and fisheries in them re-established; groundwater levels rose by an estimated six metres; productive farmland increased from 20% to 80% in the catchment area; crucial forest cover, including in farmlands, which helps to maintain the integrity and water-retaining capacity of the soil, increased by 33%; and the return of wildlife such as antelope and leopard has been observed.
Conservation agriculture
Conservation agriculture is based on three principles: minimizing soil disturbance; maintaining a continuous soil cover of organic mulch and/or plants; and cultivating diverse plant species.
Eliminating or minimising tilling or ploughing, avoids disturbing and breaking up the topsoil structure, as well as reduces emissions from farm machinery. This has been found to keep the soil more stable, increase drainage, slow down runoff, and drastically reduce pollution of nearby water sources.
The economic benefits of conservation agriculture have been established in various systems around the world, from smallholder agricultural systems in Latin America and sub-Saharan Africa to large-scale commercial production systems in Brazil and Canada. Currently, about 1.8 million km2 of croplands are under conservation agriculture, representing about 12.5% of global cropland extent, an increase of nearly 70% since 2008.
Sponge cities, China
The China Government has launched the ‘Sponge City’ initiative to improve water availability in urban settlements. City authorities will use a combination of NBS and grey infrastructure to reduce urban water-logging, improve local ecosystems, and retain urban runoff for eventual reuse.
By 2020, the 16 pilot cities will implement a range of measures, such as green roofs and walls, permeable pavements, and bioswales (constructed filtration channels) to capture water and divert it back into revitalized natural storage for irrigation and cleaning purposes during periods of drought.
The project’s objective is for 70% of rain water to be absorbed and reused through improved water permeation, retention and storage, purification and drainage, as well as water saving and reuse. This goal should be met by 20% of urban areas by the year 2020 and by 80% of urban areas by the year 2030.