Water Harvesting Methods

In our Agriculture for Everybody blog series, we will see the different types of Water Harvesting Methods from a farmland point of view.  We will highlight each one of them and anybody wishes to implement them can look for more detailed information elsewhere.

• Trenches
• Trenches need to be created against the flow of the water to get maximum benefit
• Trenches are best suited water harvesting method where plants or trees are the main crops.  For eg, Coconut Tree Plantations, Mango Tree Plantations etc
• Trenches can be created in between the rows of the Trees

• Swales = Continuous Contour Trenches
• Swales need to be created against the flow of the water to get maximum benefit
• Swales generally are bigger in size (in terms of width, depth & length) compared to trenches
• Swales are best suited water harvesting method where plants or trees are the main crops.  For eg, Coconut Tree Plantations, Mango Tree Plantations etc

• Bunds
• Bunds are created around the borders or periphery of the farmland to retain maximum water
• The size of the bund is bigger and deeper so that water is retained as well as ensuring that cattle and other animals do not trespass

• Open Wells
• Open Wells are best suited water harvesting (storage) method when there is run-off of rain water
• Any excess water needs to be channelled into this after filtering the sediments

• Farm Ponds
• A small portion of the land is allocated for Farm Ponds
• Generally, the Farm Pond is located at the lowest point of the farmland
• Farm Ponds are best suited water harvesting (storage) method when there is run-off of rain water
• Farm Ponds is required when we need to store large amounts of water
• Any excess water needs to be channelled into this after filtering the sediments


• Check Dams
• Check Dams are built for retaining the water in the upstream
• Check Dams ensure seepage of water into the soil thereby increasing the ground water
• Check Dams can be built in Swales and other similar structures