The benefits of rainwater harvesting are:
(A) Decreases the community dependence on groundwater for domestic use.
(B) It can also save energy to pump groundwater as recharge leads to a rise in the groundwater table.
(C) Rainwater harvesting results into salinisation of soils.
(D) Urban areas can especially benefit from rainwater harvesting.
Choose the correct answer from the options given below:
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 1
The correct answer is Option (1) → (A), (B) and (D) only
Rainwater harvesting means catching and storing rainwater, often to recharge groundwater.
(A) Decreases the community dependence on groundwater for domestic use. — Correct. Stored rainwater is used in homes, so less groundwater has to be drawn.
(B) It can also save energy to pump groundwater as recharge leads to a rise in the groundwater table. — Correct. When the water table rises, water is lifted from a smaller depth, which needs less energy.
(C) Rainwater harvesting results into salinisation of soils. — Incorrect. Rainwater is fresh water. Used to recharge aquifers, it arrests salt water intrusion in coastal areas and dilutes harmful salts in groundwater.
(D) Urban areas can especially benefit from rainwater harvesting. — Correct. In most cities, water demand has already outstripped supply.
NCERT (2026-27): “Rainwater Harvesting … Rainwater harvesting is a method to capture and store rainwater for various uses. It is also used to recharge groundwater aquifers. It is a low cost and eco-friendly technique for preserving every drop of water by guiding the rain water to borewell, pits and wells. Rainwater harvesting increases water availability, checks the declining groundwater table, improves the quality of groundwater through dilution of contaminants, like fluoride and nitrates, prevents soil erosion, and flooding and arrests salt water intrusion in coastal areas if used to recharge aquifers.” “There is a wide scope to use rainwater harvesting technique to conserve precious water resource. It can be done by harvesting rainwater on rooftops and open spaces. Harvesting rainwater also decreases the community dependence on groundwater for domestic use. Besides bridging the demand-supply gap, it can also save energy to pump groundwater as recharge leads to rise in groundwater table. These days rainwater harvesting is being taken up on massive scale in many states in the country. Urban areas can specially benefit from rainwater harvesting as water demand has already outstripped supply in most of the cities and towns.” |