At a time when water flows so readily into drains and as sewage, Vishwanath S. has been an evangelist preaching for conservation.
His gospel weaves its way into the policy encouraging rainwater harvesting, which had since been incorporated into the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage (Amendment) Act, 2009 that makes rainwater harvesting mandatory in the city.
Known popularly as Zenrainman, which has become his online avatar, the water conservationist is best known for his website, http://www.rainwaterclub.org/. Started in 1995, much before the Internet became the norm in the country (or, conservation of rainwater a buzzword), the site highlights the best practices for water conservation as well as comes to the rescue of those plagued with doubts while installing rainwater harvesting systems.
On his first brush with the concept, Mr. Vishwanath says, “It was in 1990 that I noticed that while rainwater flowed all over my house, I was getting tankers to supply drinking water.” The club was thus born a few years later, and developed designs for harvesting rainwater by analysing and modelling rainfall data. It expanded to form a Participatory Ground Water Project to generate data on the city. With the advent of other multimedia platforms, Zenrainman went on YouTube and put up more than 490 videos, which have received nearly 18 lakh views.
However, it isn’t just online that the self-proclaimed “knowledge broker” has effected change. Though a Central government engineer with the Housing and Urban Development for over 14 years, he has, since his resignation in 2000, worked towards “non-engineering” solutions.
He helped the local community oversee and design the wetland system for the rejuvenation of Jakkur lake; was involved in the formation of a citizen’s group that persuaded the State government to invest more than Rs. 25 crore in the revival of 360 tanks along the Arkavati; has been advising numerous individuals and organisations on rainwater harvesting and eco-friendly buildings.
“Looking at the water crisis during my travels, I am convinced that community involvement was necessary for any conservation project. It has to be a social and ecological solution,” says Mr. Vishwanath, who also manages an ecological architecture firm in the city.
What he did
Set up the Rainwater Club in 1995, one of the first websites in the country to disseminate information on rainwater harvesting. It won the Namma Bengaluru Foundation award in 2009.
More than 490 videos uploaded on YouTube under the channel Zenrainman, garnering more than 17.5 lakh views.
Aided design and development of wetland system that helped rejuvenate Jakkur lake.
Co-authored rules for mandatory rainwater harvesting.
Suggestions to government
1. Start a huge drive to persuade citizens to take up rainwater harvesting. Hold ward-level meetings. Recognition for those who have harvested rainwater.
2. Conserve lakes. They must be fed treated sewage through a wetland. Remove encroachments.
3. Formation of local area committees to maintain lakes. These should be given a budget — a couple of lakhs — to maintain lakes.
What he wants Bengalureans to do
1. Actively take up rainwater harvesting or sustainable eco-friendly designs in houses.
2. Form resident associations along lakes to persuade government to implement community-centric works.
