Hyderabad Man Turns Rainwater into a Lifeline for the City

Water scarcity is often treated as a seasonal problem, but its solution begins with how communities manage every drop of rainfall.

In Hyderabad, one man’s decade-long mission is showing how rainwater conservation can become a practical solution to groundwater depletion.

Ranga Prasad, founder of HydRainHarvest, has installed more than 600 rainwater harvesting and groundwater recharge structures across the city.

His journey began in 2015, when Hyderabad faced a severe water crisis after two consecutive years of poor rainfall.

At the time, Prasad was running an organic food business and a fitness centre in Gachibowli. However, finding a professional to install a rainwater recharge pit proved difficult.

Having worked on climate change awareness since 2009, he decided to take matters into his own hands. Consequently, he launched his rainwater harvesting venture in November 2016.

Rather than limiting his work to awareness campaigns, Prasad focused on implementing solutions.

He travelled across India, attended technical workshops and learned how to design effective recharge structures.

Moreover, renovating old and clogged pits taught him the importance of proper maintenance.

According to Prasad, recharge systems should remain functional for 20 to 25 years. However, poor construction and neglected maintenance often prevent them from delivering lasting results.

Despite Hyderabad receiving approximately 810 mm of annual rainfall, much of its rainwater flows into drainage networks.

Prasad estimates that only 350 out of every 1,000 houses have recharge pits. Furthermore, nearly 97% of residents fail to maintain these structures regularly.

His projects have also delivered encouraging results. One gated community in Kokapet, spread across more than 40 acres, received four large recharge structures and 40 individual systems.

Some clients have reported reducing monthly water tanker requirements from nearly 100 to just 25-30.

Prasad now plans to develop a one-square-kilometre demonstration project. The initiative will capture rainwater from rooftops, roads, parks and other open spaces.

Additionally, he is exploring affordable greywater filtration systems for residential properties.

He also wants to train more professionals in designing and maintaining recharge systems. His contributions recently earned him the Pride of Telangana Award in the Sustainability category.

Beyond large projects, Prasad encourages households to fix leaking taps, prevent overhead tank overflow and maintain plumbing systems.

His vision is simple: every neighbourhood must take responsibility for conserving water. For him, rainwater harvesting should not begin when summer shortages arrive.

Instead, it must become a year-round habit that protects Hyderabad’s groundwater for future generations.

Image from Pxhere (Free for commercial use / CC0 Public Domain)

Image published on December 26, 2016

Image Reference: https://pxhere.com/en/photo/7286