Bhungroo Water Harvesting System

Target SDGs

Market Suggested Retail Price

$4,095.00

Target Users (Target Impact Group)

Community, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises

Distributors / Implementing Organizations

Naireeta Service Pvt Ltd promotes the use of the Bhungroo water harvesting system

Competitive Landscape

Direct competitors include RWC Rainwater Harvesting System.

Manufacturing/Building Method

The Bhungroo water harvesting system is built on-site upon request of the property owner, using locally available materials such as cement, sand, blocks, and PVC pipes. It requires only one square meter of surface area and can store up to 4 million liters of water per year, effectively freeing 5-10 acres of land from waterlogging after each heavy rainstorm. The water collected can then be used to irrigate over 22 acres of land during the dry season.

Intellectural Property Type

Open-source

User Provision Model

Users can get the product by contacting Naireeta Services. Implementation of Bhungroo by government initiatives like Mahila Krishi Sinchayee Program of Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act program make the product available to resource-constrained farmers.

Distributions to Date Status

Naireeta Service Pvt Ltd by itself has constructed 242 Bhungroos. Through partnerships, over 3375 Bhungroos have been constructed.

Design Specifications

The Bhungroo water harvesting system is designed to prevent waterlogging during the rainy season and provide water for irrigation during the dry season. It consists of a 10 to 15 cm diameter pipe that extends into the subsurface of the soil to a depth of 130 meters, allowing excess water to be stored underground. The system requires a minimum water height of 4 inches at its suction level to function effectively and includes a filtration chamber to ensure clean water storage. The constructed part of the system has dimensions of 2.5 x 100 x 1 meters, and each system can store up to 4 million liters of water. For optimal performance, the subsoil must have permeable layers within a depth of 130 meters to facilitate proper water infiltration and storage.

Product Schematics

Technical Support

Technical support is provided by NPSL Enterprise. NPSL also engages and equips women from low income areas to work as agriculture and irrigation consultants for small scale farmers.  

Replacement Components

Replacement components for the Bhungroo water harvesting system are provided by the manufacturer and include a ventilation system, foreign body protection system, and a filtration system that complies with government regulations. Modifications and replacements for the filtration chamber are available at varying costs, depending on the specific needs.

Lifecycle

10-15 years

Manufacturer Specified Performance Parameters

The Bhungroo water harvesting system is designed to prevent waterlogging and store water for irrigation, significantly increasing productivity on more than 25 acres of land. With a low capital investment, the system pays off its cost in less than two years, making it an efficient and cost-effective solution for farmers.

Vetted Performance Status

Researchers at the University of Ghana assessed the willingness of local farmers to pay for the construction of the Bhungroo and found that farmers are willing to pay to have this system. The Bhungroo system has further been evaluated by researchers at Stony Brook University and University of South Florida for its ability to help local farmers store water for irrigation. The results from the study indicated that the system efficiently helps farmers to store water for their irrigation practices.

Performance of Bhungroo was vetted by performing a field test at Jagsi, Kpasenkpe, and Weisi. The performance results are shown below:

Safety

The potential hazard associated with the use of this system is the leaching of farm pesticides and other harmful substances into the stored water, contaminating the water.

Complementary Technical Systems

For the Bhungroo water harvesting system to function properly, at least 4 inches of water is needed at its suction level. Complementary irrigation systems that can be used alongside Bhungroo include a pump to lift water from the system, an overhead tank for on-site water storage and distribution, and either a drip or sprinkler irrigation system for efficiently applying the stored water to crops.

Academic Research and References

Compliance with regulations

Bhungroo follows CGWB standards^{Interview with representative}

Other Information

• UNFCC website has an animation that shows the impact of Bhungroo.
• Awards won by Bhungroo technology.
• Research outcomes from academia: University of Ghana, Stony Brook University and University of South Florida
• Youtube videos of Bhungroo: 1. TEDx Talk by the Innovator of Bhungroo Agriculture Project 2. The Bhungroo (Straw) – An Intervention for water logging and irrigation in saline soils 3. Bhungroo Project – World Water Forum 2015