"A dew pond is an artificial pond usually sited on the top of a hill, intended for watering livestock. Dew ponds are used in areas where a natural supply of surface water may not be readily available. The name dew pond (sometimes cloud pond or mist pond) is first found in the Journal of the Royal Agricultural Society in 1865. Despite the name, their primary source of water is believed to be rainfall rather than dew or mist."

"They are usually shallow, saucer-shaped and lined with puddled clay, chalk or marl on an insulating straw layer over a bottom layer of chalk or lime. To deter earthworms from their natural tendency of burrowing upwards, which in a short while would make the clay lining porous, a layer of soot would be incorporated or lime mixed with the clay. The clay is usually covered with straw to prevent cracking by the sun and a final layer of chalk rubble or broken stone to protect the lining from the hoofs of sheep or cattle. To retain more of the rainfall, the clay layer could be extended across the catchment area of the pond. If the pond's temperature is kept low, evaporation (a major water loss) may be significantly reduced, thus maintaining the collected rainwater. According to researcher Edward Martin, this may be attained by building the pond in a hollow, where cool air is likely to gather, or by keeping the surrounding grass long to enhance heat radiation. As the water level in the basin falls, a well of cool, moist air tends to form over the surface, restricting evaporation." - Wikiwand: Dew Pond 

Life Expectancy: unknown

Pro: Uses natural processes to capture rain water, and store it in large cisterns for future use. Owner ship is given to a trained individual who accepts payment from community members that go towards maintenance and repairs of the system.

Con: Requires rain to recharge. Payment system may exclude people who need water most.

Solution: 

Fuel Types: Water Cycle + Gravity

"In the past, blue roofs were conceived as storage tanks for rainwater harvesting. Today, they form part of SuDS best practice and are designed to facilitate controlled attenuation following heavy rainfall or storms. Blue roofs are suitable for a wide range of building types from domestic to commercial. They place storm water attenuation within the building footprint, making them ideal for urban environments where ground space is limited. Blue roofs can be situated above the waterproofing membrane in a warm roof system or above the water flow-reducing layer in an inverted application, at both roof and podium levels. There is a case to be made that green roofs are a form of blue roof, because they hold water and control run-off; but green roofs cannot do this in a truly controlled way such that the attenuation capacity can be relied upon to be available for a statistically derived storm event. Specifiers may like to consider the hybrid blue/green roof, which combines the aesthetic and ecological benefits of a green roof, with the high-performance water-attenuating properties of a blue roof." - Architecture Today: Roofing in Detail Blue Roofs Best Practice 

According to this article "There are three basic types of green roof: intensive (thick), extensive (thin) and semi-extensive (somewhere in between).

• Intensive systems consist of a thick layer of soil (50-200mm+) in which a variety of grasses, herbs, flowers and shrubs can grow. These need to be accessible gardens (for maintenance) and can even be used as a recreation space. They provide a valuable habitat for wildlife but place significant weight on the building and need substantial roof support. They offer good insulation and better water absorption than the thin types, but need a lot of care.

• Extensive green roofs are generally made up of a shallow layer (20-100mm) of substrate planted with low-growing, stress-tolerant grasses, mosses and sedum. These lightweight systems require little maintenance. The insulation quality is relatively low and extensive systems always incorporate conventional insulation.

• Semi-extensive Systems have slightly greater depth than extensive systems (100-200mm) but constructed on the same principles to allow for a greater diversity of plants. It is also relatively low-maintenance."

Life Expectancy: 40-50 years.

Pro: Captures precipitation that might have otherwise contributed to run off and flooding. Increases biodiversity. Reduces energy costs associated with heating and cooling buildings. Extends roof life. Reduces emissions not just by reducing energy use, but the plants can sequester greenhouse gases.

Con: Relies on precipitation, meaning it may be unreliable in drier climates. Plants need a small amount of care, including occasional trimming, removal/replacement of dead plants, and removal of invasives. Water collected by these roofs may not be appropriate for drinking or other domestic activities.

Solution: People who receive seasonal rain should build ample storage space to help capture as much rain as possible, ensuring more water will be saved for later in the year. They may also want to consider other options such as a well with recharging infrastructure, a grey water system, etc. Special filtration will be needed if people want to drink water collected from green roofs.

Fuel Types: Water Cycle + Gravity

Life Expectancy:  1,622+ years 

Pro: Uses seasonal monsoon rain to provide drinking and bathing water for entire communities, year round. These also double as spaces for socializing, and religious gatherings. These have great historical and cultural significance.

Con: Many of these have fallen out of use, become polluted, or even ruined when people started using them as landfills. Renovation can take years, a lot of money, and rely on community involvement to maintain.

Solution: Project planners need to employ local grafters and artists to ensure a community sense of ownership and involvement. Education and tourism can help instill a sense of pride among residents. Giving the responsibility of ownership and care to a local religious or community organization ensures prolonged maintenance. Women's groups can help insure fairness and equal access for the community.

Fuel Types: Water Cycle - Rain and/or aquifer water + gravity.

General steps for reclaiming abandoned and damaged stepwells are:

1. Clean out all debris and clean out any dirty water or algae.

2. Hire masonry workers or other appropriate restoration workers to mend walls, steps, or other parts of the infrastructure.

3. Hire local artists to decorate. This helps the community feel connected with their ancestors, and gives each location it's own sense of character. Traditional art can help boost tourism, tell stories about the location's history or about important religious/spiritual concepts or stories. Art brings people together and instills a sense of pride in their community's places. 

4. Appoint a local group to oversee cleanliness and upkeep. This may be a woman's group, or religious organization who can raise funds for future maintenance, and ensure visitors respect the local rules.

The SVP-NGO Partnership "SVP India, through its chapters, gives financial grants and mentoring support to NGOs working primarily in the areas of livelihood, employment, and income generation.

SVP typically provides a grant of Rs 10 – 15 lac per annum to the NGO. However, the greater benefit for our investee organizations lies in leveraging the time, skills, and expertise of the SVP partner group, the value of which can easily be 3 – 5x of the financial support.

Our partners act as mentors, supporting the founder and top management of the NGO to achieve their goals. We provide strategic guidance, as well as open our networks to the NGO, removing roadblocks in order to accelerate the growth of our investee NGOs.

SVP’s unique model allows for both financial, and non-financial support of qualifying NGOs."

Practical Information & Guides  

• Public Lecture Series about Green Schoolyards includes information on how school yard s can double to work with storm water management - Green Schools America

• Ocean Friendly Gardens Ocean-friendly gardening means reducing our impact starting with our own gardens or even farm land. This means rain won't wash off chemical fertilizers, pesticides, or animal waste, which harms streams, rivers, lakes, ponds, and finally our oceans.

• Rain Water Harvesting Techniques to Augment Ground Water This guides includes diagrams and photos.

We have a huge file of notes on landscaping practices to help slow and sequester rainwater. Please check back here in the future, as we are planning to include a link to that information here, once it is available!

Mexico

• Isla Urbana "has designed an environmentally, socially, and economically sustainable rainwater harvesting system that collects and cleans rainwater for households, schools, and health clinics.
  The system is inexpensive, easy to install, and provides individual residences with about 40% of their annual water supply. If implemented on a large scale throughout Mexico City, this simple technology could provide 30% of the city’s water and help give a sustainable water source to the 12 million Mexicans who lack access to clean water."

USA

• American Rainwater Catchment Systems Association (ARCSA). Offers trainings and accreditation for rainwater installers. They also have a comprehensive list of rainwater resources here.

• Grey Water Action "Greywater Action is a collaborative of educators who teach residents and tradespeople about affordable and simple household water systems that dramatically reduce water use and foster sustainable cultures of water."

Arizona

• Watershed Management Group. (Tucson and Phoenix, Arizona). Offers classes, a “water harvesting coop”and more.