Bangalore's heavy rainfall is a huge resource that should be taken advantage of. There are already communities across the city that use rainwater to meet all of their water needs during the rainy season. The technology for a rainwater harvesting system (RHS) is fairly simple to grasp. The necessary components are: a pipe to catch and transport water from the roof, an aggregate filter to remove larger debris and silt, and a sump, which is a large concrete box used for underground water storage. With only these three components, this water can be used for washrooms and dishwashing. For drinking water use there should be additional filters.

These wells are pits deeper than 20 feet with concrete casings along the outside and a thin layer of gravel between these casings and the dirt walls. When it rains, water fills up the wells. This water would have runoff the concrete of the city but the well allows the water to be stored and left to percolate through the ground water. Additionally, evaporation is reduced do to the well's small surface area.

Normally, natural percolation would be a slow but reliable process. However, Bangalore is a large, growing city with increasing water needs and increasing developement and concretization. Because of this, natural percolation is not fast enough to rejuvinate the groundwater. Open wells are a way to channel this runoff more effectively to the aquifers.

Bore wells are narrow wells that are dug deep into the ground typically targeting deeper aquifers. In the 1970s, bore wells were popularized because of the idea that they provided cleaner, clearer water. Since then, 80,000 bore wells have been installed across Bangalore. Today, these borewells are going dry due to this massive overuse of the deep aquifers which the bore wells are tapped into.

Perception of the cleanliness of bore well water is not completely inaccurate. As the water trickles through cracks it is naturally filtered, however, this process also potentially contaminates the water with dangerous chemicals. Additionally, bore wells recharge slower than open wells as water has to go further and trickle through less permeable rock.

While this technology has downsides, it can be a valuable resource in emergencies. It's use should be limited to these dire situations.

Wells should be checked and tested annually for contaminants, cleanliness, and general mechanical functioning. In addition, silt build up should be monitored and cleaned. These wells are a vital resource that have long been a part of Bangalore's history. Across the city there are manyold wells that could be made functional once again with some basic maintenance.

Careful maintenance of these systems and rainwater systems can ensure that these sustainable practices are carried forward to the next generation.