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Rainwater harvesting

Rainwater harvesting cost and rules in India

A rooftop system with a recharge pit costs about ₹1.1 lakh to ₹1.7 lakh for a house. Find the cost in your district, the water it puts back with your local rainfall, and the rules in your state.

Typical cost by building size

With a 120 ft recharge bore and 800 mm of rain a year, GST included.

BuildingRoof areaRecharge pitsCost
Independent house100 m² (1,076 sq ft)1₹1.1 lakh to ₹1.7 lakh
Large house or villa250 m² (2,691 sq ft)1₹1.1 lakh to ₹1.7 lakh
Small apartment block or office600 m² (6,458 sq ft)3₹3.1 lakh to ₹4.8 lakh
Housing society, school or factory2,000 m² (21,528 sq ft)8₹8 lakh to ₹12 lakh

Rainwater harvesting rules by state

Cost in your district

Chandigarh

Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu

Ladakh

Frequently asked questions

What is the cost of rainwater harvesting for a house in India?

About ₹1.1 lakh to ₹1.7 lakh including GST for a house with a 100 m² (1,076 sq ft) roof: a filter on the downpipe and a recharge pit with a 120 ft bore. A shallower bore costs less and a deeper one more.

Is rainwater harvesting mandatory in India?

There is no single national rule. Most states and many cities make it mandatory for new buildings above a plot size in their building bye-laws, and some refuse a completion certificate or water connection without it. See the rules for 35 states below.

Which is better: a storage tank or a recharge pit?

A tank stores roof water for use in the weeks after rain; a recharge pit sends it into the ground, where it refills the aquifer your borewell draws from. Where groundwater is falling, recharge does more good, and many buildings combine a small tank with an overflow into the pit.