Using every last drop: rainwater harvesting and utilization in Gansu Province, China
Rainwater harvesting (RWH) has been widely practised in China for centuries. The modernization and rapid spread of RWH and accompanied low-cost greenhouse and low rate irrigation (LORI) techniques since the late 1980s has helped to address water shortages and lift millions of families out of poverty in semi-arid provinces such as Gansu. The construction of terraces, contour bunds and micro-catchments has also contributed significantly to soil and water conservation, revegetation and ecological restoration of previously degraded land. This article provides an update on developments relating to a major RWH programme in Gansu Province, China, and follows three previous contributions published by the authors in Waterlines in 1995, 2000, and 2006. It also provides an overview of the book Every Last Drop: Rainwater Harvesting and Sustainable Technologies in Rural China, published by Practical Action in 2012GRIWAC (Gansu Research Institute for Water Conservancy) (2002) ‘Technology integration and innovation study on highly efficient concentration of natural rainfall in semi-arid mountainous area’, unpublished report, Lanzhou, P.R. China: GRIWAC.
Zhu, Q. and Wu, F. (1995) ‘A lifeblood transfusion: Gansu's new rainwater catchment systems’, Waterlines 14(2): 5-7.
Zhu, Q. and Yuanhong, L. (2000) ‘Rainwater harvesting for survival and development’, Waterlines 18(3): 11-14 <http://dx.doi.org/10.3362/0262-8104.2000.004≯.
Zhu, Q. and Yuanhong, L. (2006) ‘Rainwater harvesting: the key to sustainable rural development in Gansu, China’, Waterlines 24(4): 4-7 <http://dx.doi.org/10.3362/0262-8104.2006.017≯.
Zhu, Q., Yuanhong, L. and Gould, J. (2012) Every Last Drop: Rainwater Harvesting and Sustainable Technologies in Rural China, Rugby, UK: Practical Action Publishing <http://dx.doi.org/10.3362/9781780447377.000≯.
GRIWAC (Gansu Research Institute for Water Conservancy) (2002) ‘Technology integration and innovation study on highly efficient concentration of natural rainfall in semi-arid mountainous area’, unpublished report, Lanzhou, P.R. China: GRIWAC.
Zhu, Q. and Wu, F. (1995) ‘A lifeblood transfusion: Gansu's new rainwater catchment systems’, Waterlines 14(2): 5-7.
Zhu, Q. and Yuanhong, L. (2000) ‘Rainwater harvesting for survival and development’, Waterlines 18(3): 11-14 <http://dx.doi.org/10.3362/0262-8104.2000.004≯.
Zhu, Q. and Yuanhong, L. (2006) ‘Rainwater harvesting: the key to sustainable rural development in Gansu, China’, Waterlines 24(4): 4-7 <http://dx.doi.org/10.3362/0262-8104.2006.017≯.
Zhu, Q., Yuanhong, L. and Gould, J. (2012) Every Last Drop: Rainwater Harvesting and Sustainable Technologies in Rural China, Rugby, UK: Practical Action Publishing <http://dx.doi.org/10.3362/9781780447377.000≯.
GRIWAC (Gansu Research Institute for Water Conservancy) (2002) ‘Technology integration and innovation study on highly efficient concentration of natural rainfall in semi-arid mountainous area’, unpublished report, Lanzhou, P.R. China: GRIWAC.
Zhu, Q. and Wu, F. (1995) ‘A lifeblood transfusion: Gansu's new rainwater catchment systems’, Waterlines 14(2): 5-7.
Zhu, Q. and Yuanhong, L. (2000) ‘Rainwater harvesting for survival and development’, Waterlines 18(3): 11-14 <http://dx.doi.org/10.3362/0262-8104.2000.004≯.
Zhu, Q. and Yuanhong, L. (2006) ‘Rainwater harvesting: the key to sustainable rural development in Gansu, China’, Waterlines 24(4): 4-7 <http://dx.doi.org/10.3362/0262-8104.2006.017≯.
Zhu, Q., Yuanhong, L. and Gould, J. (2012) Every Last Drop: Rainwater Harvesting and Sustainable Technologies in Rural China, Rugby, UK: Practical Action Publishing <http://dx.doi.org/10.3362/9781780447377.000≯.
GRIWAC (Gansu Research Institute for Water Conservancy) (2002) ‘Technology integration and innovation study on highly efficient concentration of natural rainfall in semi-arid mountainous area’, unpublished report, Lanzhou, P.R. China: GRIWAC.
Zhu, Q. and Wu, F. (1995) ‘A lifeblood transfusion: Gansu's new rainwater catchment systems’, Waterlines 14(2): 5-7.
Zhu, Q. and Yuanhong, L. (2000) ‘Rainwater harvesting for survival and development’, Waterlines 18(3): 11-14 <http://dx.doi.org/10.3362/0262-8104.2000.004≯.
Zhu, Q. and Yuanhong, L. (2006) ‘Rainwater harvesting: the key to sustainable rural development in Gansu, China’, Waterlines 24(4): 4-7 <http://dx.doi.org/10.3362/0262-8104.2006.017≯.
Zhu, Q., Yuanhong, L. and Gould, J. (2012) Every Last Drop: Rainwater Harvesting and Sustainable Technologies in Rural China, Rugby, UK: Practical Action Publishing <http://dx.doi.org/10.3362/9781780447377.000≯.
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