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IS 15792:2007 is the Indian Standard (BIS) for artificial recharge to groundwater using rainwater harvesting. This code provides guidelines for planning, designing, and constructing artificial groundwater recharge systems using rainwater. It covers various methods like recharge pits, trenches, wells, and check dams, along with site investigation procedures and design considerations to augment groundwater resources sustainably.
Lays down the code of practice for design and implementation of artificial recharge structures using harvested rainwater to augment groundwater.
Overview
Status
Current
Usage level
Frequently Used
Domain
Water Resources — Green Building and Sustainability
BIM-relevant code. See the BIM Hub for ISO 19650, IFC, and LOD/LOIN frameworks used alongside it.
Practical Notes
! Always conduct a hydrogeological investigation to determine soil strata, depth to water table, and infiltration characteristics before finalizing a recharge method.
! Ensure a robust multi-layer filtration mechanism is provided to prevent silt, debris, and pollutants from clogging the recharge structure and contaminating the aquifer.
! Never construct recharge structures near potential sources of contamination like septic tanks, sewer lines, or industrial waste areas.
Consolidated list per BIS. For the text of each amendment, refer to the BIS portal link above.
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International Equivalents
Similar International Standards
BS 8515:2009+A1:2013BSI (British Standards Institution), UK
HighCurrent
Rainwater harvesting systems. Code of practice
Covers design, installation, and maintenance of RWH systems, primarily for non-potable domestic/commercial use.
CIRIA C753CIRIA (Construction Industry Research and Information Association), UK
HighCurrent
The SuDS Manual
Comprehensive guidance on Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS), including many artificial recharge techniques like infiltration trenches and basins.
AS/NZS 3500.3:2021Standards Australia / Standards New Zealand
MediumCurrent
Plumbing and drainage - Part 3: Stormwater drainage
Focuses on the collection and conveyance of stormwater, including design of soakaways (recharge pits) and infiltration systems.
EPA 832-B-99-002U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, USA
MediumCurrent
National Menu of Best Management Practices (BMPs) for Stormwater
A guidance document detailing various stormwater management practices, many of which (infiltration trenches, basins) align with IS 15792's methods.
Key Differences
≠Primary Objective: IS 15792's explicit primary goal is groundwater resource augmentation, whereas many international standards focus on stormwater management for flood/pollution control or rainwater use for water conservation, with recharge being a secondary benefit.
≠Geographic Context: The Indian standard is specifically tailored to Indian hydrogeological conditions, including monsoon rainfall patterns and distinctions between alluvial and hard rock terrains.
≠Scale and Type of Structures: IS 15792 includes guidelines for large-scale rural structures like percolation tanks, gabion structures, and subsurface dykes, which are less common in urban-focused Western standards.
≠Design Approach: The IS code often provides prescriptive, rule-of-thumb design parameters based on catchment area, while international guides like the CIRIA SuDS Manual emphasize performance-based hydraulic calculations.
Key Similarities
≈Source Control Principle: Both the IS code and its international counterparts advocate for managing rainwater at or near its source through infiltration and local storage.
≈Water Quality Pre-treatment: All standards emphasize the critical need for pre-treatment to remove silt, debris, and pollutants before recharge, recommending silt traps, filters, and first-flush diversion.
≈Site Investigation Requirements: A common requirement is a thorough site investigation, including percolation/infiltration tests, determination of water table depth, and assessment of ground contamination risks.
≈Core Recharge Techniques: Many fundamental techniques are shared across standards, including the design and use of recharge pits (soakaways), trenches, and recharge wells, based on universal geotechnical principles.
Parameter Comparison
Parameter
IS Value
International
Source
Minimum depth to seasonally high water table
3 to 4 metres from the bottom of the recharge structure.
≥ 1 metre separation is commonly recommended.
CIRIA C753
Recommended Percolation Rate for Site Suitability
Infiltration rate should be > 3.6 cm/hr.
Soil infiltration rate (f) should be > 1x10^-6 m/s (equivalent to 3.6 mm/hr). UK practice often targets rates faster than 100 s/mm (36 mm/hr).
AS/NZS 3500.3 / UK Practice
First Flush Diversion
Divert first 15-20 minutes of rain, or first 2 mm of rainfall from catchment.
Divert initial flow until water runs clear; or use volume-based diverters (e.g., 0.5 L/m² of roof area).
What are the common methods for rooftop rainwater recharging?+
Recharge pits, recharge trenches, and recharge wells (borewells) are common methods for rooftop rainwater recharging, as detailed in Clause 6.
Is it necessary to filter rainwater before recharging?+
Yes, the code mandates a filtration system (desilting/filter chamber) to remove suspended solids before recharging. This prevents clogging of the recharge structure and contamination of the aquifer (Clause 7.2).
How is the amount of potential recharge water calculated?+
The potential runoff volume is calculated using the formula: Runoff Volume = Catchment Area × Rainfall × Runoff Coefficient. Runoff coefficients for different surfaces are given in Table 1 and Annex A.
What is the minimum recommended distance between a recharge pit and a building foundation?+
The code recommends a minimum distance of 10m from the building foundation to prevent any adverse effect on the structure due to water saturation (Clause 7.2.1).