Overhead water tanks - both plastic and concrete - have become an integral part of homes esp. in the last 20-25 years. With it, sump. Till the 1970s, we used to get the supply regularly - population was less and hence consumption was in that proportion - shortage and stoppage of water was news, if at all it happened. Very very rare. Came the 80s, more people, more buildings, more housing, more, more and more.... Mysore was never the same. It is such a lovely place in every aspect that people suddenly came to stay. Gone was the old Mysore charm. Gone was peace. The other side is problems!! Also grew was corruption and land sharks who minted money by selling public land [officials] because housing was 'easy money' for them [of course, a portion of the whole with illegal means]. More houses and more people meant more consumption of water, electricity, everything. In our younger days, when we needed water, we went to the taps and there were no sumps or tanks to store. Just a copper/brass vessel to store for drinking.
As you may know I already have this rainwater collection - but I cannot store it for the drier months. Some people whom I visited 4 years ago, have built a large capacity sump exclusively for rainwater while they had a separate one for municipal supply. Rainwater was for cooking and drinking and they had more benefits from doing it and never dependent on main supply. One season rain was enough for the entire year, what with health benefits! My sump is not too high a capacity and I do divert rain into it. I stop the main supply during the 4-6 weeks during rainy season and it overflows. Of course, it does not get empty at all at any time - keeps topping up. Rain spouts are not wasted. I even keep 3 barrels in the garden which I use after the rains for many days. I like to supplement this because r/w is good for the plants. Will have to dig my folders for photos of how I've connected these.
