When Hyderabad faced a water shortage in 2015, Ranga Prasad wanted to do something practical about it. He decided to install a rainwater recharge pit at the premises he had leased in Gachibowli. But there was one problem: he could not find someone who could do the job.Instead of giving up, Prasad decided to learn how to build one himself. What began as a personal effort to conserve water gradually became a full-time mission. Nearly a decade later, through his organisation HydRainHarvest, he says he has helped install more than 600 rainwater harvesting and groundwater recharge systems across Hyderabad. His journey is a reminder that solving an environmental problem does not always begin with a large organisation or a government campaign. Sometimes, it starts with one person trying to find an answer to a problem in their own neighbourhood.
From searching for help to learning the work himself
Before focusing on rainwater conservation, Prasad was running an organic food business and a fitness and yoga centre in Gachibowli. He had also been involved in climate change awareness campaigns since 2009. The water crisis in Hyderabad following two consecutive years of poor rainfall in 2015 prompted him to look more closely at groundwater conservation. When he struggled to find a professional to construct a recharge pit at his premises, he realised that awareness alone was not enough. People also needed access to practical solutions and skilled workers who could implement them.He began attending training programmes and workshops across India to understand how rainwater harvesting systems are designed, installed and maintained. He also learnt by renovating old recharge pits that had stopped functioning properly.That experience taught him that simply digging a pit is not enough. Over time, silt and debris can block the flow of water, while incorrect sizing and poor connections can prevent rainwater from reaching the ground effectively. In November 2016, he started a rainwater harvesting business, which later operated as HydRainHarvest. His focus was not only on installing new systems but also on repairing neglected structures. Prasad believes recharge systems should be designed to remain functional for 20 to 25 years, provided they receive proper maintenance. This long-term approach became central to his work.
Why Hyderabad loses so much rainwater
Hyderabad receives substantial rainfall, with an average annual figure of around 810 mm cited by Prasad. Yet much of the rainwater that falls on rooftops and open spaces eventually flows into drains instead of replenishing groundwater. He points to three common problems: recharge pits that are too small, structures blocked by silt and systems that are not connected properly to rainwater channels. In some buildings, he says, only a portion of rooftop rainwater is directed towards recharge pits, while the rest is allowed to enter drainage lines. Maintenance is another concern. Prasad estimates that only around 350 out of every 1,000 houses have rainwater harvesting pits and that most are not regularly maintained. These are his estimates, rather than a citywide official survey.He says residents often contact him only when the monsoon is approaching or when water shortages become serious. However, planning, construction and cleaning should ideally happen before the rains begin. The Telangana government’s rainwater harvesting guidance also stresses the importance of maintaining recharge structures. It recommends regular cleaning, removing accumulated material and checking filters and channels before the monsoon. This underlines an important point: a system can only serve its purpose when it is kept functional.
From individual homes to an entire neighbourhood
Among the projects undertaken by Prasad is a large gated community in Kokapet, spread across more than 40 acres. The work involved four large recharge structures with silt traps and 40 individual recharge systems. According to the report, the project took nearly two months to complete. Some of his clients have reported that their monthly tanker requirement fell from around 100 tankers to 25 or 30 after installing recharge systems. While these are individual client-reported results and not a consolidated assessment of all his projects, they indicate why households are interested in reducing their dependence on tanker water.Prasad believes the next step is to move beyond individual buildings and bring entire neighbourhoods into water conservation efforts. HydRainHarvest is planning a one-square-kilometre demonstration project in Hyderabad. The proposed model would capture rainwater not only from rooftops but also from roads, parks and other common spaces. He is also exploring affordable greywater filtration systems that could help recharge groundwater beyond the monsoon. These are proposed systems and still need to be developed and tested against relevant standards.
A water-saving habit that should last all year
Prasad’s work has also received recognition. In 2026, he was shortlisted for the Pride of Telangana Award in the Sustainability category, according to a September report by Metro India. The award website lists sustainability excellence among its categories. Beyond large recharge projects, he encourages households to begin with simple steps. Repairing leaking taps and faulty flush tanks, installing alarms to prevent overhead tank overflow and using automatic ball cocks in underground sumps can help reduce unnecessary water loss.He also suggests closing angle valves supplying flush tanks and health faucets wherever practical to prevent continuous leakage or wastage. Prasad’s larger ambition is to make water conservation a regular responsibility rather than an emergency response. He believes people can create meaningful change by focusing on environmental problems in their immediate surroundings.As he puts it, “I believe every human being on Earth should take up one issue and work on it in their own square kilometre. For me, that issue became water.” For a man who began by trying to solve a problem at one leased property, that square kilometre has grown into hundreds of rainwater harvesting projects. His journey shows why water conservation needs more than awareness: it needs planning, practical skills and maintenance that continues long after the rain stops.