At Aarangar, our work revolves around protecting and restoring India’s water heritage while enabling communities to manage this vital resource sustainably. Our initiatives span across water conservation, water literacy and awareness, knowledge resource documentation, water use efficiency, and strengthening local water governance.

Water Conservation

In the water-scarce regions, we work hand-in-hand with communities to bring water back to the lands and lives. Our focus is on the traditional knowledge of the communties and the restoration of the age-old tradition of terrain-specific water-holding structures. These structures are crafted from local wisdom and adapted perfectly to each landscape. These structures do more than hold water; they replenish aquifers, recharge groundwater, wells, and handpumps, sustain crops, provide for livestock, and ensure households have water security. In this way, they nurture both the land and the livelihoods that depend on it. Every project is a shared commitment—communities contribute 15% of the construction cost, ensuring the work carries their ownership, pride, and care. By blending traditional knowledge with modern scientific tools, we create solutions that answer today’s needs while safeguarding tomorrow’s water heritage.

Water Literacy and Awareness

Awareness and sensitization are at the heart of our mission. Through workshops, campaigns, and interactive sessions, we engage with rural and urban communities, students, and donors to promote sustainable water practices and revive traditional conservation methods. Our student volunteers and interns become changemakers, spreading knowledge and inspiring action for a water-secure future.

Documenting India’s Water Heritage: 'Degree Centigrade'

Degreecentigrade.com and degreecentagrade.in are our online knowledge portal and an initiative run largely by volunteers—students and young professionals dedicated to the environment. Our aim is to document the diverse water heritage across India, from north to south, capturing the essence of conservation practices that have sustained communities for centuries.

Across mountains, plains, coasts, and deserts, communities have developed terrain-specific water harvesting structures—crafted using local resources and passed down through generations of traditional knowledge. These are more than practical systems; they are living traditions that embody India’s ingenuity and deep connection with nature.

Water Use Efficiency

We promote efficient water use in agriculture and daily life, with the aim of achieving 75% or more efficiency through micro-irrigation and smart water management practices. Training and capacity building ensure that communities can produce more with less, safeguarding water for future generations.

Strengthening Local Water Governance

We help train communities to take charge of local water resources. Rooted in community ownership and collective decision-making, the trained group of people including youth and women become efficient in planning, managing, and monitoring water use at the village level. By empowering local leadership, we ensure sustainable, equitable, and accountable water governance. Over time, our journey has evolved into a deeply integrated water conservation mission, combining traditional knowledge with community ownership, sustainable agriculture, and awareness-building efforts across regions. We don’t just create water structures—we nurture a movement for water justice and climate resilience from the grassroots.

Income Enhancement through Water-Efficient Agro-Diversification

We engage closely with farming communities to adopt water-wise agricultural practices—encouraging High-Density Nano-Orchards, multilayer cropping, water-efficient crops, and kitchen gardens. These practices bring multiple benefits: year-round produce for the family, reduced risk from the failure of any single crop, better nutrition on every plate, and higher incomes for small and marginal farmers. Beyond livelihoods, this shift also tackles one of the most urgent challenges of our time—over-extraction of groundwater—helping restore balance to our environment. By blending innovation with care for the land, we nurture a future where farmers thrive in harmony with nature.

Working Across Regions

Project 1 - RAJASTHAN
Revival of the SYALUTA WALI RIVER CATCHMENT

In one of our most ambitious efforts, we are working across 21 villages to revive the Syaluta Wali Nadi catchment. This includes creating new and reviving old traditional water structures, undertaking community-led afforestation, and restoring the natural water flow. These actions not only recharge aquifers and support biodiversity but also contribute to climate resilience, disaster risk reduction, and stronger local livelihoods. With a strong focus on research, documentation, and measurable impact, this project is a model of holistic water conservation.

Project 2 - uttarakhand
Revival of Traditional Water Systems in the Himalayas

Uttarakhand has a deep-rooted culture of traditional water harvesting—Dhara, Naulas, Chaal, and Khal systems. Over time, these practices declined, leading to water scarcity, forced migration, and a shift away from agriculture. Our efforts in the region are aimed at reviving catchment areas of Naulas, promoting traditional water systems, and encouraging community stewardship. This work is helping preserve both water and cultural heritage, one spring at a time.