Surat: Dumas, the scenic beach village on the outskirts of Surat and a favoured picnic spot, has struggled for decades for access to potable water due to saline groundwater. Residents largely depend on the single remaining public groundwater source, a well, for drinking and household needs, while most other wells in the area yield saline water unfit for regular use.In this context, a recent community-based study highlighted significant gaps in public awareness about rainwater harvesting, a practice crucial for coastal settlements facing groundwater salinity. The study was conducted by Jahanavee Dhimmar, a second-year MSc Nursing student from T and TV Nursing Institute, affiliated with Veer Narmad South Gujarat University. The study was carried out under the guidance of institute principal Kirankumar V Domadiya.The descriptive study, conducted from Jan to May 2026, covered 200 households in Dumas. Findings showed that the average knowledge score regarding rainwater harvesting was 54.8%. The study further reported that 57% of respondents displayed an unfavourable attitude towards rainwater harvesting. A key finding was that 65.5% of residents had no prior knowledge of rainwater harvesting.The community health nursing department of the institute compiled the findings into a research report and submitted it in person to Union minister of Jal Shakti C R Patil. During a presentation to the minister, Dhimmar stressed that amid global warming and climate change, water scarcity is emerging as a serious challenge, making household-level rainwater collection, recharge pits and careful water use increasingly necessary.Linking the findings to national water initiatives, Dhimmar referred to the Centre’s “Catch the Rain” campaign and the “Jal Jeevan Mission”, emphasising the relevance of local participation in conservation measures. “Despite a good monsoon, a large part of the state faces issues related to water supply throughout the year,” she told TOI, adding that Dumas was selected due to its long-standing coastal salinity problem and limited clarity among residents about rainwater harvesting.After the study, Dhimmar distributed an informational booklet to villagers to improve awareness and encourage adoption of rainwater harvesting methods.
