Communities across India are restoring centuries-old water systems as water scarcity and climate change put increasing pressure on modern infrastructure.

In 2025, water from the Moosi Rani Sagar stepwell in Alwar, Rajasthan, overflowed onto a nearby footpath for the first time in more than 30 years. The historic stepwell, built in the early 1800s, forms part of a traditional water-harvesting system designed to store and manage water.

For years, the stepwell faced inconsistent water levels and severe contamination. Since restoration efforts began, however, the structure has once again become a reliable source of stored water. Today, it can hold water to depths of around 30 feet, while local residents say levels rarely fall below 20 feet even during the driest months.

The revival of Moosi Rani Sagar highlights how traditional water-management systems could help communities adapt to a warmer and increasingly unpredictable climate.

Across India, hundreds of communities are similarly restoring old stepwells, ponds and other traditional water structures. Once considered outdated cultural relics, these systems are increasingly being recognised as practical and climate-resilient solutions that helped communities manage water for centuries.

As modern water supplies face growing challenges from drought, changing rainfall patterns and rising demand, India’s ancient water systems are finding a new role in the 21st Century.