In the hills of Azad Kashmir, former schoolteacher Usman Abbasi has turned concern about disappearing water sources into practical community action. Known widely as Teacher Usman, he began with tree planting and local environmental work before focusing on rainwater harvesting in Pakistan as a way to capture rainfall that would otherwise run off. His work now includes ponds, mini-dams, recharge wells, and systems designed to direct rainwater underground. By August 2025, reporting credited his initiative with close to 1,000 storage ponds and around 20 million liters of preserved rainwater.
From Schoolteacher in Azad Kashmir to Community Conservationist
Teacher Usman’s environmental work grew from changes he saw around his hometown of Kotli, Azad Kashmir. Reporting describes rising temperatures, irregular rainfall, deforestation, and declining local water sources as factors that pushed the then-schoolteacher toward environmental action. His early efforts were straightforward: planting trees and installing dustbins in his community.
Water conservation later became a much larger part of his work. His community-driven approach also received recognition at the Pakistan Environmental Awards in 2025, where he was honored for his rainwater harvesting initiative and the construction of more than 770 ponds.
Why Water Scarcity in Pakistan Turned His Attention to Rainwater
For communities that depend on springs, wells, and groundwater, rainfall can be valuable even when it lasts only a short time. The problem is that heavy rain can quickly leave an area as runoff instead of being retained for later use.
Teacher Usman’s response has been to slow down and capture some of that water locally. Rather than relying on a single large infrastructure project, his work uses smaller structures that communities can build in different locations. This makes rainwater harvesting particularly relevant to rural and mountainous areas where terrain, access to water, and groundwater conditions can vary considerably. It is not a complete answer to water scarcity in Pakistan, but it provides communities with another practical way to manage the rain they receive.
How Teacher Usman’s Rainwater Harvesting Model Works
The basic principle behind rainwater harvesting is simple: capture rainfall and give it somewhere useful to go instead of allowing all of it to flow away. Teacher Usman’s projects have used different methods depending on the setting. Ponds and small dams can hold runoff on the surface, while pits and recharge wells can help direct water into the ground. Some systems also channel rainfall collected from rooftops toward underground recharge structures.
One Islamabad project described in reporting used an underground well containing materials including charcoal, gravel, sand, broken bricks or stones, along with geofabric designed to keep dirt from entering the system. Rainwater from surrounding surfaces and rooftops was then directed toward the well.
Ponds, Mini-Dams and Dry Boreholes in Action
Ponds and mini-dams can temporarily retain rainwater that might otherwise move rapidly downhill. Recharge structures work differently by directing water underground where local geological conditions allow infiltration. Teacher Usman has also promoted the use of existing dry boreholes as potential recharge points rather than immediately abandoning them. The exact method and results depend on the location, rainfall, soil, geology, and condition of the existing water system.
From 770 Ponds to a Campaign-Reported 1,140 Water Projects
The reported scale of Teacher Usman’s work has increased quickly. At the 2025 Pakistan Environmental Awards, his initiative was recognized for building more than 770 ponds and promoting water conservation. By August 2025, reporting described close to 1,000 storage ponds, around 20 million liters of preserved rainwater, and approximately 80,000 planted saplings.
His campaign has since reported further expansion. According to the campaign’s own March 2026 tally, more than 1,140 ponds, mini-dams, and dry-bore revival projects had been undertaken. Because that latest total has not been independently audited, it should be understood as a campaign-reported figure rather than an independently confirmed count.
How Groundwater Recharge Helped Revive Dry Boreholes
One of the clearest examples of Teacher Usman’s groundwater recharge work comes from the Institute of Islamic Sciences in Islamabad. According to reporting, the institution had been spending about Rs30,000 per day on water tankers. Teacher Usman returned with a rainwater harvesting well that reportedly cost around Rs180,000. The system was designed to direct rainwater underground rather than simply storing it at the surface.
The institute reported that two previously dry boreholes were revived following the project. Reporting also cited estimated monthly savings of nearly Rs900,000 for the institution. These results are significant as a case study, although they should not be interpreted as a guarantee that the same system will produce identical results at every site.
Bringing Back Springs and Supporting Local Water Systems
Teacher Usman’s projects are also connected with efforts to support springs, livestock, and community water supplies. Reporting from Azad Kashmir describes rainwater harvesting wells and ponds helping restore local water sources and sustain livestock in areas affected by declining water availability. His environmental work extends beyond water, with reporting also crediting the initiative with large-scale tree planting.
Rainwater harvesting should not, however, be treated as a guarantee that every dry spring or well will recover. Rainfall, geology, groundwater conditions, system design, placement, and long-term maintenance all affect the outcome.
Why Community Conservation Matters to Teacher Usman’s Model
An important part of Teacher Usman’s approach is community participation. That philosophy aligns with The Nature Guardians’ community-led environmental conservation, where local participation can turn environmental awareness into practical action.
His work has also moved beyond Azad Kashmir. At a rainwater harvesting awareness campaign in Taxila, Teacher Usman presented his models and shared practical information with community representatives. People who want to take part in environmental action can also volunteer for environmental conservation through The Nature Guardians.
Rainwater Harvesting in Pakistan FAQ
Can Rainwater Harvesting Reduce Water Scarcity and Recharge Groundwater?
Rainwater harvesting can capture water that would otherwise leave an area as runoff and, where conditions are suitable, direct some of it toward groundwater recharge. It can therefore contribute to local water management and reduce pressure on other supplies. However, it works best as part of broader water-conservation and management efforts rather than as a single solution to Pakistan’s water challenges.
What Are the Benefits of Rainwater Harvesting for Communities in Pakistan?
Depending on the system and location, rainwater harvesting can help communities by:
- capturing more water close to where it falls;
- supporting groundwater recharge where conditions are suitable;
- providing water for livestock and other local needs;
- reducing reliance on transported water in some situations; and
- giving residents a direct role in managing local water resources.
Can Rainwater Harvesting Help Revive Dry Wells and Springs?
It can under suitable conditions. Teacher Usman’s Islamabad project provides a reported example of two dry boreholes returning to use after a recharge system was installed. Results will vary because rainfall, geology, aquifer conditions, system design, and maintenance all influence whether groundwater recharge can help a particular well or spring.
What Teacher Usman’s Work Shows About Local Environmental Action?
Teacher Usman began as a schoolteacher responding to environmental changes he could see around his own community. His work has since grown into a wider effort involving ponds, recharge wells, mini-dams, tree planting, public awareness, and community participation.
His story shows how local environmental action can start with a specific problem and grow through practical participation. The Nature Guardians supports community participation in protecting the natural systems people depend on. Teacher Usman’s work shows what that can look like when environmental concern becomes local action.
