AN EMPIRICAL STUDY ON THE IMPACT OF RAINWATER HARVESTING IN REDUCING DEPENDENCY ON NMMC WATER SUPPLY IN NAVI MUMBAI

The growing urbanization in Navi Mumbai has increased dependence on a single centralized water source the 
Morbe Dam which has led the city vulnerable to climate variability and infrastructure strain. Despite high 
annual rainfall, decentralized rainwater harvesting (RWH) remains underutilized. This study investigates the 
relationship between awareness, perceived effectiveness, willingness to adopt RWH, and household 
dependency on municipal water supply. Using a quantitative, descriptive design, primary data were collected 
from 74 residents through a structured questionnaire. Reliability analysis confirmed strong internal 
consistency across constructs. Correlation results revealed significant positive relationships between 
municipal water dependency and awareness (r=0.789), perceived effectiveness (r=0.761), and willingness 
(r=0.681). Regression analysis showed that awareness (β=0.514, p<0.001) and perceived effectiveness 
(β=0.427, p=0.0016) significantly predicted dependency, while willingness did not. Overall, the model 
explained 69.4% of variance in dependency. Findings suggest that knowledge and belief in RWH effectiveness 
are stronger determinants of reducing reliance on centralized supply than willingness alone. Policy 
interventions should therefore prioritize awareness-building and demonstration of practical benefits to 
encourage adoption of RWH and enhance urban water sustainability in Navi Mumbai.