Beat a hosepipe ban, collect your rainwater, save water & money.
Water harvesting is something that has been practiced since the Romans. Gardens have been watered from water barrels, usually under a down pipe collecting water from the roof.
Rainwater harvesting simply collects the rain which fall onto roofs, then stores it in a tank until required for use. When required, the water is then pumped to the point of use, thus displacing what would otherwise be a demand for mains-water. In the process, a volume of water is kept out of the storm-water management system, thereby helping to reduce flooding risks .
Rainwater is captured from the roof(s), and brought to a central point, via normal guttering and down-pipes, to enter a storage tank (frequently underground), where it is filtered on entry. A highly efficient and reliable submersible pump delivers the water to a service on demand. Where wished, or a special reason applies, delivery can be to a normal header tank instead.
Considerations for fitting a rainwater collection system to an existing property
- The external drainage from the roof needs to be modified to bring the water to a central point.
- Access for the tank and excavation is required.
- Internal plumbing is usually required to be seperate out the drinking (incl. bathing) water from the non-drinking water (WC, washing machine & outside tap).
Reasons for rainwater harvesting
- Rainwater harvesting (including rainwater recycling and some versions of grey-water recycling) displaces a large proportion of the water that would otherwise be provided by the mains supply – thus reducing overall water supply costs.
- It can provide an off mains supply for remote areas.
- It enhances a property and can completely satisfy the water requirements of the various levels of the code for sustainable homes.
- It can form part of an attenuation and rainwater management scheme, by reducing storm-water runoff and controlling the flow-rate off site.
- Increasingly planning departments are looking more favorable towards the concept of rainwater harvesting.
