How Rainwater Harvesting Compares To Other Sustainable Options
Sustainable options, green options and renewables - the pressure is on us to do each one of these, and we know we should. However, it all seems so difficult and it is expensive and the return on the investment could be so long. We might not even be alive to see the benefit.
Rainwater harvesting is one of these options and is something we can all understand quite easily. After all, our ancestors were doing it for centuries until mains water arrived, and it is not rocket science. Most of us with gardens have a water butt or two. Rainwater harvesting is simply using rainwater for more than just watering the garden, it is using water butts on a much bigger scale. Fifty percent of the 150 litres of water we use daily does not have to be mains water, that is to say, drinking quality. 30% literally goes down the toilet.
By collecting rainwater from our own roofs we could do without half of our mains water needs by using rainwater for all outdoor use, WCs and washing machine. However, if this is to be done effectively, we must allow for a storage tank that is much bigger than our normal 200 litre garden water butt. An average home needs a tank that, depending on the area rainfall and domestic needs, could range from 2000 to over 6000 litres.
Rainwater is best stored underground to keep it fresh and cool, so the hole required, for example, would be 3 metres deep and 2 metres wide. The rainwater is filtered before entering the tank, and then pumped to where it is needed. Rainwater harvesting kits which include everything needed for an average home cost between