Rain Water Harvesting: What are the Considerations?

In an effort to be more self-sufficient processing raining water perhaps seems an obvious option, but is it worth the investment? For many looking at self-building or renovating an old property, being independent with regards their water supply goes hand in hand renewables such as solar electricity generation and ground / air source heat pumps. It falls freely from the sky so why are we paying water companies so much to simply pipe it to our homes?

Once you take a closer look it’s a little more complex than first meets the eye. It’s not just as simple as collection and use. As well as rain water there are also solutions to re-use water which would otherwise have been lost after showering, bathing etc. This so called ‘grey water’ can be used where the cleanest water is not necessary, as would be the case for flushing toilets or in a washing machine.

It goes without saying that some areas of the country receive much more rain than others so rain levels are the first thing to look at. If you fancy installing a rain water harvesting system, practically the area of roof you have will determine just how much water can be collected in any one downpour. Rainwater harvesting will call for a succession of pipes, filter(s) and a storage tank. The storage tank is often concealed underground from where water can be pumped into the house and be used in gravity fed systems like mains water.

In contrast to rain water, grey water is more regularly produced as a result of using mains or harvested rain water and can therefore provide a large saving in its re-use. Once used in showers and baths grey water can be stored in a separate tank. This water needs to be treated in order to inhibit bacteria and odours. Some systems also can be configured to release water after a set period of time so as to avoid storing it for too long. Other systems sometimes use sophisticated biological treatments and filtration though reed beds to maintain water quality.

Like all good ideas the likelihood of large scale uptake is so often determined by cost. Generally a rainwater harvesting system will set you back around £2000 - £2500. A grey water system is slightly more costly at around £2800 and will use a larger amount of energy in the action of pumping and processing. So it’s an investment that needs plenty of consideration. If you are not put off by the price the best advice is to call in a specialist company who will assess your water usage and the best way to incorporate these systems into your home. Water regulations need to be followed to so it really is a job for someone who knows what they are doing, not the best undertaken by a ‘do it yourself’ enthusiasts. Much depends on how water is used and at what period of the day. Often families who leave for work and school early each morning will not have so much use for stored grey water.

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Paul Coupe is Online Marketing Manager for Quote4Removals.
http://www.quote4removals.com