Eco-Home: A Guide to Rainwater Harvesting
Here is how you can collect and store rainwater during the rainy season and prevent rainwater from getting wasted
In recent years, major Indian cities have been facing a water-shortage crisis due to the rapid speed of urbanisation, leading to rampant construction and an increase in the density of population. As a result, rainwater has become a valuable natural resource that has to be preserved and used wisely. Hence, it is essential to integrate rainwater harvesting systems within the architecture of independent homes as well as apartment complexes, in order to collect rainwater. This process is easy, eco-friendly and a great way to save water and use it for drinking, gardening, domestic purposes and so on.
This article will let you know about the basics of rainwater harvesting and give an idea about how to create one within your home.
This article will let you know about the basics of rainwater harvesting and give an idea about how to create one within your home.
How can we collect rainwater and bring it to immediate use?
Find a professional to help set up your rainwater harvesting system
- Rainwater can be collected in a freestanding rain barrel. These storage units are connected to a pipe that collects rainwater from the roof, terrace or open-to-sky verandah. Small taps can be fitted onto the barrels so as to use the water directly for gardening or washing cars. If this water is filtered, then it can be suitable for drinking.
Find a professional to help set up your rainwater harvesting system
- If space permits, one can install a huge cistern. It is highly effective in storing a large volume of water in comparison to rain barrels, but it takes up a lot of space.
Consider rain chains instead of the conventional PVC pipes for diverting water from the roof into the rain barrel or underground water tank.
A rain chain is made up of a chain of rings or links strung together and some cups placed at equal intervals, like in this image. They play the role of a connector between the roof and the ground to guide the rain water. Rain chains look aesthetically pleasing and transform into an elegant water feature.
Take a gorgeous gardens and patio images from around the world
A rain chain is made up of a chain of rings or links strung together and some cups placed at equal intervals, like in this image. They play the role of a connector between the roof and the ground to guide the rain water. Rain chains look aesthetically pleasing and transform into an elegant water feature.
Take a gorgeous gardens and patio images from around the world
How about creating an interesting landscape feature with rainwater you have collected? In this example, rainwater is channelled through a perforated pipe to form a waterfall. The water that falls is then diverted into the underground water tank.
How can we divert rainwater into the underground water table?
The rainwater can be diverted into the groundwater table through recharge trenches or recharge pits. These pits filter the rainwater and are deep enough to allow the collected rainwater to reach the porous layer of soil, after which it can percolate into the underground water table.
Note: The costs of installing a rainwater harvesting system within a home is less if the system is incorporated during the construction phase of the building.
The rainwater can be diverted into the groundwater table through recharge trenches or recharge pits. These pits filter the rainwater and are deep enough to allow the collected rainwater to reach the porous layer of soil, after which it can percolate into the underground water table.
Note: The costs of installing a rainwater harvesting system within a home is less if the system is incorporated during the construction phase of the building.
How to filter rainwater before bringing it to use?
These are the most common filters used to purify rain water and make it suitable for domestic use:
Read more:
8 Most Effective Water-Saving Techniques For Your Garden
Gorgeous Water Features for Indoor & Outdoor Spaces
Tell us:
Share your tips for saving water at home in the Comments section below.
These are the most common filters used to purify rain water and make it suitable for domestic use:
- Charcoal water filters are very common; they are made up of layers of gravel, sand and charcoal
- Sand filters remove suspended particles such as silt, clay and other microorganisms. These filters are made up of layers of coarse sand, gravel and the third layer comprising a combination of gravel and rocks.
- PVC pipe filters consist of a polyvinyl chloride (PVC) pipe with three chambers. The first chamber contains small pebbles, the second chamber contains medium-sized pebbles, followed by the third with large pebbles.
- Sponge filters pass the rainwater through a sieve, then through three layers of sponge and finally through a layer of coarse sand.
Read more:
8 Most Effective Water-Saving Techniques For Your Garden
Gorgeous Water Features for Indoor & Outdoor Spaces
Tell us:
Share your tips for saving water at home in the Comments section below.
Rainwater harvesting can be broadly classified as below: