In recent years, more people have started undertaking rainwater harvesting projects in their homes. This refers to the practice of collecting rainwater and storing it for later use. If you’re wondering what you stand to gain by practicing rainwater harvesting, you’re in the right place. This article will give you insight into the benefits of embracing this practice.
You may want to start storing rainwater at home for the following reasons.
- To Have Backup Water
If you live in an area with a scarcity of water or if the municipal water doesn’t supply your locality, having stored rainwater could benefit your household. You would no longer have to pay your local water vendor just to have water at home, or at the very least, you could reduce your expenses in that aspect. In addition, you won’t need to travel as much—or at all—for your household’s water needs.
Even households that have a consistent water supply can benefit from rainwater harvesting, as there could be situations where the municipal water supply is cut off due to rationing, damaged pipe systems, or other uncontrollable circumstances. In these situations, you won’t be able to have water until everything is fixed. It would certainly be an inconvenience, but if you have stored rainwater at home, you wouldn’t need to worry. With your stored supply, you can have water to use until the municipal water supply is restored.
As you can see, stored rainwater can help fulfill a household’s water needs. However, it’s important to note that you need to acquire a tank large enough to meet your needs in order for the stored rainwater to sustain your household. If you’re worried about the transportation of the tank, there are suppliers that offer solutions for it. For example, the Water Tank Factory has delivery options to make things easier.
- To Reduce Costs
The biggest perk of rainwater is that you don’t have to pay for it! When you store rainwater at home, you’re essentially getting water for free. This means that you no longer need to depend solely on the municipal supply for all your water needs. You can decide to depend entirely on stored rainwater or limit the use of municipal water to drinking purposes only. Either way, you will be able to reduce your water bill by quite a margin.
- To Have An Alternative Water Source
As mentioned above, stored rainwater can essentially act as an alternative water source for your household’s needs. This allows you great flexibility in terms of your water use. You don’t have to depend entirely on one source for your water needs; in fact, you can assign different uses for each source. For instance, while the municipal water supply can be reserved for drinking, the rainwater can be used to water your garden, clean your car, and other such uses.
- To Reduce Chances Of Catastrophe
Depending on the intensity of a downpour, there’s a possibility that rain could cause damage to your home. First, too much surface runoff flowing under high pressure could erode the soil in your home. If this happens frequently in your neighborhood, there’s a high chance of landslides occurring. This is especially true if the soil in your locality is clay and your land is low-lying.
Second, surface runoffs often end up in nearby rivers or lakes. If too much water ends up there, the banks of these bodies of water may overflow. This could lead to a flood, which can cause significant damage to structures and hinder transportation.
Also, if your compound is flat, with no slope, it may be more prone to flooding during heavy rainfall. The water might enter your home, destroy your items, and cause heavy water damage to your house.
Harvesting rainwater can help mitigate the catastrophes mentioned above. When you harvest rainwater, you reduce the amount of surface runoffs and thus the saturation of your soil. This helps prevent the weakening of the soil and the potential floods or landslides that could have occurred. With rainwater harvesting, you can help provide a safer environment for you and your neighbors.
- For Water Conservation
As mentioned above, when it rains, the rainwater ends up being surface runoff. It flows through dirt, which contaminates it, and ends up in stormwater drainages. This is water you could’ve utilized in your home instead of allowing it to waste away.
By practicing rainwater harvesting, you can rectify this situation. The amount of surface runoff will be reduced, and you can use the stored water for your household’s needs, such as cleaning the car or watering your garden. You can even decide to use it as drinking water, but you need to remember to purify it beforehand. This way, the water won’t go to waste, which is the basis of water conservation.
Conclusion
The reasons mentioned above are but a few of the benefits of harvesting and storing rainwater at home. The list isn’t exhaustive; there are certainly many other good reasons to embrace rainwater harvesting. Whichever way you decide to harvest the water, just make sure that your chosen method suits your needs.
