Why your home needs a rainwater harvesting system
In summer, we generally use more water at home for activities like washing cars, topping up swimming pools and watering our lawns and gardens. To reduce your overall water consumption this summer, consider investing in a rainwater harvesting system, which will allow you to use recycled rainwater for some of your needs.
Rainwater harvesting is the collection of rainwater to reuse and, in turn, reduce your need for extra water from the main water system. A rainwater harvesting system captures stormwater runoff, usually from your rooftop, and stores that water for later use.
Some of the advantages of having a rainwater harvesting system include:
- Your home will have its own independent water supply
- Helps reduce your water bill
- It can assist with improving the environment by capturing nutrients and other pollutants from rooftop runoff, preventing them from contaminating surface waters
- Reduces the demand on municipal water supplies
- It is easy to maintain
Harvested rainwater can be used for a variety of activities in the home. It is also possible to use rainwater for drinking or food preparation, however, it would need to first be filtered to remove pathogens, grit, and other particles. Boiling the water for at least one minute is a good way to kill any potential disease-causing organisms in your water.
A common method for rainwater harvesting in South Africa is directing the rainwater into rainwater storage tanks, which can be installed above ground or underground. Depending on your specific needs, a rainwater tank can cost as little as R2 000, however, bigger tanks will cost more. Nonetheless, the cost of the tank is a small investment as you will save money over time.
LookSee is a free home efficiency platform aimed at making homeownership easier and more affordable.
