You have likely heard a lot of discussion about rainwater harvesting systems and how they can help the environment. But are rainwater harvesting systems worth it and if so, how much do they cost and what are their benefits? We explain the merits of investing in a system for your home below.
How much does a rainwater harvesting system cost?
When it comes to determining the cost of a rainwater harvesting system you need to take into consideration the:
Capacity
Tank capacity is based on the surface area of the roof, the geographical location of the property and the number of occupants in the house. Different parts of the country have their own levels of rainfall – for example, the northwest typically see more rain than the southeast, so this must be given serious consideration.
Tank location
If ground excavation isn’t possible, a tank can be located above ground, although excavation should be possible in most cases. Tanks that are located aboveground will have to deal with higher temperatures in the summer and lower temperatures in the winter, so insulation is recommended. If you can’t excavate too far below ground, then a shallow-dig system could be your best option.
Aboveground and shallow-dig systems are much easier and faster to install, as you will not need to hire specialist plant equipment to excavate deep into the ground. An aboveground system sits underneath the roof and is connected to the downpipe, while the hole of a shallow dig system is usually only around one metre deep.
What are the benefits of a water harvesting system?
There is a long list of benefits you will be able to enjoy once you install a water harvesting system. This includes:
Utilising water for a range of tasks
When harvested correctly, rainwater can be used for a host of tasks. From bathing and farming, to washing and drinking, if it is filtered and managed in the right way there are a lot of benefits to enjoy. Some of the most common household tasks include flushing the toilet, washing the car and driveway, watering the garden, using it for laundry and much more.
Reducing water bills
Harvested rainwater can help to reduce your water bill costs. By using the water for flushing the toilet, watering the garden, watering dishes etc. you rely less on mains water. However, this will only benefit you if your house is on a water meter, so you may want to consider switching if do not have one installed already.
It’s great for water irrigation
When you harvest rainwater, you are collecting water that isn’t contaminated, unlike some of the harmful chemicals that can be found in some forms of groundwater. This is what makes it great for gardens as you are providing plants and flowers with natural, untreated water, making it a healthier choice all round.
You’ll use less groundwater
As the world’s population continues to grow, so too is the demand for water resources. Subsequently, this means more drilling occurs to extract groundwater which is harmful to the world. Rainwater harvesting can help to reduce our over reliance on groundwater, using rainwater for a host of domestic tasks.
Reduces soil erosion and prevalent floods
If rainwater is harvested on a large scale it helps to reduce the amount of runoff water that is produced during heavy rainfall. This lowers the risk of flooding in some areas and prevents soil erosion, which is why harvesting rainwater is so important for low-lying locations.
Low-cost maintenance
Once a rainwater harvesting system has been installed, repair and maintenance costs and requirements are usually quite low. It can largely be left to operate itself without the need for constant checks and inspections. Even if you choose to purify the water to make it suitable for human consumption, the costs tend to be lower than what you’d pay to water companies.
Is a rainwater harvesting system environmentally friendly?
Investing in a rainwater harvesting system offers several environment benefits that can have instant effect on your home.
Just through the fact of having a system in place you become more aware of the water and the way it is used. Many of us in the western world take water availability for granted because it is always there whenever we need. A rainwater harvesting system enables us to appreciate it a little more by making us environmentally conscious about the way our usage can impact the local and global environment.
If you use harvested rainwater in the garden, you’ll also see how much healthier your greenery will be. This is particularly true in hard water areas, which is generally not the best type of water for your plants and flowers. Rainwater is softer and untreated, providing nutrients to the soil and existing plants and is also great for ponds, and is used by farmers for their livestock. If a hosepipe ban comes back into place, harvested rainwater offers the perfect solution, as you will not be able to use mains water to water the garden in the same way as usual.
Can you use a rainwater harvesting system in the spring and summer?
While using a rainwater harvesting system in the autumn and winter makes obvious sense, what about during the warmer months of the year when there is less rain? Summer is where your garden will need more water, so how can a harvesting system help during this period?
The answer lies in the British climate, which unlike some countries does not suffer extreme changes in temperature. This means the UK experiences plenty of rainfall throughout the year, averaging anywhere between 600mm to 3,000mm annually. From 1981 to 2010, rain or snow fell for an average of 133 days, more than a third of the year, which is good news for your harvesting system.
Where you live in the UK also affects the amount of rainwater you can collect. In general terms, the west side of the country is wetter than the east, due to the wet westerlies that bring in rain from the sea, while there are also more mountains on this side of the country, which also encourages more rainfall.
