With our natural resources becoming depleted, clean water now feels like a luxury commodity. Because of this, it is vital to shift to methods of sustainable living, where every home owner tries to conserve water. From replacing leaking taps to reusing wastewater, every small step is crucial. Rainwater harvesting is one of the most effective ways to save water and prevent ‘urban runoff’. Have you implemented this system in your house? If not, here is all you have to know about rainwater harvesting system and other simple conservation ideas to incorporate into your home.
What is rainwater harvesting?
It is a simple concept to capture rainwater from roofs and catchment areas and channel it into the ground. This way, you replenish the groundwater level. Although 70 percent of our Earth is made up of water, only 2 percent of freshwater is available for consumption. In this scenario, saving rainwater is a significant step leading to a sustainable use of natural resources. The rain that is directed to the ground is stored and later pumped to be used for drinking and other domestic chores.
Apart from recharging the groundwater, you can store water to cater to the demands of your household. Also, this prevents flooding and wastage of water.
How is rainwater harvesting done?
Setting up a rainwater harvesting system is a simple procedure. All you need is to dig a large trench outside your house, which is about 4 feet in dimensions. Cover the trench with stones and bricks and make it up about 3 feet in height. Now, this will look more like a small well. Connect all the catchment areas with efficient pipelines and direct these pipes to end at the trench. The dimensions of the trench are calculated based on estimating the amount of rainfall that your area will receive which is done with the help of experts. Remember to invest in high-quality, sturdy pipelines and also carefully construct your deep pits or aquifers.
Here are some other simple ways to save water by implementing the rainwater harvesting concept.
Barrel harvesting
It is the simplest method of rainwater harvesting. There is generally a drain on the rooftop or terrace, to which you connect a strong pipeline. Let this pipeline be connected to a large barrel. You can also have multiple barrels if it is a high rainfall receiving area. Instead of constructing a big trench in the ground, you can store it in these barrels and use water directly.
Trash can holders
Why worry when you have trash cans to your rescue. Similar to barrel construction, you can use the trash cans to store water by collecting rainwater directly into the trash cans. Make sure to clean the cans thoroughly before applying for rainwater harvesting. Sometimes, you can also fix a tap and directly use water from cans.
Recharge your wells
In case you have wells in your house, connect a durable pipe to channelise the water dropping into the barrel to pass into the well. This is a natural method to recharge water into your wells. This method is effective only when you have wells in your house. Since, it is rare to find wells in apartments, you can resort to other alternate ideas.
Rainwater garden
Instead of connecting your barrels to the wells or ground, place a pipe that directly connects to the garden, if you have a backyard. The pipelines linking the barrel and garden can have a simple tap to control the flow of water and also avoid overflow into the garden. Your rainwater harvesting method can itself be a motivation for you to have a beautiful garden.
Water tank
Water tanks have been in use for years as the best way to store water. Why not rainwater? In case you have a big house to place a container, channel your rooftop water into it. You can later use it for pumping water for daily use.
Although rainwater harvesting aims to replenish groundwater, the overall motive is to save rainwater, be it in whatever means. You can utilise the concept as these are simple ways to save water.
Only a small fraction of the rainwater percolates into the ground and rainwater harvesting is the best method to enhance water seeping into the ground.
Benefits of rainwater harvesting
Also, water in the rooftop evaporates if left without saving and gets wasted. Water is the need of the hour and any simple methods of rainwater harvesting will help you preserve water.
Water gets flooded and eventually gets wasted. Again to avoid wastage of water, you can set up a proper rainwater harvesting method or use the DIY ideas as simple ways to save water.
Now that the North-East monsoons have set in, it is the ideal time to set up a rainwater harvesting system in your house to save water. You can refer to professionals for properly planning the mechanism. Head out to Casagrand to buy a new home and install the best-practised method of collecting rainwater.
