Rainwater Harvesting
Rainwater recycling includes the collection of rainwater from the roof of a building or any other surface, including now permeable sidewalks and garden lawns. The rainwater then passes through filters to remove debris and is stored underground or in water storage tanks on the sides of buildings or in attics.
Components
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A water storage tank or tank is required to store water collected from roofs or other surfaces. Its size can vary depending on the available space and usage. It can be buried underground or on the side of a house or building.
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Filters are used to prevent debris (such as leaves and dirt) from entering the water tank. For most average sized rainwater collection devices, different levels of filtration are required depending on the end use of the collected water.
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For systems buried underground, pumps are required to deliver water to the places where it needs to be used (gravity water supply systems do not require pumps, but use elevated water storage tanks to deliver water to the points of use by gravity).
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A separate piping system needs to be installed for the collected water supply, connected to areas such as toilets, showers or washing machines. Because the rainwater collection system may not meet or be suitable for all your water needs, especially drinking water, the building still needs to be connected to the main power supply.
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Of course, you need backup water. If the water tank dries up, spare pipes are needed to cut in. This can happen if you have a small installation and a low rainfall period.
Advantages
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Collected rainwater can be used for non-potable purposes such as irrigation, car washing, and cleaning.
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It saves on water expenses.
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It can be stored for use during times of low rainfall.
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It reduces surface runoff, lowering the risk of waterlogging and flooding.
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It can serve as a backup water supply for firefighting.
