More of us are becoming aware of the ways in which we can reduce our environmental impact on this planet. For much of the world, water is a scarce commodity and for those areas in which it isn’t, it is usually very expensive.
Here in Australia, the cost of our water bills continues to rise on a yearly basis, partly due to the shortage of available water as well as the cost to process it. Why not do your bit by considering a domestic rainwater harvesting system?
What is Rainwater Harvesting?
We all know from our time spent in school that the majority of the Earth’s surface is covered in water. The issue is that this water supply can’t be consumed by humans’ due to the presence of high quantities of salt. For this reason, our readily available supply of clean water is much smaller.
To help combat this deficit, many of us are choosing to make the most of the water we receive by the way of rainfall – collecting it for storage and then using it around the home.
How Does It Work?
Rainwater can be harvested by utilising the roof pitch of any typical dwelling.
Rather than your roof’s guttering system channel this water from your roof, into downpipes and then into a storm drain, it is instead routed into large storage containers you have located on site.
Due to it being relatively clean, this water can then immediately be used within the home for laundry purposes as well as washing ourselves and cleaning our homes. Further still, this water can then be filtered, serving to remove its contaminants where we can then consume it as drinking water and utilise it for cooking.
The Advantages
- Rainwater harvesting systems employ a very simple design, making them almost maintenance free with very few mechanical parts to fail.
- The cost to install a rainwater harvesting tank is relatively low in comparison to other methods of home water sourcing (boreholes etc) and purification.
- The utilisation of rainwater harvesting systems can go a long way to dramatically reducing your mains water consumption, which in turn has the effect of lowering your water bills.
- You will often find that the initial capital cost of a rainwater harvesting system is recouped within a period of time as your mains water demand is lessened.
The type and scale of rainwater harvesting system that can be installed within your home is extensive.You can configure your installation in any way you wish, taking advantage of the terrain around your home. You can of course even install more than one water tank. Rainwater tanks in Perthare readily available from several suppliers who operate across Western Australia. We would suggest getting in touch with a few for a quotation and further advice.
Finding new ways to supply useable water to your home isn’t just about lowering your household costs. The environmental benefits shouldn’t be overlooked as we continue to find new ways of living sustainably.
