The ‘hows’ and ‘whys’ of rainwater harvesting.
Harvesting rainwater off the roofs of your buildings is a very easy way to save water, as explained below.
As to ‘why’ – well, there are so many reasons why rainwater harvesting is a good idea that we might very well ask, “why not?”.
How it works – Rainwater systems
Direct rainwater systems, as the name implies, take water directly from the tanks for re-use. The water is filtered as it comes from the guttering, via a diverter which filters out leaves, moss and other debris – especially important with heavy rainfall. These are the commonest systems in agricultural and horticultural use.
Indirect rainwater systems pump water to a header tank where it is stored for uses such as toilet flushing. This works better for multiple outlets, and would be the best solution for rainwater recycling in commercial establishments.
Why it works – #1 Sustainability and environmental targets
The UK Government is strongly encouraging businesses to set environmental targets and many companies are working to ISO14001 or similar standards which require continuous progress in environmental improvements.
Committing to rainwater harvesting and recycling in industry will help you achieve your environmental targets.
Rainwater harvesting protects a precious resource – water. Whilst water supply companies draw water from mainly underground sources, the rain that falls on building roofs drains away to run into storm water drains, soakaways or sewers and is of no immediate use.
Capturing this resource and re-using it makes so much sense for the environment and saves money.
Why it works – #2 Money saving
The initial costs of tanks and diverters is offset by the ongoing savings from reduced use of mains water or (within agriculture) reduced need for water abstraction licences. The ROI (payback time) is clearly achievable within a few years, variable according to how much water you are harvesting and the use to which it is put.
Why it works – #4 Grants available
Added to this, there are a number of grants available, some from central Government (exact details vary from year to year), some from the regional water companies or local councils.
Some of the grants relate to agricultural use, some are for domestic, industrial or commercial use.
Community and other organisations may be eligible for National Lottery Fund grants.
Why it works – #4 – Multiple uses
Rainwater harvest tanks can be used in commercial or industrial premises, mainly for toilet flushing, but they could also be used to top up fire water tanks. Some industrial processes which use a lot of water can use filtered rainwater instead of mains water. For fire water tanks or other areas where water is stored outside above ground we recommend a calmed inlet kit to prevent stagnation of stored water.
Rainwater can be used domestically not only for toilet flushing (the most common use, for water saving) but also for washing machines. As rainwater is naturally soft, it can be used for washing machines and will save money on amount of detergent needed, and on repairs due to limescale.
Irrigation is one of the key uses for rainwater – landscaping, garden centres, plant nurseries, horticulture, arboriculture, agriculture, sports grounds, golf courses – or domestic gardens.
Rainwater can also be used in water bowsers for plant watering or dust suppression uses.
Tanks-UK Ltd provides the service from advising you on the best size and type of tank for your application, supplying the fittings, filters pumps and pipework you need, through to installation by one of our approved installers.
Our range of tanks starts with the smaller ones suitable for domestic rainwater harvesting, and even feature water butts which are as decorative as they are useful.
Then we have medium to large vertical plastic tanks, large sectional steel tanks, plus underground water storage tanks available. Check out the ‘Water’ section on our website or contact us for advice.
Just give us a call on 01953 665940 or email info@tanks-uk.com with your requirements and we’ll send you a quote.