
The cost of living is never ending for many people this year and so far, has been a struggle for many working families. However, if there is one of those bills that you can reduce it is water. A rainwater harvesting system will certainly help reduce that water bill if not get rid of most of it depending on how much you adapt and use your rainwater harvesting for. Many people use rainwater harvesting for the garden as there are also so many benefits along side saving money to why to use rainwater and not mains water. Mainly your plants thrive better on rainwater than mains simply because rainwater doesn’t contain the filtration chemicals used to make it safe for drinking consumption. Secondly rainwater is softer and your plants thrive better on rainwater. A thirsty garden in the summer months drinks a lot more water and also there tends to be a lack of rainfall which makes everywhere dry. So, keeping your garden green rather than dry can become costly as plants rely on being fed more. If you are on a water meter it can be rather costly and go up rather quickly.
Let’s talk the pros and cons of having a rainwater harvesting and is it whether its worth white to you.
The Benefits of having a rainwater harvesting system:
- Save money on water
- You can choose the type of system you want
- Plants thrive better on rainwater than tap water
- Having a rainwater system reduces flooding in large down pours
- Options of aboveground and underground.
- Emergency water to hand
- Can be filtered and used for drinking water consumption
The Cons of having a rainwater harvesting system:
- Installation may need planning
- Making sure it is installed correctly otherwise it could cause potential issues with the water quality.
- Making sure the water does not get contaminated
Saving money with Rainwater Harvesting
The good thing about rainwater harvesting its entirely up to you how much or how little rainwater you want to save. The capacity of the water tank or water butt will give you an idea on how many litres of water you are saving and you can increase the size of the water tank or with some water butts you can connect others to existing water butts if you feel its not giving you enough rainwater. However, the more you save the more you won’t be using from the mains. A rainwater harvesting system which is used for home and garden will save more money on water as it will take away the reliance of the mains water which costs.
Choosing A Rainwater Harvesting System
Choosing the right system that works for you is one of the most important steps as there are so many different size tanks and options on the market. Then there are aboveground water tanks and below ground water tanks and it really depends on personal choice. Having a aboveground water tank is less disruption with installation and can be easy to access if required. There are many different shape tanks which can sit flush against a wall. Having an underground water tank yes, the installation is the biggest disruption but once its in the ground the water temperature is more consistent all year round and the tank itself is far more secure. It also gives you more space being underground. Then the next decisions are where and what do you want to use the rainwater for. Some people are content with just using the rainwater for their garden but others like it used in the home to flush toilets etc.
Plants Thrive Better on Rainwater Than Mains Water
We don’t always consider the difference between rainwater and tap water initially but when you think about it tap water contains a lot of cleaning chemicals which yes it makes it great for human consumption but our gardens might not necessarily do well with the chemicals. Rainwater is a natural source and its softer because it doesn’t contain a lot of minerals or salts.
Having a Rainwater System Reduces Flooding
In the past few years global warming is something that is dramatically changing our lifestyles we are experiencing extreme weather changes such as flooding. In many vulnerable areas this can be devasting. A rainwater harvesting tank can prevent the build up of ground water and help reduce flooding.
Options of Aboveground Tanks and Underground Tanks
Whether you want a cylindrical water tank, rectangular water tank, pillar style water tank or slimline tank these are all great aboveground water tank options to have and again it comes down to personal choice. Perhaps you are restricted on space so a slimline or pillar style water tank might work better for you than perhaps a cylindrical tank. All of our water tanks are made using a strong MDPE and are quality made. With an aboveground water tank, you can simply attach a hose to the bottom outlet and away you go. An underground tank is different its hidden underground. Therefore, makes it a little more tricky to access the tank if you are required to do so. There are so many benefits to having an underground tank though. Firstly, it’s not seen so it protects it from vandalism and wildlife. It also helps generate a more consistent temperature as the tank doesn’t feel the rays of the sun in the hot weather and the flakes of snow in the winter.
Emergency Water to Hand
Emergency water can be required anywhere however large water tanks are commonly used for commercial, industrial and domestic applications. Emergency and health services all require emergency water.
Rainwater can be filtered and cleaned to use for drinking water
Rainwater can be filtered and cleaned using special UV systems which can be very expensive and it is important that once you have a system in place that it is regularly inspected. We sell and manufacture potable water tanks which are made with wras approved polymers which are suitable to store drinking water.
Installation of a rainwater harvesting systems
Depending on the size and whether it’s an aboveground or below ground installation is to how much disruption an installation can be. Like most things the installation is the hardest part but once installed the water tank is quite straight forward and easy maintence.
Installed Correctly
Make sure whether its an aboveground system or below ground that your rainwater harvesting system is installed correctly. Most problems early on set only arise if the installation was done incorrectly.
Preventing Water Contamination
With any water tank you have to make sure that it has a secure lid to prevent any vermin or wildlife from having access to the water causing any contamination. Make sure all areas that have water access have no debris or algae growth and generally make sure the water is kept filtered.