Rainwater Harvesting Equipment
Despite being a concept of ancient origin, the practice of rainwater capture has been relatively inactive in recent years due to the reliable supply of mains water. However, popularity of rainwater harvesting is rising quickly, mainly due to recent water demand issues and increases in piped water prices, as well as new regulations and the ever-growing environmental awareness among businesses. This renewed interest in rainwater has led to the development of a wide range of technologies for the collection, treatment and storage of rainwater, with several companies able to supply them.
Rainwater may be particularly useful in processes such as cooling, laundry, gardening and cleaning, where water of potable quality (water that is fit for human consumption) is not necessary. Rainwater is not likely to be used for human consumption or as a raw material in production due to the level of treatment required.
Technologies exist for a range of rainwater applications, such as treatment, filtration, storage and monitoring and control. For harvesting potential, the general rule is the greater the roofing area of a site, the greater the opportunity to capture rainwater. Rainwater harvesting normally involves a high capital investment and continual spending on monitoring and treatment. As such, the payback period may be a number of years. For example, rainwater harvested for the watering a golf course in Leister reduced mains water usage by 20% and the expected payback for the system was 5 years[1].
Another major benefit of using a rainwater harvesting system is the reduction in flood risk associated with capturing rainwater. Rainwater captured and stored in tanks does not re-enter the hydrological system, thus reducing the amount of run-off and reducing the rise in river levels during a heavy rainfall event.
For more information, see the following Envirowise publication:
Also, for further useful information see the website for the UK Rainwater Harvesting Association (UKRHA).
