Stepping into week 4 of the blog series and the newest installment centered on rain harvesting.
Rain harvesting helps with flooding or overwhelming the sewer systems by catching the rainwater before it gets to the ground. More importantly, rain harvesting is a way to cut back on the overuse of water in other areas of life. By collecting rainwater for household uses, one can cut back on the expense of using local water resources and the bills connected to those resources. This makes a rain collection system a very ‘green’ option for stormwater management. Although rain collecting is less preventative as other options discussed, it is still equally as important.
Rain harvesting can range from very simple systems, which require little to no maintenance, all the way to very complex systems, which can filter the water for even more uses. A simple system only needs a gutter or downspout to direct the rainwater from the roof into a barrel or container. With a system like this, you can reuse the water for outdoor uses like gardening, washing your car, or filling up your pools or fountains. Collecting rainwater in this way will cut back on needing to run the hose at your home. It does not create water safe for consumption.
An obvious disadvantage of rain collecting is the dependence upon the inconsistency of the weather. No precipitation equals no rain to collect. The overall idea of rain harvesting is to supplement the overall use of water in your home, not replace it. Make sure you do your research and invest in the process at the beginning to set yourself up for success. The only thing left to do is hope for rain!
Green Infrastructure for Stormwater Management Series:
INTRODUCTION
PERMEABLE PAVEMENT
BIORETENTION
RAIN HARVESTING
CONCLUSION