SITE PREPARATION
Happy when it rains
Not only can a rainwater harvesting system be a first line of defence against flooding, it can also help you achieve long term sustainability in our unpredictable climate. Jae Lester of RainWater Harvesting explains
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n recent years the UK has suffered times with too little or too much rain. A cycle of near-drought and flood conditions. Sometimes we need to look to the past to find solutions for the future. Rainwater has been collected for domestic use since time immemorial, and can still be used today in our modern, sustainable homes. Although the principle remains the same, obviously the technology has changed. Water is collected off the roof via standard guttering and downpipes; the water is filtered and stored in an underground tank. When required, it is pumped back into the home to be used for flushing toilets, washing machines and outside use, which greatly reduces the demand on mains supply. There is no need to flush toilets with processed
issue 02 2021
drinking quality water bought from miles away. The other question in our quest for sustainability is – should we use mains water for non-drinking purposes? So how does a rainwater harvesting system work? Installing a system is suited to new builds or major renovations as there will be a rainwater feed to toilets and other non-potable appliances. Taps, basins, showers, and baths will remain on mains supply.
THE HARVESTING TANK Tanks can be made with a number of materials but the majority are constructed of high-grade plastic. They are usually buried underground where there is no light and only a small temperature variance to keep the water cool and fresh.
They can also be large (and some would say not great) visual addition to the garden landscape. Tank sizes are calculated on location, collectable roof area, number of people/toilets, and application for the water. There are a number of tank size calculators available on the web to enable you to find a suitable size. Most systems are designed to require minimum maintenance and have self- cleaning filters. As the water flows into the tank there is a mesh that allows water to flow into the tank but leaves and debris are directed into a soakaway. The filters are designed for easy access so once or twice a year it is worth removing and flushing with clean water. Within the tank, there is a pump that
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