One of the privileges of living in the UK is having easy access to water. However, there are areas in England which are experiencing water shortages. This will come as a surprise to many. Therefore this will be a wake up call to many of us who take our water for granted. There are methods of saving water, and once we start doing this, we will reap the benefits.

Rainwater harvesting is the collection of rain water that would otherwise go to waste. If enough of us do our bit, you will be surprised to learn how much water we could save. Rainwater harvesting is a practice that has been widely used around the world. Home-owners are largely unaware of its benefits. For example, if we find ways to preserve rainwater, our water bills will be cut dramatically.  

Using the water butt

A largely popular method of collecting rainwater is to place a water butt on your down-pipe.  Using a water butt is a popular method of harvesting rainwater as it is cost-effective and easy to use. The rainwater can be used for gardening purposes and even car washing. In addition, if you wish, you can fit two water butts next to each other from the same downpipe if you have a big garden.

If a water butt alone proves to be unsatisfactory, you can always upgrade to a rainwater harvesting pump and filter.  This pump is beneficial as it creates a  pressurised system that can then be used in conjunction with a hosepipe. It can be useful for watering your garden or washing the car using a hosepipe.

How can I use the rainwater?

You can use rainwater for outdoor purposes  such as topping up swimming pools, washing windows watering the garden, and cleaning patios. As well as saving on drinking water-use, rainwater is beneficial for other purposes too. For example, it encourages less build-up of calcium deposits in appliances.

Using the rainwater around the house

Rainwater can even be used around the house to supply toilets or washing machines. Before the rainwater can be used it needs to be  filtered and siphoned in order to make it suitable  as a source of non-drinking water.

In deciding which tank to install next to your house, you should think about a few things. The type of area you live in, the number of people that are living with you, and the amount of water that will be used all play a big part. The procedure is then as follows;  once the correct tank has been installed the rainwater is then filtered and pumped into a header tank in the loft of your home where it is distributed into a household and non-drinking supply. Do not be surprised to learn that some modifications will need to be done to your existing plumbing. This is essential so that the rainwater supply will be separate from your fresh water supply.

Some final thoughts

As the water rates are continuing to get higher, more people are getting concerned on how to save on money. This is why rainwater harvesting is now becoming a viable option to the household owner. Much of the water that we use does not have to come from the mains supply, as rainwater will be just as sufficient. There are many long-term benefits associated with  harvesting rainwater, and these should not be dismissed.

Tal Potishman, editor of Heating Central, writes articles about boilers, central heating, London plumbers, underfloor heating and solar thermal. He specializes in helping save money by advising on efficient heating.

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/diy-articles/the-benefits-of-rainwater-harvesting-1036449.html

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