Rainwater collection is the process of harvesting water during a rain shower and has been a practice for thousands of years.
Today, people are still developing even more efficient ways to capture rainwater.
The water harvested will then be used for purposes such as drinking water, domestic use, land irrigation, and much more.
Most people opt to use rainwater in their daily lives because it is free (they won't have to pay water bills) and the only thing they would have to spend money on is the installation of a rainwater collection system.
Rainwater is also soft, sodium-free, and many people prefer using it on ground water.
People have developed complex rainwater collection systems for more effective ways of capturing and filtering the rain.
But most of these systems have the following basic components: Catchment Surface: The catchment surface is what the rain hits during a downpour.
Most people use their roofs for this purpose.
Others, however, build pole barns.
The material used for the roof is important.
Most people use alloy-coated sheet steel.
The smoother the surface of the roof is the more effective the collection system will be.
Slate can also be used as long as there are no poisonous sealants used in it.
Gutters/ Downspouts: These components are where the rainwater is directed to flow from the catchment surface.
The rain water will pass through these gutters and into the other parts of the rainwater collection system.
It is important to consider the correct installation of gutters on the roofs to effectively capture more rainwater.
Lead should not be used in any part of the gutter.
Rain has the ability to dissolve this material and contaminate the water with toxic substances.
Leaf Screens: The leaf screens serve as preliminary filters for the flowing water from the gutter before it reaches the tanks.
Leaf Screens can be installed along the gutter blocking out debris that the water may be carrying such as leaves, sticks, rocks, and anything that may be present on the roof.
First Flush Diverters: First Flush diverters are another type of filter but they work on smaller particles that the leaf screens cannot keep out.
This includes dust, sand, pollen, and even animal feces from birds or rats.
Cisterns or storage tanks: This is where all the collected water is stored.
Cisterns can be the most expensive part of the whole rainwater collection system.
It must be thoroughly cleaned before use and vents should be included to discourage mosquito breeding.
There are many materials that can be used to make these tanks such as fiberglass or even wood.
Filter: The filter carries the final task in the whole rainwater collection system.
It ensures that the water collected is safe enough to be used for almost any purpose, especially drinking.
This component includes pumps and specialized filters for reversed osmosis or chlorination.
Rainwater collecting has been practiced for many years by many people in different countries, especially in areas where groundwater is scarce.
Why not try installing a rainwater collection system outside your house? Installing it may be a bit pricey but it can save you from paying the water bill for years!