Rainwater Harvesting
Rain water harvesting is a method of causing the collection, storage and preserving rainwater runoff from agriculture in semi-arid and dry climates. This is known as rainwater harvesting. This article will examine the rainwater harvesting roof and different types of rain water harvesting.
Harvesting rainwater can be used for agricultural purposes. It is utilized to water the crops of agricultural fields and in gardens in residential areas. In addition, they save gardeners and farmers money by reducing their dependence on other water sources
Types of rainwater harvesting
Butt of water
A kind of rainwater harvesting device is simple; water Butt collects rain water that falls from natural downpours or drain pipes and stores it in a container. Most of the water collected is used to provide water to the garden.
Directed Pumped
This kind of more sophisticated rain water collection system is the most well-known and, in most cases, the easiest to install, particularly for residential properties. Water harvested is easily transported to toilets and other appliances with the help of the pump, which is located in the tank that subsurface. In addition, a small amount of mains water is pumped to the tank to ensure water supply should the tank be in danger of going dry. These systems typically include two pump configurations for industrial installations (duty and standby).
Undirected Pumped
The flow from the outputs of this kind of rain water harvesting structure does not depend on gravitational force. Instead, it pumps the water collected into a tank that could be located on the surface or structure. A booster pump can be used to supply pressure-controlled water. One of the significant benefits of this system is that booster pumps can be customized to accommodate the demands for flow and pressure of a building with incredible flexibility.
Retention Ponds
Using natural procedures such as decomposition, alleviation, inactivating microbes and soil purifying, retention ponds are designed to catch surface runoff water and improve water quality. Although they usually have a mud bottom, this type of retention pond may have the option of a concrete liner. The most frequently used use is for the water that is collected and then retrieved through pond harvesting. However, it is also utilized to replenish groundwater, irrigation, and other unpotable uses.
Underground storage
In areas where most of the rainfall is recorded within a year, underground storage tanks are frequent. Subsurface storage tanks experience very little evaporation and are also insulated. In addition, if they are located below freezing point, water contained in them is not frozen, which is an enormous advantage over surface storage tanks. They should connect to an electrical pump to provide an outlet with water kept in underground storage tanks.
Techniques for rainwater harvesting
Surface Runoff
Rainwater is emitted from the surface in urban regions. If you use the right techniques, the runoff can be collected and used to replenish the aquifers.
Rooftop rainwater harvesting
It’s a method for collecting rainwater right at the source. Rooftop harvesting is the process of collecting rainwater from the roof of a house or building through the transformation of it into an evaporation system. It could be channeled to a synthetic recharge facility or stored within tanks. If it is used correctly, this technique can be less costly and highly beneficial, and will contribute to raising the groundwater levels in the local area.
Roof Types for Rainwater Harvesting
Below is the listing of popular roof kinds and whether they are suitable for rainwater harvesting. These roof types can be used for rain water harvesting.
- Tin – Tin can be used as a rainwater harvesting roof material. Tin is highly water-efficient (around 5%), and there are no concerns about contaminants leaching from the tin.
- Asphalt Shingles- Many shingles can be used with rain water harvesting. The problem is some Shingle can drain specific pollutants into the water. This can cause rain water system failure, for watering plants. Some shingles don’t filter these contaminants. Talk to a professional about rain water harvesting then install Shingle on a house where you want rainwater harvest.
- Clay Tiles- clay tiles can also be utilized for rain water harvesting. Although clay tiles are not as systematic as tin but they work good.
- Ceramic- roofs are compatible with rain water harvesting.
- Cement- Rain water harvesting can combined with cement roofs.
- Rubber- Rubber roof that work with rain water harvesting.
- Wood- It can be utilized to harvest rain water for watering plants. These can drain pollutants and keep dust and dulse, making them unsuitable for use in whole-house potable water.
How to Harvest water from roof
Rooftop catchments: This is the simplest form of rooftop catchment technology. Rain water can be collected from the roof’s edge in simple vessels. There are variations to this basic method. Rainwater can be collected in gutters and drained to the collection vessel via downpipes. Or, rainwater can be diverted from gutters to containers to settle particulates. Then it is sent to the storage tank for household use. The roof is the primary catch-ment area.
Rainwater quality and quantity will depend on the type and location of the roofing material. Roofs made with stirred corrugated metal, Al or asbestos cement sheets marble, slates can collect reasonably pure rainwater. However, the roofs tied with the Bamboo gutters and put down on the proper decline slopes can make nearly the same quantity of run off. Bamboo roofs pose potential health risks and are not recommended. Roofs coated with shiny paints like metallic or different coatings should be avoided as they can transmit taste or colour to the water gathered. Roof catch-ments must be regularly washed to take out leaves and dirt to preserve the condition of the collected water.
Best Practices for Rainwater Harvesting Roof Concerns
- Choose a roofing material that is compatible with the intended use of rainwater. Water used for drinking is different from water used to irrigate.
- Use no roof coatings such as biocides or algaecides and fungicides. This could inhibit the natural biofilm growth in the storage.
- Reduce the contaminants that fall onto the roof by trimming branches that hang over the roof.
- Make sure that leaves and other debris are not piled up on the roof and gutters.
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