What is 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 uses of rainwater harvesting 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
Uses 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.
Uses of rainwater harvesting
Rainwater can be utilized to serve potable and other non-potable applications. Potable uses include bathing, drinking, cooking, and washing. The rainwater used for these purposes is treated to eliminate harmful substances. Other services that are not potable include flushing toilets, watering the garden, and washing floors, and the treatment of rainwater is not necessary for these uses.
The volume of rainwater gathered from the rainwater harvesting system differs between locations and depends on the weather. For example, it is simple to collect 2m3 during a single rainfall in a tropical nation such as Malaysia. At the same time, 10m3 is gathered each year from Zambia, Africa, from a nearly identical roof. Using rainwater within the home, with a 2,000-litre tank, will bring potable water savings of up to 44.8 percent. The study showed that there is an excellent opportunity to make use of rainwater for single-family homes.
Advantages of rainwater harvesting
Portability
It supplies water when it is dry, which could help reduce flooding of low-lying areas and reduce the need for wells, which could allow ground water levels to remain stable. It also improves the accessibility of portable water because rain water is mainly free of salts and salinity.
The use of rain water harvesting in metropolitan water systems can provide a significant advantage for wastewater and water supply systems to overcome the demand for clean water in the water distribution systems, generating less storm water entering wastewater systems, and decreasing storm water runoff that pollutes freshwater bodies.
For irrigation
To improve irrigation in dry conditions, ridges of the soil are built to hold rainwater and stop it from flowing down slopes and hills. Even during low rainfall, sufficient water is stored to allow crops to flourish. Water can be collected from roofs, dams, and ponds could be built to store huge amounts of rain water so that even on days where very less or no rain falls, there is enough water available to water crops.
Less utilization
The usage of rainwater harvesting provides great benefits to any community. The primary benefit is that the collection provides more effective and more efficient utilization of energy resources. It is essential since potable water is typically not renewable, which can be used to reduce waste. In addition, the water collection systems used for the collection are based on basic methods that are simple to maintain.
Economical
The total cost of creating harvesting techniques is considerably less than other purifying or pumping methods. Additionally, maintenance is feasible on a financial front since it doesn’t require a lot of money.
The main reason people consider installing the rainwater harvesting tank is to reduce costs. The typical garden hose spits out liters upon liters of water every minute it is used, and you’ll pay for each drop. It may initially seem high; however, it will pay dividends over a long time.This is especially the case if you need to use water for other purposes than gardening. For example, rainwater harvesting systems may be utilized to fill the swimming pool, flush toilets, and even washing machines.
Drawbacks of Rain water harvesting
1. Uncertain rainfalls or unpredictable rainfall Not every area experiences the same amount of rain. Rainfall can be challenging to predict. In regions with low rainfall, it’s not advisable to depend solely on rainwater to meet your water needs. There are better options than relying on rainwater harvesting in areas that receive a great deal of rain.
2. If used to water plants, certain roof types can leak dirt, chemicals, insects or animal excrement, which may harm the plants.
3. Rodents, mosquitoes and algae growth, insect and lizards are a threat to rainwater collection systems as well as the water collected. If they’re not adequately controlled, they may be used as breeding areas for various species.
4. Installation requires some technical know-how.
5. The amount of rainfall could be limited by a lack of or little precipitation.
Importance of rainwater harvesting
The capacity to store rainwater to be used later on is the primary advantage of rainwater harvesting. The water stored could be used to rejuvenate groundwater and increase its quality in the same way that it can be consumed directly. In addition, by increasing the level of groundwater, it is easier to get. Tube wells and wells will not dry as they feed to the level of the ground.
This increases the fertility of the soil. Rainwater collection helps to control surface runoff and helps to reduce soil erosion.
A water shortage is a frequent problem in areas lacking irregular rain. Although it’s not completely solved, it can be reduced by collecting rainwater. Rain collecting is the best solution to water-related issues in areas where the rainfall is inconsistent all year long.
Conclusion
Collecting and harvesting rainwater is an appropriate method to tackle the water shortage prevalent in many areas of the globe. Rainwater harvesting is an essential and crucial element in establishing an environmentally sustainable water resource pathway for every community. Since local water resources are stretched to accommodate the growth of populations and economic development, New water supply strategies and approaches will be required to meet this need.
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