What is Rainwater Harvesting?

Rainwater harvesting is collecting the run-off from a structure or other impervious surface in order to store it for later use. Traditionally, this involves harvesting the rain from a roof. The rain will collect in gutters that channel the water into downspouts and then into some sort of storage vessel. Rainwater collection systems can be as simple as collecting rain in a rain barrel or as elaborate as harvesting rainwater into large cisterns to supply your entire household demand. The idea of rainwater harvesting usually conjures up images of an old farm cistern or thoughts of developing countries. The reality is that rainwater harvesting is becoming a viable alternative for supplying our households and businesses with water. It's not just for the farm anymore! There are many countries such as Germany and Australia where rainwater harvesting is a norm. Due to the green building movement, you will be seeing rainwater harvesting systems become more popular here in America. . We believe that rainwater harvesting is a viable technology in an urban setting. All that is necessary to take advantage of this resource is to capture the free water falling on your roof and direct it to a rainwater storage tank. By doing this, you can take control of your water supply and replace all or at least a substantial portion of your water needs. Rainwater harvesting systems can be configured to supply your whole house and/or your landscape needs.

What are the benefits of rainwater collection?

Rainwater is a relatively clean and absolutely free source of water You have total control over your water supply (ideal for cities with water restrictions) It is socially acceptable and environmentally responsible It promotes self-sufficiency and helps conserve water Rainwater is better for landscape plants and gardens because it is not chlorinated It reduces stormwater runoff from homes and businesses It can solve the drainage problems on your property while providing you with free water It uses simple technologies that are inexpensive and easy to maintain It can be used as a main source of water or as a back up source to wells and municipal water The system can be easily retrofitted to an existing structure or built during new home construction System are very flexible and can be modular in nature, allowing expansion, reconfiguration, or relocation, if neccesary It can provide an excellent back-up source of water for emergencies

What are the uses of collected rainwater?

You can essentially use rainwater anywhere you use tap water. The idea of using drinking water to flush our toilets and water our lawns is wasteful and irresponsible, especially in light of population growth and water shortages across the country. Rainwater collection is a technique to green your home and to lessen your environmental footprint. There are basically three areas where rainwater can be used:

Irrigation use Indoor, non-potable use Whole house, potable use

Here are some ideas for specific uses of rainwater:

Hand water your lawn and garden Connect rainwater collection system to irrigation/sprinkler system Wash your vehicles Wash your pets Refill your fountains and fish ponds Refill your swimming pool Replace the use of tap water with rainwater to wash your driveways and sidewalks (if you don't use a broom) Use it for all indoor non-potable fixtures (toilets and clothes washer) Use it for all potable needs when properly filtered and disinfected Use it for industrial processes instead of municipally treated water

How much rain can I collect?

The amount of rainfall that you can collect is governed by the following formula: 1" of rain x 1 sq. ft. = 0.623 gallons Or put in an easy form to remember : 1" of rain from 1,000 sq. ft. will provide 623 gallons To calculate the amount of rainwater you can collect, you need to know your annual average precipitation for your area. You can use the precipitation map below to find an approximate amount for your area (click for a zoomed image). Www.watercache.com

Advantages of rain water harvesting Rainwater harvesting provides a source of water at the point where it is needed. It is owner operated and managed. It provides an essential reserve in times of emergency and/or breakdown of public water supply systems, particularly during natural disasters. The construction of a rooftop rainwater catchment system is simple, and local people can easily be trained to build one, minimizing its cost. The technology is flexible. The systems can be built to meet almost any requirements. Poor households can start with a single small tank and add more when they can afford them. It can improve the engineering of building foundations when cisterns are built as part of the substructure of the buildings, as in the case of mandatory cisterns. The physical and chemical properties of rainwater may be superior to those of groundwater or surface waters that may have been subjected to pollution, sometimes from unknown sources. Running costs are low. Construction, operation, and maintenance are not labor-intensive.

Rainfall Clarendon records an annual rainfall , registering an average of 1126mm per annum

Rain water harvesting(definition)

Rainwater harvesting is the accumulation and deposition of rainwater for reuse before it reaches the aquifer. Uses include water for garden, water for livestock, water for irrigation, etc. In many places the water collected is just redirected to a deep pit with percolation. The harvested water can be used for drinking water as well if the storage is a tank that can be accessed and cleaned when needed.

Advantages
Rainwater harvesting provides an independent water supply during regional water restrictions and in developed countries is often used to supplement the mains supply. Rain water harvesting provide water when there is a drought or in summer season. Rainwater harvesting systems are appealing as they are easy to understand, install and operate. They are effective in 'green droughts' as water is captured from rainfall where runoff is insufficient to flow into dam storages. The quality of captured rainwater is usually sufficient for most household needs, reducing the need for detergents because rainwater is soft. Financial benefits to the users include that rain is 'renewable' at acceptable volumes despite climate change forecasts, and rainwater harvesting systems generally have low running costs, providing water at the point of consumption (Ferguson 2012).[1] Benefits of widespread rainwater harvesting to the regional reticulated supply system may include reduced treatment, pumping, operation and augmentation costs, reducing peak storm water and storm water processing costs, as well as reduced greenhouse gas emissions due to reduced dependence on pumping and potential augmentation through sources such as desalination[2][3]

http://www.nationalterroralert.com/safewater/

A simple experiment showing how to make a water filter Supplies

A clear plastic bottle 1/2 cup dirt 2 cups sand 2 cups gravel glass of water spoon

Step 1: Cut the bottom off of the bottle about two inches from the bottom. This part can be
dangerous, so it is a good idea to get help from an adult for this part. Leave the cap on it.

Step 2: Turn the bottle upside down so that you can pour the gravel in it. It works best if you
put larger gravel in first because it plugs up the hole that is capped.

Step 3: Pour the sand over the gravel. It will fall through the gaps in the gravel.

Step 4: Mix the dirt in the water.

Step 5: Pour the dirty water on top of the sand in the bottle.

Step 6: Carefully take off the bottle cap and put the bottle spout into a tall glass or some
container that can hold your filter upright. Watch the water seep through the sand and gravel. In the picture to the right, you can see the layers get darker as the water flows down through them. Click on the picture to make it bigger and easier to see.

Step 7: Check out that water! The layers of sand and gravel should take out the dirt in the
water.