How Harvesting Rainwater Can Save You Money
With Australia’s “Wet Season” on the horizon, many of us across the Darling Downs will be looking at ways to collect and use rainwater, otherwise known as Harvesting Rainwater.
With water being such a precious commodity, why waste it? You can maximise your water consumption without relying on town water, saving yourself money and helping the environment.
Rainwater harvesting doesn’t need to be complicated or hard. In this blog we are going to dive into the benefits of harvesting rain and give you some helpful tips for doing this.
“Karl! Karl! The rains are ‘ere!”
Benefits of Harvesting Rainwater
Once you collect your water it can be used for many requirements, such as toilet flushing, watering the garden, washing machine supply, washing the car, sprinkler or slip and slide for the kids. This can be particularly important in times when Toowoomba water restrictions are in effect.
There are many potential uses for rainwater. Here are some benefits you could experience from rain water harvesting:
- Rainwater is free. Town water is not. The more rainwater you use in your home the lower your water bill will be.
- More water for the home. Relying on the town water supply, in some areas, has restrictions. Which can be an issue for large families or homes with gardens that need a little love. Rainwater will give you a little more freedom to use.
- It’s Eco-friendly. Harvesting Rainwater helps the environment. With water demands increasing, more effort goes into building more infrastructure and treatment processes to help meet these demands.
- Rainwater is Tastier! Well, some of us think so. This of course is open for debate… What do you think?
Tips for Harvesting Rainwater
Unfortunately, we’re not talking about running outside when it rains and placing a bunch of buckets everywhere. No, Rain Harvesting will require some expertise and equipment. That’s where we come in.
When harvesting rainwater it is important to remember that you want a process and system that provides clean water, that isn’t contaminated by vegetation, insects, fine particles etc. Therefore, you will need to have good pumping and filtration systems – particularly important if you would like to use the rainwater in the home.
The majority of rainwater will be harvested from your roof which acts as the catchment area and is funneled down into your rainwater tank. Gutter leaf guards and some harvesting systems include devices to flush out debris from the roof. No more climbing the ladder to scoop out your gutters!
The type of methods available for Harvesting Rainwater will depend on your household requirements. Whether you want an above/underground container or a certain type of piping will depend on key factors – personal requirements, location, area for storage, and rainfall for your area.
Your plumber will be able to discuss the benefits of each method or system that is relevant to your area’s rainfall, space for your storage, and your budget.
Tips for Maintaining Your Rainwater Collection System
Once you have a system in place or if you already have an existing system in place you will need to ensure it is receiving the proper maintenance.
Here are some important tips for maintaining an effective and safe system:
- Filters and sieves need to be regularly cleaned to avoid blockages. Every 3 months is ideal, however if your roof catches a lot of leaves or other debris you will have to do this more regularly.
- Overtime sometimes debris can settle to the bottom of the tank, here you will need to de-sludge your tank.
- If you are drinking your rainwater and you notice a change in your water, make sure you contact a plumber to check the filtering system is working correctly.
Is your Rain Harvesting system ready to go for the “Rainy Season”? Don’t let the rain go to waste this time; every little bit of collection helps – even if it is just for watering your garden or filling up the paddle pool.
If you would like a check-up of your current Rain Harvesting system or would like to discuss how to get one set up give us a call here at X Factor Plumbing Pty Ltd on 1300 091 878.
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