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| rain:rainwater_harvesting [2026/03/12 18:15] – [Related topics] Katja Durrani | rain:rainwater_harvesting [2026/03/26 18:33] (current) – external edit 127.0.0.1 | ||
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| - | # Rainwater harvesting | + | This topic is part of [[gt: |
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| - | ## What is rainwater harvesting? | + | ===== What is rainwater harvesting? |
| Rainwater harvesting is simply the collection of water for domestic or commercial use that would otherwise go down the drain. Various techniques have been practised for thousands of years to collect and store water, especially in areas of low rainfall. Today, rainwater harvesting systems can be installed in both new and existing buildings and can range from a quick, cheap, water butt to a more complex system involving underground tanks and pumps. | Rainwater harvesting is simply the collection of water for domestic or commercial use that would otherwise go down the drain. Various techniques have been practised for thousands of years to collect and store water, especially in areas of low rainfall. Today, rainwater harvesting systems can be installed in both new and existing buildings and can range from a quick, cheap, water butt to a more complex system involving underground tanks and pumps. | ||
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| - | ## What are the benefits of rainwater harvesting? | + | ===== What are the benefits of rainwater harvesting? |
| Rainwater harvesting reduces the strain on groundwater or river system water sources. Wells, boreholes and aquifers are drying up at an alarming rate and rivers frequently run dry or very low in the summer months. In some parts of the country, notably the south-east, population rise and extensive house-building are increasing the pressure on an already scarce resource. The Environment Agency reported that a rising population in the UK will increase demand for water, but changing weather patterns will mean drier summers and winters, with short periods of intense rainfall, which will need to be diverted out to sea quickly, to prevent flooding. This will seriously curtail water available for domestic and commercial use. The EA predict a reduction of 10-15% in available water supply, and reduction in river levels of up to 80%. An estimated 66% of domestic water needs could be provided directly from rainwater: 25% of the water we use is for flushing the toilet, 22% for washing car, clothes etc, 33% for personal washing and 6% for the garden. | Rainwater harvesting reduces the strain on groundwater or river system water sources. Wells, boreholes and aquifers are drying up at an alarming rate and rivers frequently run dry or very low in the summer months. In some parts of the country, notably the south-east, population rise and extensive house-building are increasing the pressure on an already scarce resource. The Environment Agency reported that a rising population in the UK will increase demand for water, but changing weather patterns will mean drier summers and winters, with short periods of intense rainfall, which will need to be diverted out to sea quickly, to prevent flooding. This will seriously curtail water available for domestic and commercial use. The EA predict a reduction of 10-15% in available water supply, and reduction in river levels of up to 80%. An estimated 66% of domestic water needs could be provided directly from rainwater: 25% of the water we use is for flushing the toilet, 22% for washing car, clothes etc, 33% for personal washing and 6% for the garden. | ||
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| - | ## What can I do? | + | ===== What can I do? ===== |
| First, cut your water use: average UK per capita domestic water use is around 55m³/year (160 litres / day). This can easily be cut to less than 30m³/year by installing low-flush toilets (or better still, [compost loos](/ | First, cut your water use: average UK per capita domestic water use is around 55m³/year (160 litres / day). This can easily be cut to less than 30m³/year by installing low-flush toilets (or better still, [compost loos](/ | ||
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| If you are far from mains water, or don’t fancy chlorine or fluorine in your drinking water, a UV unit costs around £500, and you have to change the bulb each year (c. £40). | If you are far from mains water, or don’t fancy chlorine or fluorine in your drinking water, a UV unit costs around £500, and you have to change the bulb each year (c. £40). | ||
| - | ## Further resources | + | ===== Forum ===== |
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| + | ===== Further resources | ||
| - [Rainwater harvesting manual](https:// | - [Rainwater harvesting manual](https:// | ||
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| - | ## Related topics | + | ===== Related topics |
| - [[vegg: | - [[vegg: | ||
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| - | ## Specialist curators of this topic | + | ===== Specialist curators of this topic ===== |