One monthly bill that seems to increase every month is our water bill. Many people do not realize that by using grey water instead of municipally treated water, they can still maintain the kind of lifestyle they are accustomed to while still reducing their water bill quickly and easily.
What is grey water, and how is it different than treated water?
Grey water is the water that is left over after we wash ourselves or our clothes. It can be collected very easily by diverting the water that runs down the drain when we are showering, bathing or washing the clothes that we wear. In many cases, grey water collection systems have a way of collecting rain water or melted snow as well. This can be an excellent way of obtaining an even larger supply of grey water.
Grey water is different than treated water. While water from our bathrooms and laundry facilities still has some level of treatment in it, it can also often contain particles such as cleansers and dirt. In order for it to be cleaned of particles, pollutants and impurities, it does need to be filtered. In order to utilize rainwater, it must also be filtered. However, it is not necessary to use commercial water treatment methods in order to make it suitable for use.
Where can grey water be used?
It can be hard for some people to imagine a use for grey water. The fact is that there are many different tasks that can be completed using grey water. If you set up a system properly, grey water can be used to flush toilets. It can also be used in gardens or for outdoor cleaning tasks such as washing cars or outdoor furnishings. If your home has a heating system that utilizes water (such as a radiator or radiant heating system), grey water can also be used in this capacity as well.
What this means for your family
When you consider that only about ten percent of the water we use is for washing or drinking, you can see how it can be helpful to have an alternate water supply for other domestic tasks. The right grey water system for your family is one that can help give you the kind of functionality your particular family situation needs, and can help you reduce both your expenses and your impact on the environment at the same time.
Although it was once being used by most of the civilizations throughout the history, rainwater harvesting became less popular since people were able to access treated water easily. However, it is now becoming more and more popular again due to the decreased amount of ground water sources. In its simplest form, rainwater harvesting system is collecting rainwater in a tank with the help of gravity. Rainwater is gathered from rooftop through channels to a tank which is either on the ground or underground. The new and sophisticated systems can provide water which is clean enough to be used by the households for most of their water needs except drinking water.
In most of the countries all water is treated to drinking water quality and this water is used for all other needs such as watering plants, flushing and cleaning. As the ground water sources are falling gradually rainwater harvesting systems appear as a solution to the high treated water consumption and costs.
Although it is based on the simple principle of collecting the rainwater in a storage tank, in order to make it usable by the households, a rainwater harvesting system needs to have some important elements. The main stages in a rainwater harvesting system are transporting the rainwater, filtration, storage and cycling. A complete rainwater harvesting system consists of:
- Catchments: It is the surface that receives the rainfall and thus is the water supply of the system. It can be a paved area like a terrace, an unpaved area like lawn or a rooftop covered with galvanised iron or corrugated sheets.
- Coarse mesh: It is used to prevent the passage of debris.
- Gutters: Channels to collect and transport the rainwater. The most important thing about gutters is that they need to be supported so they don’t sag when they are filled with water.
- Conduits: Pipelines pipelines which carry rainwater from the catchment to the storage system.
- First-flushing: A simple valve that the first spell of rain is flushed out since it would carry high amount of pollutants coming from the air.
- Filter: It aims to remove suspending pollutants in the water before it enters the storage system.
- Storage tank: It is where the collected and filtered rainwater is stored for frther use.
- Pumping system: It is used to pump the water in the storage tank to the places of need.
Although they are simple in principle, rainwater harvesting systems should be installed by an expert. Systems are designed such that they occupy minimum space. While using rainwater harvesting systems, the plumbing system of the house needs to be divided into two so that water from the rainwater harvesting system will not be used in places where drinking water quality is required. Pressurizing and pressure maintaining elements in the systems will allow you have constant water pressure in your rainwater system. Rainwater harvesting system elements are made of durable materials and have a simple technical structure. These two features result in minimum maintenance requirements for the overall system. You may only need to clean filters from time to time and maybe some infrequent maintenance may be required for pumps.
If you need further assistance for rainwater harvesting systems contact us here.
Is the rain fall in your area 200 mm per year or more? No other source of water around? Then Rain Water Harvesting may be your only salvation.
Isn’t there plenty of water around for every one?
Water is the cradle for all forms of life on Earth and perhaps elsewhere in the universe as well for all we know. If your habitat does not meet the above minimum criterion, no way it would sustain life as we know on Earth. Whether it is the mild drizzle or devastating flood, what does it matter if the zillions of litres of water are not retained where it is needed most? The booming world population has brought about a crises where the consumption of water is about to overrun the available limited resources.
The irony of it is that the consumption of water for drinking and hygiene is a drop in the bucket compared to what is wasted for flushing toilets, washing clothes, cars, ponds, artificial fountains and waterfalls, irrigating your garden and lawn etc.
Trouble with utility water supply
Treated water;
- Cost tons of money
- Utility Authorities will recover it from you with profit. (No doubt the feeling of the dwindling purse is sure to affect your health too).
- The more consumers join the procession; lesser water will be left for everyone.
- The more litres of raw water needed and treated water produced, more energy will be needed for eg. For pumping water.
- More energy spent means more CO2 emitted at the power plant contributing to global warming.
- Global warming will lead to Ice (which is fresh water!) Melting at Polar Regions in huge proportions transforming ice to sea water.
- All these will only contribute to still more irregular weather patterns (sometimes catastrophic) taking us back to square one searching for water.
All the more reason why you should consider seriously rain water harvesting.
Save rain; save money; save future
Rain water harvesting is the accumulation and storing of rain water. Where the water is in short supply you may find rain water harvesting the only option for your water supply. Rain water after the first rain will be almost potable. Certainly this will be purer than what most third world inhabitants consume. Ground water recharging, live stock farming, agriculture etc. are large scale uses of harvested rain water. At domestic level all activities except drinking and personal hygiene can utilize harvested rain water.
If hard water is a problem in your area, rain water harvested is an excellent solution. It will lather easily and save soap and detergent. However those who live near refineries, power plants and other industries may find rain water acidic due to contaminant gases released to the environment.
Rain water harvesting is a specialty of King Group CES who may be contacted at callsave 045 838376 for further information.
Why does Rain Water Harvesting and it’s conservation deserve your consideration?Surely there is an abundance of water everywhere.
Except in deserts and arid areas the rain continues to fall on earth as being happening for millenniums before which will flow down the rivers to sea, isn’t that so?
Sad to say this is not so.Life giving and sustaining Water is a limited resource.And it keeps on dwindling at an alarming rate.Reservoirs are drying up all over the world which is evident specially in the poverty stricken countries where pure drinking water it self is scarce.Crop failure due to rain and ground water shortage leads to mass exodus of populations leading to chaotic situations like famines, violence and break down in law and order.
And it is not the increase in consumption alone which is responsible for this situation.Our own callous disregard for conserving this valuable resource and our attitude that water does not need to be conserved are two of the major causes.
Rain Water harvesting as a solution?
Rain is an important link in the cycle of water.
Desalination and purification of water by evaporation of sea water and vegetation and other living organisms cause cloud formation leading to all important rain.
Rain Water Harvesting is the management of this rain by controlling and proper utilization at the point of reaching ground surface.
Unfortunately Rain Water Harvesting is not the complete solution to your total water requirement at your place of living or work.
It however makes a significant contribution towards solving your day to day water problems, not forgetting the contribution it will make to the well being of the environment.
Types of rain water harvesting
Rain Water Harvesting (or RWH) can be broadly categorized as:
- Domestic Rain Water Harvesting
- Agricultural, Irrigation, Soil Erosion Management and aquifer topping up related Rain Water Harvesting
How is Rain Water Harvested?
In domestic RWH most commonly the building roof itself functions as the harvesting surface.Depending on the level of sophistication required RWH could even be a plastic sheet with centre depressed and having a hole.The first couple of liters is not stored but will be discarded to get rid of impurities that collect.House roofs are too made use of to collect the rain water where the task is made easier if it is already fitted with gutters and down pipes.The down pipe is directed directly to the storage tank or the vessel which may be located below or above ground.
In non domestic applications these vary from small tanks above or below ground (using lift pumps and overhead tanks), up to large artificial reservoirs which irrigate vast areas of cultivations and human settlements.The water management in the latter instance is done with huge dams, sluice gates and open irrigation canals.
Is Rain Water harvesting a comprehensive solution for your water requirement?
Emphatically no!It is only a conservation measure of precious and hard to find water.It will only supplement the normal supply of water to the premises.One reason for this is that RWH systems depend on a lot of variables such as:
- Cost and economic factors
- Climate and weather patterns
- Hydrology
- Socio-Political Factors
- Technology
- Geo-physical factors
Are there economic benefits in RWH systems?
While it is not outwardly apparent, Rain Water Harvesting brings economic benefits even at domestic levels.The initial investment is hardly anything as roofs and gutters are already in place and storage tanks too are already there.On the other hand in non domestic applications settling tanks, pumps, aerators and filter beds may be a few additional requirements depending on their capacities.
The cost of potable water is rising regularly.Apart from drinking water, it is mandatory for large multi storey buildings to keep in reserve large quantities of water for fire services.Many businesses require large quantities of water where an increase in tariffs will affect production costs.Some of these costs can be offset with harvested rain water.
Surely there is an abundance of water everywhere.
Except in deserts and arid areas the rain continues to fall on earth as being
happening for millenniums before which will flow down the rivers to sea, isn’t that so?
Sad to say this is not so. Life giving and sustaining Water is a limited resource.
And it keeps on dwindling at an alarming rate.
Reservoirs are drying up all over the world which is evident specially in the poverty
stricken countries where pure drinking water it self is scarce.
Crop failure due to rain and ground water shortage leads to mass exodus
of populations leading to chaotic situations like famines, violence and break down in law and order.
And it is not the increase in consumption alone which is responsible for this situation.
Our own callous disregard for conserving this valuable resource and our attitude
that water does not need to be conserved are two of the major causes.
Rain Water harvesting as a solution?
Rain is an important link in the cycle of water. Desalination and purification of water by evaporation of
sea water and vegetation and other living organisms cause cloud formation leading to all important rain.
Rain Water Harvesting is the management of this rain by controlling and proper
utilization at the point of reaching ground surface.
Unfortunately Rain Water Harvesting is not the complete solution to your total water requirement
at your place of living or work. It however makes a significant contribution towards solving your
day to day water problems, not forgetting the contribution it will make to the well being of the environment.
Types of rain water harvesting
Rain Water Harvesting (or RWH) can be broadly categorized as:
- Domestic Rain Water Harvesting
- Agricultural, Irrigation, Soil Erosion Management and aquifer topping up related Rain Water Harvesting
How is Rain Water Harvested?
In domestic RWH most commonly the building roof itself functions as the harvesting surface.
Depending on the level of sophistication required RWH could even be a plastic sheet with
centre depressed and having a hole.
The first couple of liters is not stored but will be discarded to get rid of impurities that collect.
House roofs are too made use of to collect the rain water where the task is made easier if it is already
fitted with gutters and down pipes.
The down pipe is directed directly to the storage tank or the vessel which may be located below or above ground.
In non domestic applications these vary from small tanks above or below ground (using lift pumps and overhead tanks),
up to large artificial reservoirs which irrigate vast areas of cultivations and human settlements.
The water management in the latter instance is done with huge dams, sluice gates and open irrigation canals.
Is Rain Water harvesting a comprehensive solution for your water requirement?
Emphatically no! It is only a conservation measure of precious and hard to find water.
It will only supplement the normal supply of water to the premises.
One reason for this is that RWH systems depend on a lot of variables such as:
- Cost and economic factors
- Climate and weather patterns
- Hydrology
- Socio-Political Factors
- Technology
- Geo-physical factors
Are there economic benefits in RWH systems?
While it is not outwardly apparent, Rain Water Harvesting brings economic benefits even at domestic levels.
The initial investment is hardly anything as roofs and gutters are already in place and storage tanks too are already there.
On the other hand in non domestic applications settling tanks, pumps, aerators and filter beds may be a few additional
requirements depending on their capacities.
The cost of potable water is rising regularly.
Apart from drinking water, it is mandatory for large multi storey buildings to keep in reserve
large quantities of water for fire services.
Many businesses require large quantities of water where an increase in tariffs will affect production costs.
Some of these costs can be offset with harvested rain water.
Greentech.ie is a provider of technical guidance, appropriate technology and designs for your
Rain Water Harvesting systems devoted to popularizing renewable resources and equipment.
For further details on RWH please contact them.
