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Rainwater Harvesting

Water – we all need it, we can’t live without it and we are using more and more of it.

Although we appear to have plenty of rain in the UK, our water resources are under pressure.  We use 70% more water today than we did 40 years ago due to:

  • Our population is growing
  • Our climate is changing
  • Our lifestyle demands more and more water

How to reduce our water consumption:

  • Never leave a tap running
  • Use a blow to wash vegetables or to wash and rinse plates
  • Use the leftover water to water your garden or house plants, providing it is not too soapy
  • Store drinking water in a jug in the fridge, rather than waiting for the tap to run cold
  • Only use the dishwasher if you have a full load
  • Hand wash small amount of clothes in a bowl
  • Only use the washing machine with a full load
  • Don’t keep the tap running whilst cleaning your teeth, use a mug of water
  • Fit a flow regulator to your shower
  • Fit a water-saving tap

This is the collection of water that would otherwise have gone down the drainage system, into the ground or been lost to the atmosphere through evaporation.  Large surfaces such as roofs or driveways are ideal for rainwater harvesting and can provide up to 100m3 per annum from a medium sized area and can be used to flush the toilet, water gardens and even fuel the washing machine.  Rainwater harvesting systems can be installed in both new and existing buildings, and the resulting water used for all purposes except drinking.

Reduced water usage has environmental benefits and while rainwater harvesting has the potential of significant financial savings, this depends heavily on a number of factors:

  • The water supply being metered
  • The size of the surface area that the water is being collected from
  • Rainfall amounts vary form region to region e.g. the North West can expect double the rainfall of East Anglia in an average year.
  • Whether or not the reduction in metered water will translate to a reduction in the wastewater charge – as Water Company policy varies across the country.
Did you know?

It is a myth that you use less electricity by keeping your immersion heater on all the time. Its much cheaper and consumes less energy if water is heated only when needed.

 

Where all the water goes

  • Bath 80 ltrs
  • 5 minute shower (not power shower) 35 ltrs
  • 5 minute power shower 90 ltrs
  • Brushing teeth with tap running 6 ltrs/min
  • Brushing teeth with tap off 1ltr
  • One toilet flush 9 ltrs
  • Other water use (drinking, cooking, etc) 25ltrs
  • Washing machine 60 ltrs
  • Dishwasher 40 ltrs
  • Washing car with bucket 10 ltrs
  • Hosepipe/sprinkler 540 ltrs/hour
Did you know?

Ours homes produce over a quarter of the UK’s CO2 emissions, even more than our cars.

rainwater collection diagram

Basic system of rainwater harvesting

rainwater harvesting system

Sophisticated system of rainwater harvesting

Contact Us for further information on t: 01252 710855 or 01252 820973 or info@sae.uk.com