Top Advantages of Rainwater Harvesting You Should Know

Rainwater harvesting – given the water scarcity that India is facing, it has become the best option that you want to experiment with. But, wait, it isn’t just about experimentation. Rainwater harvesting comes with several benefits. Homeowners today are waking up to the reality of the water crisis and trying to find the ways to avoid future water scarcity. In fact, rainwater harvesting helps you create your own water bank. They have been trying to find out why rainwater harvesting is important. This blog is an attempt at understanding the benefits of rainwater harvesting.

What is rainwater harvesting?

Simply put, rainwater harvesting is all about collecting, filtering, and storing the rainwater for using it for non-potable purposes. You can perhaps think of it as the best way to help yourself become self-sufficient in terms of the water needs. But how does it work? The process is quite beautiful and simple and follows the four major simple concepts.

• Catchment – In many cases, your roof will act as the catchment area. The catchment area refers to the collection area for the rainwater. The gutters and downpipes act as the channels that guide the collected water to the next component.
• Filtration – As the water flows through the system, it will pass through the filter system. These filters remove the leaves, dirt, debris, and other contaminants. This will make sure that the water is clean enough.
• Storage – The filtered water is then channelised to the storage tanks or the reservoirs.
• Usage or recharge – This is the final step. You can use the collected water for the immediate use or guide it to the underground aquifers.

Common types of rainwater harvesting systems?

There are multiple types of rainwater harvesting systems. You can use the appropriate method based on the individual needs that you may have.

• Rooftop harvesting – This method captures the water on the rooftop. In fact, this is the most common among the rainwater collection methods.
• Runoff harvesting – This refers to harvesting the rainwater from the pavements or plain surfaces. This can be useful in the case of properties that have large surface areas such as gardens, driveways and courtyards.
• Groundwater recharge – This involves channelling the collected rainwater to the groundwater resources. In fact, it can be a highly sustainable move to recharge the groundwater so that the future water crisis can be avoided.

Key Advantages of Rainwater Harvesting

Now that we are aware of how rainwater harvesting works, let us now explore the benefits of rainwater harvesting. Remember – these are not just theoretical benefits. These have a long-standing impact on water storage and the future of water availability. Here are a few rainwater harvesting benefits you stand to gain-

Reduces water bills

Well, we are sure you will agree with us on this. Water bills have been climbing faster. If you are tired of these whopping utility bills, rainwater harvesting can be a huge respite. There are multiple purposes for which you would be using water on a daily basis. Washing clothes, bathing, personal hygiene, drinking, cooking, flushing toilets, gardening, and floor cleaning – the list is endless. In fact, most of the families waste water on non-drinking purposes. You can use the used water in these cases for the same rainwater harvesting mechanisms and reuse it. The long-term benefits of saving bills can be impressive. You can save up to ₹7,500-₹10,000 every year.

Reduces Dependency on Municipal Water Supply

The municipal water supply is not reliable. There are times when the water supply stops abruptly. Seasons also have an impact on the availability of the water supply. In some cities, municipal water supply is available only for a few hours. Rainwater harvesting provides you with a buffer during these periods. You can have enough water while your neighbours are struggling with water shortage. That should be the best peace of mind you get when you opt for rainwater harvesting.

Improves Groundwater Levels

Rainwater harvesting does not save you from bills and water shortages. It also serves a noble purpose: giving it back to the earth. If your rainwater harvesting methods use recharge pits, you will be directing the water to the groundwater resources. Depletion of groundwater has become one of the serious crises that the world is facing today. With rainwater harvesting and recharge pits, you are helping the environment fight the trend or even reverse it.

Prevents Urban Flooding

Urban flooding has become a consistent issue in many cities. It can cause severe damage to the property. The primary cause of rainwater harvesting lies in the massive amount of runoff water. Rainwater harvesting can help avoid this flooding by directing the water to the recharge pits. You can perhaps consider it to be the water traffic control system. Instead of taking the water to the drainage system, you are directing it to the ground, so that it will not flood the cities. Instead, it will help recharge the groundwater for future generations.

Eco-Friendly & Sustainable

Rainwater harvesting is an eco-friendly and sustainable practice. You will reduce the need for stressed borewells. It will reduce the need for electricity for pumping the water from the source to the destination. Rainwater harvesting can help you reduce the load on the local ecosystem. It can also help reduce the need for digging the borewells. It can indirectly help reduce the issues such as land subsidence and soil collapse. Ultimately, the aquatic systems will have a better chance to recover.

Provides High-Quality Soft Water

Rainwater is naturally occurring soft water. The groundwater or even municipal water supply contains a heavy composition of minerals, metals and other dissolved substances. In comparison, rainwater is pure H2O for you! Soft water comes with multiple advantages. If you are using water for cleaning and washing, you will find that it does not leave stains and mineral deposits. Ot is also ideal for gardening as it does not contain high doses of minerals. That would mean the plants will grow with no hassles or issues. Even for household tasks and cooking, it increases the lifespan of your appliances and utensils. Washing machines, dishwashers, and water heaters all last longer when exposed to soft water.

Suitable Even for Homes With Limited Space

There is a myth associated with the rainwater harvesting that it needs a huge space or property. But you can use flexible rainwater harvesting systems, and there are no space constraints associated. Rooftops need only a minimal additional space than you have. In fact, rainwater harvesting can be used even in apartments if you have a balcony. In fact, modern systems use even the vertical spaces quite effectively.

Low Maintenance Requirements

The rainwater harvesting systems use simple components. That would mean you would be investing the least bit of maintenance cost on rainwater harvesting systems. Of course, these systems need maintenance. But it involves periodical cleaning and checking for clogs, if any. You do not need to have any sort of technical expertise to maintain your rainwater harvesting system. These tasks do not take more than a few minutes. A proper and professional installation and regular upkeep will help you maintain the rainwater harvesting systems for over 20 to 30 years. That should be something that should move you towards rainwater harvesting.

Reduces Soil Erosion

Uncontrolled runoff of water can result in soil erosion. The erosion can result in damage to the vegetation, and even washes away valuable topsoil. Rainwater harvesting can help you capture the runoff water and use it for meaningful purposes. The water will soak into the ground gradually and help in recharging the groundwater levels. When you use rainwater harvesting, you are actually protecting your soil. It can be useful and practical in maintaining healthy gardens and preventing property degradation over time. Capturing runoff water can also help you prevent the contamination of the local water bodies.

Provides a Reliable Backup Water Source

We have discussed this before. Imagine your municipal water supply is contaminated or just stops abruptly. Imagine that your city goes through an emergency water scarcity or shortage. Rainwater harvesting provides you with an adequate backup. A properly maintained rainwater harvesting system provides a reliable backup source that can keep your household functioning during supply interruptions. In fact, that should be one of the prime advantages of rainwater harvesting.

Additional Indirect Benefits

Beyond the direct advantages we outlined above, there are several hidden benefits of rainwater harvesting.

• Enhances property value – Homes with water independence features are increasingly attractive to buyers. A well-installed rainwater harvesting system can add to your property's market appeal and valuation.
• Supports sustainable urban development – When communities collectively adopt rainwater harvesting, it creates a more resilient and sustainable urban environment.
• Helps at the community level with water conservation – Your adoption of rainwater harvesting inspires neighbours and contributes to broader community water conservation efforts.
• Reduces energy use in water pumping – Since you're not relying entirely on municipal water supplies, you consume less energy in large-scale water extraction and pumping.

These long-term advantages of rainwater harvesting may go unnoticed, but bear a lot of meaning.

Applications of Harvested Rainwater

Harvested rainwater can be used for several purposes. Depending on your preferences, you can use it for a multitude of uses. Household uses  These applications include flushing, laundry, and general cleaning. They account for the majority of residential water consumption. Gardening and landscaping The natural mineral-free water benefits gardening tasks quite efficiently. Your plants will thrive, and you'll reduce landscaping costs. Cleaning and maintenance  This will include cleaning of cars, patios, windows, and outdoor spaces, all work perfectly with harvested water. Drinking water  If you are using adequate filtration techniques, the rainwater can be used for drinking purposes as well. Groundwater recharge  You will be able to replenish the groundwater so that it will help you achieve long-standing benefits.

Why Homeowners Should Adopt It Now?

The impact and benefits of rainwater harvesting have been growing consistently. The rise in water costs has been one of the most compelling reasons for making rainwater harvesting the most effective and efficient option. The increasing groundwater depletion is another important factor that is making rainwater harvesting highly reliable. Even the climate change has made rainfall less predictable and unreliable as a water source. That apart, there is another reason why homeowners are adopting the rainwater harvesting. Governments are encouraging the adoption of rainwater harvesting. Many regions now offer subsidies, tax benefits, and incentive programs for homeowners who install rainwater harvesting systems. In some areas, it's even mandatory for new constructions. This support makes the investment even more attractive.

Why Professional Installation Matters in rainwater harvesting?

Of course, rainwater harvesting is simple when it comes to how it works. But, to get the best benefits, you should ensure a proper installation. A DIY technique is highly NOT recommended. Proper filtration needs  The essence of proper filtration cannot be underestimated when it comes to using rainwater for household purposes. A poor filtration can will not remove all the sediments and impurities. It can reduce water quality. Good and efficient filtration from professional installers can help avoid this possibility. Safety standards  If you are using harvested rainwater for potable purposes, it needs to be in tune with the specific safety standards. Professional installers will make sure that the water does not pose any sort of security risks or health concerns. Long-term durability Choosing professional installers will help you with quality materials in setting up your rainwater harvesting. Installers will make sure that proper installation methods are used. Professional installers understand how to optimise your specific setup based on your roof area, local rainfall patterns, and storage requirements.

Conclusion

As outlined above, rainwater harvesting offers several advantages and benefits. In fact, it can help you with several immediate and long-term advantages. Of course, we agree that it comes with a few challenges as well. The best thing is that rainwater harvesting is within the reach of most homeowners today. However, it is important to notice that you should choose the qualified installers for the purpose. We at Euroguard offer the best, effective and efficient rainwater harvesting. Trust us for a complete solution on every sort of rainwater harvesting method. Take the first step towards sustainable water savings today. Get in touch with the Euro Guard team to discuss the right rainwater harvesting setup for your home.