rainwater harvesting and reuse

Q: What are the benefits of rainwater harvesting?

For residential use , a small rainwater harvesting system can drastically cut down on water bills by providing a source of greywater for flushing WCs and garden irrigation. In larger municipal settings , rainwater collection and treatment helps to reduce the risk of flooding due to surface runoff, preventing sewage and treatment facilities from being overwhelmed during heavy downpours.

Water shortages are increasingly making news headlines around the world. Research suggests that addressing water availability and quality will be the main challenge for our societies and environment in the near future. With unusual weather on the rise in the face of climate change, a greater frequency of flash flooding and droughts are expected, potentially affecting over 100 million people across Europe alone.

By implementing sustainable rainwater harvesting and management systems, we could save millions of cubic meters of potable water annually, protecting public sewer and stormwater systems during heavy rainfall and storing water for drier periods.

Better water management could help protect 4.8 billion people who presently live in potential water-scarce areas.

rainwater harvesting mitigates water scarcity

Water shortages caused by population growth, climate change and polluted supplies could affect half the world's population by 2050 (2018 Report).

To ensure universal access to safe and potable drinking water, solutions such as rainwater collecting and water recycling could be used, helping to save millions of cubic meters of water. Rather than using valuable tap water, rainwater can be captured and collected from sealed surfaces and roofs to be stored and later reused.

Watering in Public Park with Big Tank Sprayer showing Water mist Droplets

benefits of rainwater reuse

Acceptable water quality at minimal cost for many appliances

Aleviates public drainage and water treatment systems

ensures water availability for irrigation during dry spells

Reduces potable water use and reliance on water imports

Agriculture: 40% of total water use per year in Europe

FAQs

What are the benefits of rainwater harvesting?

For residential use, a small rainwater harvesting system can drastically cut down on water bills by providing a source of greywater for flushing WCs and garden irrigation. In larger municipal settings, rainwater collection and treatment helps to reduce the risk of flooding due to surface runoff, preventing sewage and treatment facilities from being overwhelmed during heavy downpours.

Is a rainwater harvesting system costly?

Many people are unaware that an effective rainwater harvesting system shouldn't cost much to maintain once installed, and can help to save money by recycling rainwater for irrigation or greywater use while protecting buildings and engineered structures from water damage.

In cities, rainwater harvesting can be incorporated into rainwater drainage projects, so although a cost is incurred at the outset, over time, recycling and reusing rainwater, e.g. for irrigating parks and green areas, save huge amounts of money — especially when compared to the damage caused by flash flooding and overwhelmed treatment plants.

How easy is it to construct a rainwater harvesting system?

Pipelife's stormwater management system is composed of different modular parts for the collection, filtering or cleaning, and storage of rainwater. Our experts customize these to meet various requirements, and to suit almost any size, layout and complex structure. Like Lego, all components fit together as a comprehensive system, adaptable in function, size, volume, and number.

How will rainwater collection be utilized by future city planners?

Pipelife's stormwater management system is composed of different modular parts for the collection, filtering or cleaning, and storage of rainwater. These can be customized to meet various requirements, and installed in multiple layouts and complex structures. Like Lego, all components fit together as a comprehensive system, adaptable in size, volume, and number.

Preventing overflows and saving water for dry spells

For rainwater collection and reuse, an attenuation system is ideal for storing excessive water for irrigation or providing greywater for households. The system also helps to prevent overflows by slowing down the rate at which surface water enters sewers or watercourses, reducing the risk of downstream flooding.