One of the privileges of living in the UK is having easy access to water. However, there are areas in England which are experiencing water shortages. This will come as a surprise to many. Therefore this will be a wake up call to many of us who take our water for granted. There are methods of saving water, and once we start doing this, we will reap the benefits.

Rainwater harvesting is collecting rain water that would otherwise go down the gutter. If everyone started harvesting rainwater they will be surprised to learn how much water we will be saving. Rainwater harvesting is a practice that has been around for centuries and is still used around the world. Household-owners are mostly unaware of the advantages associated with rainwater harvesting. For instance if we find ways to preserve rainwater, our water bills will be cut dramatically.

The water butt

One very cost effective way of collecting rainwater is to place a water butt on your down-pipe and save the water for use in the garden or for car washing. If you have a big garden, you could even fit two water butts next to each other from the same downpipe.

If you wish to go one step further, you can try upgrading to a simple harvesting rainwater pump and filter. This pump creates a pressurized system that can then be used in conjunction with a hosepipe; great for watering the garden or washing the car using a hosepipe.

How can we use the rainwater?

You can use rainwater for outdoor purposes such as topping up swimming pools, washing windows watering the garden, and cleaning patios. As well as saving on drinking water-use, rainwater is beneficial for other purposes too. For example, it encourages less build-up of calcium deposits in appliances.

Using the rainwater around the house

Once the rainwater is filtered, it can even be used around the house to supply toilets or washing machines. However, it is important for the rainwater to be filtered and siphoned in order to make it suitable as a source of non-drinking water.

In deciding which tank to install next to your house, you should think about a few things. The type of area you live in, the number of people that are living with you, and the amount of water that will be used all play a big part. The procedure is then as follows; once the correct tank has been installed the rainwater is then filtered and pumped into a header tank in the loft of your home where it is distributed into a household and non-drinking supply. Do not be surprised to learn that some modifications will need to be done to your existing plumbing. This is essential so that the rainwater supply will be separate from your fresh water supply. Best refrigeration vacuum pumps