A Sunny View For Rainwater Harvesting

Reports on the economy are never consistent

Reports on the economy are never consistent. It appears that the building industry has not grown for the last year and a half. So it may appear that we are showing off when we tell you that at present the market for rainwater harvesting is distinctly sunny. The Rainwater Harvesting Federation says that sales of the systems have risen 300 percent over the last 2 years.

Rainwater harvesting is a new market in the UK and the first detailed market research report by MTW Research came out in April 2008 estimating for that year #8 million, strong growth to 2012 and then consistent growth to 2020. The German market was worth #251 million in 2007, so we're hoping the UK market will go towards that figure.

You may ask why we are so optimistic?

Unfortunately the rosy future for rainwater harvesting arises from the increasingly serious shortage of mains water supply in the UK, where many areas are already under "water stress". The general public has become more and more aware of the problem with rising water bills. Furthermore, the hosepipe bans during the very hot summer of 2006 brought home the reality of water shortages, and floods in 2007 and 2008 reinforced the belief in climate change. And government pressure to reduce water consumption is gradually making rainwater harvesting a necessity in all building sectors through the following measures:

a) The Code for Sustainable Homes has required social housing to meet level 3, reducing mains water consumption to 105 litres per person per day by using rainwater harvesting and water efficient appliances. This should become obligatory for the private sector in 2010.

b) In October 2009, Part G of the Building Regulations was altered to enforce a limit of 125 litres per head per day of mains water consumption in new builds.

c) Councils give priority to planning permission to applications with rainwater harvesting.

d) Flood Attenuation. Planners now encourage and impose rainwater harvesting to alleviate flood threats.

e) Businesses can benefit from the Enhanced Capital Allowance: 100% of material and installation costs of rainwater harvesting systems registered on Water Technology List can be offset against tax liability.

f) Water boards will get greater hosepipe ban powers during water shortages due to new legislation. Hosepipes will be prohibited for watering gardens, outdoor cleaning, topping up pools, decorative ponds and hot tubs.

g) In February 2009, the British Standard 8515 was introduced on the installation of rainwater harvesting (Code of practice rather than obligatory).

What is going to happen in 2010?

In the domestic sector, growth will continue strongly when Level 3 of the Code for Sustainable Homes becomes mandatory, helped by the change in Building Regulations. Average cost of an installation in a new build is #2000 to #3000. Retrofitting will see slower growth as not normally obligatory and more expensive. Commercial installations will continue to grow as the payback period on the investment is usually much quicker, and boosted by ECA tax scheme which the domestic sector does not as yet benefit from.

by: Marcus Bicknell

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