Board logo

subject: The Benefits Of Recycling Rainwater Instead Of Using Mains Water [print this page]


The benefits of recycling rainwater and saving mains water, falls roughly into two categories. The benefits to the end user, in other words, yourself, and the benefits to the environment in general. Both are equally as important as each other and should be given considerable thought if you're considering rain harvesting to meet your water usage needs.

Firstly, the obvious benefits to you are a reduction in the amount of mains water you will need to draw from your local water company. By recycling rainwater, you can easily store enough water to literally halve the amount you need to draw from the mains. This has an obvious financial benefit if you're on a water meter. You will also notice that the rainwater you collect will be of a better quality and purer than what you receive from the water mains supply. Recycled Rainwater is clean and is neither very hard nor very soft. It also doesn't contain the additives that are put into mains water to clean and kill germs. This means it is better for washing clothes in, as detergents work better in softer water without additives.

Secondly, saving mains water and re-using rainwater is a huge benefit to the environment. If everyone were to use half the water they use right now, then water companies wouldn't need to expend quite so much of what amounts to considerable resources to provide and sanitize water. No matter how efficient the water cleaning processes a water company uses, energy must be used to make water fit for consumption, and that energy expenditure in turn damages the environment. By recycling rainwater by using underground storage tanks for efficient water storage, we can save water, reduce carbon emissions, reduce water demand, and protect the environment.

Finally, you can make savings indirectly from recycling rainwater. Much of the soaps and detergents we use for washing cars, floors, windows and clothes react better with rainwater than mains water from a tap. This is because mains water is generally a lot harder and contains chemicals that make it suitable for drinking. Reused rainwater however is generally ph neutral, is softer and is free from any such chemicals. This means detergents work better, and you will find you need less soap. Over the course of a few months or a year, these savings can really start to add up. These are just two benefits of rainwater harvesting, there are many more which you can find out about at the SCP Environmental website.

by: Matthew Rolph




welcome to loan (http://www.yloan.com/) Powered by Discuz! 5.5.0