Rainwater harvesting is a form of collecting water that has been in practice for thousands of years. Primarily, it is used as a way to collect and store water for future needs in areas where water is not readily available all year round. This practice has become more and more popular again over the last few years as many business and homeowners can no longer rely on the availability of ground water to cater for all of their needs, especially in areas that are prone to drought.

The water can be collected in large tanks like cisterns or using tarps and it is then stored in containers until it is needed. In most cases, the water is then used directly without the need for purification or filtration.

There are many advantages of harvesting rainwater, some of which include:

1. It is absolutely free to use and a clean source of water.

One of the major advantages of harvesting water is that rainwater is a free source of water and by harvesting it; you can easily cut down on your annual water bills. These can be dramatic savings if you are harvesting the water for an agricultural business or for large garden complexes for example.

2. It is easy to install.

The only essentials that you’ll need to harvest your own rainwater are a collection system, storage tanks and a simple pipe or tap system to use the water. A simple way to collect rainwater is by using the rain gutters on the roof and directing the runoff to your storage tank – it’s that simple!

3. It can be used for many different purposes.

When harvesting rainwater in this way, the water that you’ll be left with will be relatively pure and free from toxins and minerals. You can then use it for sprinklers in your garden, for watering your home-grown vegetable patch, for filling up your pond, for washing your car and for a lot of other related household chores that require water.

4. It is environmentally friendly.

Using harvested rainwater is an excellent way of reducing your carbon footprint and doing your bit to help the environment. Using perfectly clean potable water to wash cars and flush toilets is a very unsustainable practice and is against good practise in terms of eco-friendliness. It is much better to use clean water for drinking and cooking purposes and use rainwater for all other needs.

5. It is excellent for irrigation.

The collected water is free from any chemicals that are found in most ground water sources, making it a great alternative for agricultural purposes. Furthermore, it also decreases soil erosion and reduces flooding by reducing run offs during heavy rainfall. This, in turn, is great for lakes and rivers, as they will be less polluted in the long-term.

6. It reduces the use of ground water.

As the ever-growing population is using water at an alarming rate, in many parts of the world our ground water sources and aquifers are under extreme pressure. By collecting and using rainwater, you can help conserve our precious ground water that will be required as drinking water, and to prepare and cook food in the future.

In summary, harvesting rainwater on small and large scales has great advantages and is an excellent, environmentally friendly option. Are you ready to give it a go and avail of all of the above benefits?