Harvesting Rainwater by J. Mariah Brown..!

Rain chains & rain barrels are smart ways to conserve water & save energy.
Learn more about their benefits and installation.
a Harvesting Rainwater..!
Rainwater collecting or / harvesting is economically & environmental­ly beneficial for owners of commer­cial or / residential property. Rain­water harvesting is the collection of rainwater directly from the surface it falls on, according to Harvesting Rainwater for Domestic Uses:
An Information Guide, a report by the Environment Agency. Rainwater harvesting is an ideal solution to our interminable need to conserve natu­ral resources as demand continues to rise. According to the Environ­ment Agency, harvesting rainwater has the following benefits:

J. Mariah Brown
a Reduced demand for available resources.
a Reduced risk of pollution, as less rainwater is discharged to drains and sewers, and ultimately, to riv­ers.
 “Environmentally harvesting rainwater significantly contributes to a decrease in pollution of storm water and keeping our waterways clean by slowing down surface runoff,” according to Kim Usry, ARCSA, AP, owner of H2o Collect in Richmond, Virginia.
a Reduced water bills. About 37 % of domestic property owners & nearly all industrial and commercial property owners will experience a notable decrease in water cost. “Irrigation is one of our most costly water expenses. Using harvested water for irrigation alone could save a home a lot of money,” Usry explained.
a Reduced risk of flooding and damage. Excessive rainwater is often the cause of flooded sewers, leaky basements, and eroded foun­dations.

a  Harvesting rainwater helps safeguard homes and commercial properties from the aforementioned expensive issues.
aRainwater does not contain the chemicals that are typically present in municipal water, which makes it ideal for landscaping.
a Harvest­ing rainwater also allows property owners to freely use collected water without regulation.
a In times of drought and water restriction, har­vested water will save your land­scape, gardens, ponds, and pools [by] avoiding the more and more common municipal water regula­tions and fees,” according to Usry.
In addition to exterior use, rain­water is also ideal for interior use as well, because it is low in miner­als. Additional uses for harvested rainwater are as follows:
a Hair washing
a Dishwashing
aCar washing
a Laundry
a Toilet flushing
Rainwater Harvesting Systems
Although rainwater harvesting systems run the gamut from simple to elaborate designs, harvesting rainwater is a fairly simple process. Water harvesting systems can be created when rain chains are used to direct water into a designated loca­tion or storage devices. Rain chains are commonly used in conjunction with rain barrels or other water harvesting systems, according to Usry.
“Terminating the flow into a large planter, rock garden, or basin is commonly seen,” Usry said. Rain chains, which are alternatives to traditional downspouts, help direct water away from residential & commercial structures. Originating in Japan, rain chains have been used for hundreds of years to direct water away from and to desired locations while providing an aesthetically pleasing view and soothing atmos­phere, according to Usry.
“Rain barrels, tanks, and cisterns serve as storage devices for col­lected water,” Usry said.
“The barrels come in many shapes and sizes from the homemade recycled pickle barrel to urns with plants on top. Larger tanks and cisterns are available in a wide range of sizes and may be above or below ground. Aesthetically, there is a style and a system for every taste. End usage determines the type of system you would install – whether it is for potable or non-potable use,” Usry said.
Is a Rainwater Harvesting System Right for You..?
The cost of rainwater harvesting systems can vary tremendously, de­pending on the scale and complex­ity of the system, according to Usry.
“Rain [barrels] are the least expen­sive entry into rainwater harvest­ing” Usry said.
“A complete home system could run between $ 3,000 and $ 13,000, with the storage tank being the highest cost.”
The cost per gallon ranges from approximately $.05 for fiber glass tanks to $ 4 or /  more for welded steel tanks, accord­ing to Usry.
Prior to installation, property owners should evaluate how much water the system may be able to collect to determine whether the investment is worthwhile.
This equation from the Environ­ment Agency can be used to esti­mate the amount of water that may be collected:
Annual rainfall (mm) x effective collection area (m2) x drainage coefficient (%) x filter efficiency (%) x 0.05
“Effective collection area” refers to the surface where the rainwater will land prior to drainage and stor­age. For example, although a rain chain may be positioned to collect water from the roof, its effective collection area may only be half of the roof. “Drainage coefficient,” also known as “run-off factor,” is used to account for factors that affect the amount of rainwater that is collected, such as runoff and evaporation.
Last, “filter efficiency” refers to the filter’s ability to transport the collected rainwater into the desig­nated storage device or location. If the filter efficiency value is not provided by the manufacturer, the Environment Agency suggests using 0.9, which reflects 90% efficiency of standard collection systems.
Rain chains are fairly easy to install, but Usry warns about the possible dangers of tackling high installations without assistance. Depending on the complexity of the water harvesting system, Usry suggests contacting an excavator, plumber, roofer, or electrician, if ap­plicable.

Drainage coefficients, provided by the Environment Agency, are in the following table:

Roof Type
Drainage Coefficient
Pitched Roof
0.9
Pitched Roof with Tiles
0.8
Flat Roof with Gravel Layer
0.8


About J. Mariah Brown

J. Mariah Brown is a technical research writer and the owner of Writings by Design, a comprehensive business writing service company that specializes in business development, promotion, and client outreach. She has worked in a variety of technical and non-technical industries including, but not limited to, Government, Non-Profit, Engineering, Translation and Interpretation, Christian and Women’s Publications, and Fashion and Beauty. She is a graduate of the prestigious E.W. Scripps School of Journalism at Ohio University and is currently pursuing a master's degree from Gonzaga University in Communication and Organizational Leadership.
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