With many parts of the country facing hosepipe bans and droughts due to climate change, we must save and preserve water whenever and wherever possible. One method is rainwater harvesting, a sustainable action that has recently gained plenty of attention due to its many environmental benefits. Collecting and storing rainwater can reduce reliance on mains water sources, conserve water, and promote self-sufficiency. In this blog, we’ll explore what rainwater harvesting is and highlight the benefits it brings.

What is rainwater harvesting?

Rainwater harvesting is collecting and storing rainwater that falls on rooftops and is directed into storage rather than going down the drain. Once collected and stored, it can be used around the home and garden for various purposes. It’s a simple and effective method of harnessing rainwater and using it to save money, energy, and mains water.

Why harvest rainwater?

According to the Consumer Council for Water (CCW), each person uses around 145 litres of mains water every day. Apart from drinking, whatever it’s used for – clothes washing, garden watering, car washing, and flushing the loo – every drop has been treated, filtered, and pumped to your taps, only to go straight back down the drain.

While water is a precious resource, plenty of the things mains water is used for can be done using harvested rainwater. Investing in it can help with sustainable water management, reducing the burden on mains water resources, allowing for more efficient water usage, and saving money on your water bills.

How to put rainwater harvesting into practice at home

Many of us already use a water butt to collect and store rainwater to water plants and vegetables at home in the summer. But you can install a domestic rainwater system with everything you need, including a storage tank, pumps and filters, pipes and connectors, a control system, and a mains water backup.

Once installed, the process is straightforward: using an aboveground storage tank (for toilet flushing, garden watering, or anything that doesn’t require filtered water) or a below-ground tank (for washing, showering, and everything else that needs filtered water), the rainwater is collected and stored for use as and when required. 

When used, the rainwater is pumped directly from the storage tank to your appliances via a pump or gravity-fed system. Your choice of tank size will depend on the number of people in your household and whether you need water for light, medium, or heavy watering for your garden. But to have either tank system installed, you’ll be looking at around £4,000.

Is rainwater harvesting worth it?

Many of us are looking for ways to be more eco-friendly and sustainable, so alongside solar panels and using renewable energy, rainwater harvesting is the next logical step. While it requires an initial investment in equipment and setup, the long-term financial and environmental benefits can make it worthwhile. 

It encourages water conservation, reduces reliance on mains water, and allows everyone to be more active in sustainable living. It’s also a low operation and maintenance option. But like many things, rainwater harvesting depends on cost considerations and personal values regarding environmental sustainability.

Eco-friendly water from Thirsty Work

While Thirsty Work doesn't offer any rainwater harvesting equipment (yet!), we’re still an environmentally-conscious and eco-friendly company. Our environmental policy will tell you more about what we’re doing to reduce our environmental impact and how we do it. And that includes using naturally filtered spring water for our eco-friendly bottled water coolers.

To learn more about our bottled water coolers and eco-credentials, call the team today on 01392 877 172. Or email us at hello@thirstywork.com or just send us a message, and we’ll give you all the info you need and get you started on your 10-day free trial.