Due to an ever-increasing population, water is one of the primary resources which is facing the associated burden. With just 0.3% of the water sources in the world being available in usable form, it is getting harder to fight water scarcity. Most of the world is facing the consequence of our reckless water usage practices, with the underdeveloped part of the world facing the worst hit.
Countries fighting over water would eventually lead to most of the world problems. With so many issues, it becomes our responsibility to save every drop of water, especially that which falls as rain in order to help us through the dry seasons. Following are some ways in which water can easily be harvested at our homes.
Basic Barrel Rain Water Collection
This is one of the most common methods which is very easily practised by most of the residents. All that is needed is a roof where rainwater can easily slope from and a system of gutters. In this system, the water which falls on the roof is made to flow through the gutter and eventually reach a central point wherein a barrel is place to collect it.
This barrel can provide an outlet to which a pipe can be connected for use during the time when there is excess water and also for easily watering plants directly from that point. All this makes this method the most cost-effective as well as the easiest to employ.
Stand-Alone Rain Water Collector
In case the roof is occupied, or there are no methods to build proper pathways for the water to collect at a point, this is a great alternative indeed. In this method, a huge tank is placed in the middle of your backyard or any free piece of land you can find.
This can be easily constructed using the most basic of items. In this, a huge canvas is made to function as a funnel by means of attaching it to proper tubes. All the water which flows into the funnel is then made to collect over either a tank on the ground or can be made to collect in underground storage areas for higher water requirements.
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Flexible Rainwater Water Storage
There can arise situations where storage tanks cannot be used to eventually act as the storage point for the water being collected. This can be either due to some laws at the location of residence or because there is not enough space for tanks to be set up. These bladder tanks are then the perfect way to store water in such cases.
They are available in different sizes and are more space-conserving than tanks. This is because once the water is used to the maximum and water recedes from it, it shrinks to its original flat shape. This makes it easier to be set up in places where tanks cannot be transported easily due to the constriction in space.
Trash Can Barrels
One of the easiest rain storage barrels can be made from trash cans. This is basically meant for storing smaller quantities of water. By just drilling a small hole at the bottom to function as an outlet for a tap, and then securing the whole setup with a waterproof sealant to prevent leakage of water, this barrel is ready.
Also cut a hole at the top for water to overflow through, in case it fills completely. Finally, filter cloth is spread on the top to prevent clogging from debris. This small model can be extended by using larger cans depending on the water quantity that you decide to save.
Wet System
Unlike the dry system in which most of the pipes totally drain into the tank, in this method a collection of underground pipes which are totally used at all times is utilized. The water which fills these pipes will move upwards throughout the vertical pipes to fill a tank which is slightly at a level which is below the lowest gutter in the ground area. A great advantage of this system is that it makes use of all the water falling on the surface and that it makes use of many pipelines.
Drip Water Irrigation
This is one of the best means of rainwater harvesting. Even though it does not involve directly storing water, through this method water usage is decreased to such an extent that it can be used elsewhere. Since about 50% of the water in most households is used for domestic farming, this would be a great technique to reduce water consumption. Using tools like garden rototillers to ensure that water is absorbed thoroughly also contributes to better water-saving practice.
PVC Rain Water Barrels
These are also quite easy to construct as they can be made to collect water efficiently and cheaply. Pipes which are vertical can be made to collect rain water from the top of the house and finally fall into those PVC barrels. These PVC barrels can easily be bought and given a spigot to provide more capacity than a trash can barrel while also being more efficient.
All these make us play a small role in conserving and doing our part to save our share of water.