Rainwater Harvesting in Homes – Some Advantages and Disadvantages

Rainwater harvesting is an effective way of getting free water from nature without relying on external sources. The process of rainwater harvesting involves accumulation and deposition of rainwater for reuse. You can use the accumulated water for your garden, livestock, or even for drinking purposes after proper purification. While installing a rainwater harvesting system in your house using rainwater tanks Adelaide can seem like a perfect idea, but it has its own set of drawbacks. This article looks at the advantages and disadvantages of rainwater harvesting for a residential property.

Advantages

Low maintenance cost and lower water bills

Apart from installation costs, you need not worry about spending much in maintaining the rainwater harvesting system. In fact, if your need is just for outdoor purposes and not for drinking, then you need not even worry about purifying the water. You can use the collected water for various purposes like cleaning toilets, washing clothes, watering the garden, and other household purposes. This also accounts in reducing your water bills every month.

No chemicals

Unlike ground water which is full of chemicals, rainwater is free from such impurities, which makes it ideal for purposes like irrigation, gardening, and other such activities.

Eases water demand

With the rise in population in both urban and rural areas, the demand for water is increasing by the day. The best way to cope with this is by utilising ground water. But over the years, this method has significantly reduced the groundwater level. Rainwater comes as a saviour, helping with the water demand and allowing you to not rely extensively on municipal water.

Flexibility

Rainwater harvesting systems are flexible, allowing you to easily reconfigure them and even relocate to a new house if you’re moving. This makes it a viable option to install them in residential properties.

Disadvantages

Complexity in installation

Some people may find installing the rainwater harvesting system in their home to be a complicated and tedious procedure. There are tasks involved such as installing rainwater tanks Adelaide, pumps, and filters, and this can be done only with the help of a plumber and not by yourself without proper knowledge and training.

Reliability

This is one of the main reasons why you can’t completely shift to rainwater harvesting and be entirely dependent on it. The primary resource for rainwater harvesting is the rain, and you can’t be sure of it. So, the source of your water collection is not stable. Also, in some households, the need for water can easily exceed the amount of accumulated water. If you’re entirely dependent on rainwater, a shortage will make you run to the municipal corporation again, which can be a painstaking task.