Rainwater Harvesting

Rainwater harvesting systems can be used in both domestic and commercial settings. Rainwater harvesting basically involves collecting the rainwater that falls on your building and on your land and using it in your toilets, garden taps and washing machines. Most rainwater harvesting systems use a system of rainwater harvesting equipment, tanks, pipes and pumps located either above or below ground. Two main manufacturers Hydroforce and Diverton make Rainwater harvesting pumps. The pumps can be used above or below ground and submersible pumps are also available.

In a domestic rainwater harvesting system a tank is placed either above or below ground and then the rainwater is collected via a system of guttering and pipes, filtered, stored and then pumped back to where you wish to use it. The rainwater harvesting system can be either a gravity or direct feed system. In a gravity feed system the collected water is pumped into a tank in the loft of your house that then uses gravity to deliver the water to your taps, washing machine or toilets. In a direct feed system the pump pumps water directly from the collection tank to the toilets, taps and washing machine.

Commercial rainwater harvesting systems generally use the same principals as domestic systems with larger storage tanks, more powerful pumps and can pump the water up to a head of 300 meters, useful in multi storey buildings. Pumps can be run using solar power and installing a rainwater harvesting system can save a company water and energy.