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Over the last few decades, water has become an increasingly crucial resource to millions across the globe. There are many ways to conserve your own water such as taking shorter showers, preventing any household leaks, and only doing laundry or dishes when the load is full. Another tactic that many homeowners have taken to is recycling rainwater by putting it to good use inside and outside the home.
While this may only work where the climate permits, the results save money and help the environment by conserving our much needed water. If you are interested in such a system, read on to learn more about it.
Check your local city/county/HOA laws.
Before you start on this venture, check your local laws for rules preventing water tanks or rain conservation systems. For whatever reason, such systems may not be allowed due to appearance, usage, or zoning. If your HOA prefers to maintain it’s neighborly presence, then you may only be able to install an underground water tank. If the water you will be conserving is legally owned by someone else, then you may be prevented from taking any water for your own uses. It is better to learn your limitations before setting out on this endeavor, rather than after.
Determine the uses for your system.
Rain conservation systems can replace many water needs on your property. They are most commonly used for watering lawns and gardens, cleaning vehicles, and may even be used to clean within your own home, flush toilets, and wash clothes and dishes. However, since the rain water you will be conserving is usually not filtered with anything more than a wire filter and is not filled with the nutrients commonly found in tap water, it is not suitable for ingesting or bathing in. It is possible to install a fancier, more expensive filter for you water tank, or boil and purify the water yourself, but it is not suggested for the long run. Determine beforehand what you want to use your conserved rainwater for, and if it will require professional expertise from a plumber, contractor or electrician.
The climate must make up for the cost.
It should be easy to determine whether the climate in your area will make the system worth your while. The ideal place for such a system would be an area with frequent or heavy rain seasons that can be taken advantage of. These rain conservation systems can also be used in the winter when it snows. The snow collected from shoveling your driveway can easily be stored away until it melts, creating another way to conserve gallons and gallons of what would have before been wasted water. Again, you should be able to determine whether or not you will get rain or snow frequently enough to make the system pay for itself. Some systems are simple and can be installed by yourself, while others are more complicated and will require excavation and professional work. You want to make sure that your efforts and funds will not go to waste.
Installation - DIY or Professionally?
As was brushed over previously, the complexity of your system is entirely up to you. There are many excellent tutorials and walkthroughs online that you can follow to make a simple, above ground rainwater tank such as this one. Other, more complex versions installed by experienced workers are often more expensive and require maintenance. What you install on your property is entirely up to you, but each option should be thoroughly researched and deliberated.
What are Water Meters?
After you have installed your rain water conservation system, enjoy the luxury of saving on your bills and helping the environment. If you don’t have one already, consider looking into water meters for your household. Water meters are connected to your bills, allowing you to pay for the water that you actually use. Most who have rain conservation systems also have a water meter, allowing the owners to pay based on the water they consume and save because of the rain they have conserved. According to savetherain.info, you may be able to save as much as 50% on your water bills each month. Check your local regulations to determine the price of a water meter, and to determine how much you could save.
If you are or are trying to be more environment friendly, rain conservation may be a good place to start. Depending on how much time, effort and money you are willing to put into your rain conservation system, you could be recycling water and saving money on your bills at the same time.
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