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A natural resource that is guaranteed to keep falling
The rainwater harvesting process is essentially the collection of filtered rainwater from roofs and its storage, normally underground, for re-use as and when required.
With water usage for everyday essentials such as washing machines, toilets and gardens accounting for up to half of domestic water usage, the potential savings in water rates are very significant and with costs likely to continue their upward trend these potential savings can only grow. More importantly, the total dependence on mains water is diminished and the small but collectively very significant collective drop in mains water usage enables us to conserve what is rapidly becoming a precious natural resource.
The main advantages to installing rainwater harvesting systems are :
- Up to 50% of main supply water can be substituted by stored rainwater thereby reducing overall water supply costs significantly;
- Dependence on the mains water supply is reduced and in remote areas rainwater harvesting can provide an off-site water supply;
- Used as part of a storm-water management scheme it reduces the amount of storm-water runoff and can control the flow-rate off site;
- The sustained water savings add value to the property as well as demonstrating commitment to conserving natural resources; and
- It can dramatically reduce attenuation volumes for restricted run off situations
- The cistern’s capacity is calculated according to the surface of the roof and the intended use of the rainwater.
- The rainwater is recovered and sent to the cistern, after having first passed through a filter (A), which eliminates waste.
- Water is then sucked out at 15 cm below the average level of the floating suction filter (B).
- Water arrives at the bottom of the tank (C), which stops water flowing back into the reserve (for example during very rainy periods).
- The over-flow (D) is linked to the sewers. It must be placed in the position of a siphon, with the slating side orientated towards the cistern.
- Clean water is then pressurised and sucked up by a silent pump (E), to be sent to the internal water depositories.
- An intelligent module (F) is equipped with an automatic control in case of lack of rain.
The ducts distribute water to the toilets, washing machine taps, hose pipes, etc. For security reasons, it is forbidden to link the water mains with the rainwater.
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