Residential and Commercial Rainwater Harvesting and Collection Systems

Rain is a sustainable source of fresh water for both residential and commercial applications and rain harvesting is the capture, deviation and storage of rainwater. A rainwater collection system is a system that collects and stores rainwater to be used as landscape irrigation or as water for bathroom flushing.  The rain falls on the roof, runs through guttering pipes and is then stored in a tank.  The water is then pumped through a filter to remove debris, and through an ultraviolet light if needed for disinfection.   Internal plumbing is required to separate the water used in bathrooms from the water used for irrigation.  Since rainwater is soft, detergents do not need to be added to soften the water for home use.

Residential Rainwater Collection Systems

Residential rainwater harvesting systems can provide a dependable water source for non-potable applications like doing laundry, watering the lawn, flushing toilets and washing cars, which constitutes 40%-60% of all water use at home.  Harvesting systems can be either direct or indirect.  Direct systems pump water straight to household appliances, while indirect systems store water in a tank before being delivered.

 Commercial Rainwater Collection Systems

Rainwater collection in commercial systems has a considerable impact on a building’s operational efficiency.   Water storage tanks are placed on top of a building, thereby supplying the water to appliances by way of gravity.  Storage tanks have a sensor and a controller that lets them know when more water is demanded in the building.  A design that includes rainwater harvesting can help building owners receive LEED certification as well as make a positive impact on the community.

Rainwater harvesting as a means of water conservation continues to become important as many countries in the world are reaching limits on their water supply. It will be challenging to maintain future population growth without resolving water shortage issues worldwide, but many communities are already using rainwater harvesting systems and waterless fixtures as a critical part of their water conservation strategies.