What is the main benefit of rainwater harvesting?
Answers
Answer:
Rainwater harvesting has many benefits but the main one is that it is a sustainable water management practice that can be implemented by anyone on many different levels, from a simple rain barrel to a comprehensive rainwater harvesting system that integrates with an irrigation system or household plumbing.
When you think about it… do we need to use municipally treated water to sprinkle on our lawns and landscaping? Definitely not! Harvested rainwater is the perfect candidate for irrigation use in addition to so many other water uses. By using rainwater harvesting systems to supply water for some, or all of our water needs, you can reduce our dependence on municipally treated water.
Overall, rainwater harvesting is viewed as a practice that is socially acceptable and environmentally responsible all the while, promoting self-sufficiency.
The Water Conservation Benefits of Rainwater Harvesting:
The rainwater that falls on your roof and property is essentially free. All it takes is a method to harvest it into a tank or cistern for later use.
Rainwater harvesting can be a great educational tool to get people to recognize their individual or household water usage. This can get them to start conserving water in other areas around their home.
For communities that rely on imported water to supply their needs, collecting rainwater that falls naturally in the community can reduce the need for imported water.
Rainwater harvesting helps utilities reduce peak demands during summer months, saving treated water for more important and appropriate water uses.
While rainwater can be a perfect primary water source for many uses and situations, it is also a great backup water supply for emergency situations.
The Environmental Benefits of Rainwater Harvesting:
Rainwater harvesting can reduce stormwater runoff from a property. The elimination of runoff can reduce contamination of surface water with pesticides, sediment, metals, and fertilizers.
By reducing stormwater runoff, rainwater harvesting can reduce a storm’s peak flow volume and velocity in local creeks, streams, and rivers, thereby reducing the potential for streambank erosion.
Rainwater harvesting systems can be employed as simple and effective methods to meet a municipality’s stormwater management program requirements of individual properties.
It is an excellent source of water for plants and landscape irrigation since it has no chemicals such as fluoride and chloramines (chlorine).
- Rainwater harvesting can reduce stormwater runoff from a property. ...
- By reducing stormwater runoff, rainwater harvesting can reduce a storm's peak flow volume and velocity in local creeks, streams, and rivers, thereby reducing the potential for streambank erosion.