If you live in an area where rain is abundant and want to take advantage of the area’s natural water resources, you can do so with a rainwater harvesting system. Believed to have been practiced over 6,000 years ago, it’s something that has continued to prove its worth throughout the centuries. Currently, there are three main types of collection options.
Water Butts
The simplest and cheapest among homeowners, water butts are simply large plastic barrels hooked up to outdoor drain pipes or left open to collect rainfall. Because there’s no built-in filtration, most of these setups are used for gardens as a way to reduce overall water consumption.
Domestic Harvesting
These options are the most common for homeowners looking to actually use the water collected throughout the home. Because of this, however, the systems are a bit more complex to ensure the water is safe for use.
Gravity feed systems are found on or near the roof and use gravity to shoot the collected water through the home. Because of this, they do not require electricity, only the maintenance of the filtration system.
Pump feed systems are located on or under the ground and rely on an electrically powered pump to distribute the water. Interestingly enough, this form of collection is actually more efficient because the water has to travel a smaller distance.
Commercial Harvesting
If you’re a business owner looking to vastly increase the scope of the water harvesting, commercial harvesting is the best option. Though only a bit more advanced with its technology than domestic harvesting, the collection types and benefits remain the same.
The type of rainwater collection that works for you truly depends on what you’ll be using the water for. If you do choose the gravity feed system, make sure your roof is able to handle the extra weight. Contact Pro Roofing NW at (888) 599-8591 for any roof inspection needs or questions you may have.