Why is Rainwater Harvesting Important
Water, the most precious natural resource, is depleting quickly. It is one thing that we have taken for granted for quite a long time now. But with the depleting levels of water, we have become increasingly aware of the importance of water and need to save it. The main reason for the water crisis is environmental pollution. As a result of the pollution the underground layer of soil and water is depleting fast. Tube wells and taps are running dry in summer as the aftermath of this depletion. People have started starving for water, especially in the arid areas. As a result, they turn to filthy sources of water like lakes, ponds and stagnant sources. This makes them fall ill and at times also gives way to epidemics. People are not only dying of thirst but also of diseases caused by water due to the water crisis. This has given way of many ways of preserving water. One among such methods is rain water harvesting.
What is Rainwater Harvesting?
Why is Rainwater Harvesting Important?
Rainwater harvesting is important in many ways. The prime one being, it will save us from water shortage. Once you start harvesting rainwater, you have your own supply of water that can be used wisely. It is safe as it is the purest form, untouched by bacteria, viruses, chemicals and rust and dirt of pipes. You can also use the stored water for agricultural purpose and feeding your livestock. It also has the potential of preventing drought like situation.
Rainwater harvesting can also satisfy the ever rising need of water and the quantity of the water in subterranean can be increased. This will also save the water getting wasted in drains and gutter and the water logging on the roads can also be prevented. It will also stop the soil erosion. Rainwater harvesting also gives you a renewable natural source of water.
How to Harvest Rainwater?
There are two main methods of rainwater harvesting- surface runoff harvesting and rooftop harvesting. Surface runoff method is used mainly in the urban areas where the rainwater flows away as the surface runoff. This runoff is then collected and stored and is used. It is also used for recharging aquifers with the help of proper methods.
In the rooftop harvest method, rainwater is caught where it falls. Here, the roof becomes the catchments and the rainwater is collected from the roof of the house or the building. It can be either stored or can be diverted somewhere through a proper channel. It can be used for artificial recharge system. Rooftop harvesting is effective and very economic. If used properly, it can also help in increasing the groundwater level of the area. However, the dirty roofs add to the hesitation of collecting water from rooftop. For the solution, numerous rain diverters or first flush devices are available in the market. They flush off or divert the first flow of water, hence removing the contaminants or bacteria from the harvested water that can be present in the water previously.
