How to collect rainwater

What is rainwater harvesting?

At first glance, rainwater harvesting can seem overwhelming, but here at Rainwater Harvesting Ltd, we make it simple.

So, what is it? Rainwater harvesting is the process of collecting rainwater and using it throughout your home. We can help cut your water bills by up to 50% by using rainwater for your gardens, toilets, and washing machines! Rainwater will be collected on your roof and passed into a storage tank via a pipe running down the side of your home. During this process, the rainwater will be filtered, ensuring it is clean and fit for purpose.

Rainwater harvesting is a great way to help the environment, chop your bills in half, and become more self-sufficient. It is becoming more and more popular each day, so why not book an appointment and start to collect rainwater?

How to collect rainwater

Once the system is installed, knowing how to collect rainwater is the easy bit. What do you do? Sit back, and relax! Our rainwater harvesting systems will do all of the work for you.

If you want to collect rainwater but aren’t sure how here is our easy 3-step guide to how it works:

Collection

To begin with, you want to decide where is most suitable for you to collect your rainwater from. This is most often, and most recommended to be your roof. Your roof is the most suitable option to collect rainwater as it has a large surface area, along with the downpipes required for a rainwater harvesting system. In order to get the best out of your rainwater collection, you must ensure that your roof is relatively clean and that you don’t have a “green roof”.

Transportation

The guttering on your roof and the downpipes will be used to transport the rainwater from your roof down into your storage tank. This water should be filtered during this process. If you are rainwater harvesting for garden-use only, then you can use gutter mesh. However, if you are rainwater harvesting for domestic use, then a rainwater filter should be installed either within the pipes or in the tank. It is recommended that this is done through the pipes.

Browse our array of filtration products here.

Storage

Finally, to end the rainwater harvesting journey you must have somewhere to collect your rainwater. Here at Rainwater Harvesting Ltd. we offer an array of different tanks and sizes. Here you can find our tank size calculator. Tanks to collect rainwater can be either below ground (shallow dig or deep dig) or above ground.

What can I do with the rainwater?

But what can I use this rainwater for? Rainwater has more uses in your house than you realise! It can replace almost all of the functions you use water for now. For example, the water in your hose pipe for your garden, the water used in your washing machine, and even the water in your toilets!

Depending on what use your rainwater will have in your house will determine the type of rainwater harvesting system you need.

Garden Systems

Garden systems are there for those of you who want to collect rainwater for your garden only. Do you know that during the height of summer, a three-week period could cause you to need 6000 litres of water in a 100 sqm garden? Think of the money you could save with our garden systems!

A mesh filter is all that will be required with a garden system, and the tank size solely depends on the amount of water you want to use, and how long you want it to last for during the summer period. More guidance on this can be found on our Garden Systems Page, and using our tank size calculator.

Direct Feed Systems

Want to collect rainwater for garden use and domestic purposes too? Our direct feed systems are for you. With the direct feed system, the water is fed from the submersible pump in the underground tank directly into each appliance (hose, toilet, washing machine etc.)

More information on this system and how it can be used to collect rainwater can be found on our Direct Feed Systems page.

Gravity Feed Systems

The gravity feed system requires a small header tank to be fitted into a loft space. The system works by the underground tank pumping water into the smart header tank and then getting gravity fed to the appliances. This is more sustainable than direct feed systems as it uses 6-8 times less energy. This reduces the pump cycle and helps to ensure your pump lasts even longer!

Read our Gravity Feed Systems page for a more in-depth explanation!

What if it doesn’t rain?

How do I collect rainwater if it doesn’t rain? Don’t worry, our Rainwater Backup in a Box system ensures that there is enough water in the tank at all times by feeding small amounts of mains water into the tank if the rainwater level becomes low. This allows all appliances to be kept fully functional in times of low rainfall.

What tank do I need?

There are two types of tanks that are used to collect rainwater: below ground (shallow dig and deep dig) and above ground.

Below ground

Our below-ground tanks are the most popular and by far most recommended. They are much easier to install (especially with a new build), the quality of water is much better and there are no spacing issues. (You also don’t have to stare at a big tank!)

Shallow dig tanks:

Our shallow dig tanks have become the leading below-ground tanks to collect rainwater. In fact, 98% of our current customer base are using these tanks as they are much faster to install. And, as an added plus, your garden will look the exact same as it did before installing one of these tanks, as they are so flat.

Here at Rainwater Harvesting Ltd., we also offer our shallow dig tanks with a pre-fitted filter, calmed inlet and overflowing siphon. This enables us to be able to lower the tank into the ground and connect two pipes…pretty easy, right?

Deep dig tanks:

Our deep dig tanks are round in shape, and require us to dig much deeper into the ground. However, this tank is the largest of its kind, and is extremely stable.

Above ground

Above-ground tanks are less popular amongst homeowners and are often used to collect rainwater in the agricultural market. The quality of water from these tanks is not as good as the quality from the water in the below-ground tanks, however this isn’t often an issue as above-ground tanks are usually only used for garden-use.

We understand that a huge plastic tank isn’t the prettiest thing, and you might not want this out the front of your house. However, if you only want to use rainwater harvesting for garden use and you have somewhere to store the tank that isn’t extremely visible, then it is definitely the right option for you and could save you more money!

Start your rainwater harvesting journey with us

Overall, our rainwater harvesting systems here at Rainwater Harvesting Ltd. can just be the answer that you was looking for. Learn how to collect rainwater and cut your bills in half, just like our customers have!

For more information and/or further guidance, contact us today or book an appointment.