The Reason Why We Have Rainwater Tanks
Also known as Water Butt (in UK) and Rain Barrel (in North America), Rainwater Tanks are used for collecting and storing Runoff water or rainwater. This water is collected particularly from rooftops via eaves-trough or rain-gutter or eaves-channel-guttering. These tanks are used for the collection and maintenance of Harvested- rain.
Importance of Rainwater Tanks:
Rainwater collected and stored in rainwater tank for other constructive usage is called as Harvested Rainwater. By installing rainwater tank you ultimately reduce the usage of ‘mains' water which proves to be economic. Stored rainwater doesn't get wasted and is used for other important chores, which makes you environment friendly. Rainwater stored in rainwater tank also aids self sufficiency and can be used for agricultural purposes, watering in gardens, washing clothes and cars, flushing toilets, fighting fire and many others. Harvested rainwater can be used for drinking as well especially in case of unavailability of other water supplies, or if water supplied by other source is of poor quality or expensive. But one should take care that rain water before drinking is cleaned either by boiling or filtering as it may be contaminated.
Installation of tank can be done above ground but the surface should be kept opaque so as to prevent sunlight from entering it. This will prevent tank water from bloom of algae.
Ground Rainwater Tanks:
These rainwater tanks can even retain storm water which is released afterwards at the time of demand. In places where the climate is arid type, rain barrels are used for storing rain water during monsoon which is later supplied when periods are dryer.
Maintenance and cleanliness of storage tanks:
Initial cost of a rainwater tank may be high. This is the reason why in many homes are used rain barrels (small scale) for harvesting little quantities of water for applications like gardening and landscaping. In most of the cases these rain barrels are recycled from transport barrels or food storage barrels. However, in some cases there are used wine-ageing barrels or whiskey barrels which are mostly inexpensive. In countries where there are fewer options for potable water, some less expensive designs are prepared using low cost material available locally. Though most of them have been engineered for screening out mosquitoes, there is no adequate filtering. Closed-loop set up in such tanks serves as larvae breeding ground for mosquitoes. This makes these tanks unsafe for consumption of stored water as there are health risks. It is thus recommended to look after proper maintenance of Rainwater Tanks and their regular cleaning to avoid such risks.
Importance of Rainwater Tanks:
Rainwater collected and stored in rainwater tank for other constructive usage is called as Harvested Rainwater. By installing rainwater tank you ultimately reduce the usage of ‘mains' water which proves to be economic. Stored rainwater doesn't get wasted and is used for other important chores, which makes you environment friendly. Rainwater stored in rainwater tank also aids self sufficiency and can be used for agricultural purposes, watering in gardens, washing clothes and cars, flushing toilets, fighting fire and many others. Harvested rainwater can be used for drinking as well especially in case of unavailability of other water supplies, or if water supplied by other source is of poor quality or expensive. But one should take care that rain water before drinking is cleaned either by boiling or filtering as it may be contaminated.
Installation of tank can be done above ground but the surface should be kept opaque so as to prevent sunlight from entering it. This will prevent tank water from bloom of algae.
Ground Rainwater Tanks:
These rainwater tanks can even retain storm water which is released afterwards at the time of demand. In places where the climate is arid type, rain barrels are used for storing rain water during monsoon which is later supplied when periods are dryer.
Maintenance and cleanliness of storage tanks:
Initial cost of a rainwater tank may be high. This is the reason why in many homes are used rain barrels (small scale) for harvesting little quantities of water for applications like gardening and landscaping. In most of the cases these rain barrels are recycled from transport barrels or food storage barrels. However, in some cases there are used wine-ageing barrels or whiskey barrels which are mostly inexpensive. In countries where there are fewer options for potable water, some less expensive designs are prepared using low cost material available locally. Though most of them have been engineered for screening out mosquitoes, there is no adequate filtering. Closed-loop set up in such tanks serves as larvae breeding ground for mosquitoes. This makes these tanks unsafe for consumption of stored water as there are health risks. It is thus recommended to look after proper maintenance of Rainwater Tanks and their regular cleaning to avoid such risks.
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