Most Precious Resource | Water facts | How to gain from rain | Saving the World | Drought protection | Reduce your water use

Making the most of the world's most precious resource.

In the UK we are complacent about our water. Our water is cheaper than in many countries and only 22% of domestic properties are metered. It is a tradition for our European neighbours to mock us for our wet summers. Yet in fact the UK is classified as a country with insufficient water. Madrid and Istanbul have more water available per person than London. Global warming is accepted now whether man-made or cyclical, and so we must make the best use of our precious water and prevent the situation deteriorating. 

Rainwater harvesting has a significant role to play in doing this. The Code for Sustainable Homes came into force for state-funded housing in April 2007 and could be applicable to private housing in 2008. This Code assesses homes for sustainability in 9 categories, including 2 to do with water. One aims to reduce drinking quality water consumption and the other to reduce flood risk. Currently 30 to 50% of the 160 litres of water each person uses a day need not be drinking quality water. Using rainwater from our own roofs would greatly reduce consumption. Collecting rainwater also contributes towards avoiding floods. Other new Building Regulations may impose rainwater harvesting in large building projects in the south and east. But whether as a householder or a concerned professional, we can move ahead on our own account without waiting for official rules and regs. And whether with a 200 litre water butt to water seedlings or a 10000 litre storage tank linked to the home, we can all maximise our use of rainwater and relieve the water shortage in this country.