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

How to gain from rain (or what's in it for me?)

OK, so at long last more and more of us are realising that our water is precious. The UK has been spoilt so far: we have had cheap and plentiful water, but this is changing. We need to use water more efficiently. But however “green” we are, we all want to know how much it will cost us and save us. The summer of 2006 showed a lot of us what it was like having a prolonged hosepipe ban on watering gardens and washing cars. Current proposals will extend the ban to activities such as filling swimming pools, ornamental ponds, hot tubs, cleaning drives, patios and windows. With long term forecasts predicting an equally dry summer for 2007, collecting rainwater effectively is becoming an important consideration. Installing a couple of 200 litre water butts may help to keep precious seedlings alive during a hose pipe ban. For those with large and expensively-planted gardens, regular watering becomes crucial during a drought. And owners of pools and hot tubs may find them unusable just when they want to use them most. The larger the tank installed, the more security in a long dry summer.

Further up the scale, a full rainwater harvesting system including, for example, a 3000 litre tank plus accessories for use in the home (filters, pump, control panel) might well cost £3000. And if the tank is put underground and plumbing alterations made to connect the system to WCs and washing machines, then the cost could double. This seems a hefty investment when we’re used to getting our water for so cheaply. But as we keep saying, the situation is changing: a rainwater harvesting system may seem a large investment with no immediate financial gain, but as an investment in your home’s future and improving the environment it is without doubt worthwhile:

The recently introduced Code for Sustainable Homes will (along with other categories) assess homes for reduction in drinking water consumption and flood risk. Homes with effective rainwater harvesting facilities are likely to be viewed more favourably by potential purchasers. The investment will be worth it in the resale price.

From June 2007, all property being sold will need a “Home Information Pack”. This includes an “Energy Performance Certificate” giving current heating, hotwater and lighting costs and later may include a water use assessment. Again rainwater use will be viewed positively.

water bills estimated to rise 10% in the next 5 years

currently only 28% of domestic households are metered but all new homes are now required to have them; records show that metered homes use 10% less water; having a meter and using rainwater could reduce your water bill;

With the recent huge growth in "being green", homes with rain water harvesting facilities are likely to be viewed more favourably by potential purchasers: the investment will be worth it in the resale price

Likelihood of Government grants and/or tax rebates for homes installing rainwater harvesting systems. The pressure is on to persuade the Government to implement grants such as exist in Germany where in some areas a grant of £1000 is given towards the cost of installation. Germany now has 50 000 rainwater harvesting systems installed every year (500 000 in total).

Even if the growth in rainwater harvesting would eventually reduce revenues for water companies, this is offset by the saving to them of constructing new reservoirs or desalination plants to cater for the ever-increasing water demand. Thames Water hopes to build the UK's first desalination plant supplying 150 million litres a day. A little bit of investment by householders in the south and they could be saved the trouble.

And you can keep your garden green and make your life greener!!

A 2003/04 survey of English Housing found that 18, 908. 000 households have a garden, patio, yard, roof terrace or large balcony: just think how much water we could save if everyone used rainwater!