Question

Describe rain water harvesting grey water harvesting preparation of drinking water from these water sources

Answer 1

Rain water conservation process can be easily practiced in individual homes, apartments, parks, offices and temples too, across the world. Farmers have revitalized their dry bore wells, created water banks in drought areas, greened their farms, increased the sustainability of their water resources & even created a river. Technical know-how for the rooftop Rainwater harvesting with direct storage can be availed for better implementation. Rainwater harvesting an effective method in water-scarce times, it is also an easily doable practice.

Rainwater is the purest form of water there is. Compared to your public drinking water supply, it is relatively low in mineral content. (If we were to actually consider it, rainwater forms part of the public water supply for most of the world’s population. As we all know, our public water supply comes from two main sources: ground water sources [such as wells] and surface water sources [e.g. lakes, rivers, and streams]. The latter acquires a lot of rainwater during times of torrential downpour.) Rainwater is also considered to have lower levels of pollution, mold, pollen, and other kinds of contaminants compared to our public water supply. Keep in mind, though, that rain can and does pick up some amounts of bacteria as well as dust and even the occasional insect parts, so it is crucial that you filter rainwater before you attempt to drink it.

After you’ve collected rainwater, then you should proceed to making it utterly safe for drinking. There are two ways by which you can do this: boiling and filtration. Through boiling, you can kill off any pathogens; while filtration simply removes chemicals, pollen, dust, mold, and other particulates.

There are many benefits to drinking rainwater, some of which are the following:

• It contains alkaline pH, which has detoxifying effects and also promotes a healthy digestion. The toxins and free radicals we ingest and absorb every day make our blood more acidic. Rainwater, with its alkaline pH, helps to neutralize our blood pH, thus helping to make our body function in a more efficient manner.
• It has low mineral content. The public drinking water supply in many parts of the world is often laced with fluoride and chlorine for the purpose of killing off germs in the water. However, sometimes too much of these minerals are put in the supply, and this can cause various health problems like headaches, gastritis, and damaged body organs. With rainwater, you won’t have this kind of problem.
• It promotes healthy skin and hair. Since rain lacks minerals, this makes it very mild as a natural water. This is good for our hair and skin, as its gentle quality and its alkaline pH helps to maintain the skin’s natural moisture and promote healthy hair growth

Methods of Rainwater Harvesting

There are many ways in which rainwater can be harvested. Some of these methods are very effective and can aid in the collection of a lot of water even for commercial activities while others are only suitable for harvesting water meant for domestic use. Every system has its merits and demerits. These are the common methods of rainwater harvesting:

1. Surface Water Collection Systems: Surface water is simply water that accumulates on the ground’s surface. When rainwater falls on the surface of the earth, it usually flows down slopes as it moves towards a point of depression where the moving water can collect. Surface water collection systems enable the collection of ground surface rainwater before it flows to other locations. Examples of such systems include rivers, ponds, and wells. Drainage pipes can be used to direct water into these systems. Water can then be fetched from these sources and then used for other purposes.

2. Rooftop system: These can also be used to harvest rainwater. They can be used to direct rainwater that falls on the roof of a building into containers or tanks. These tanks are usually elevated so that when the tap is opened, water flows at a high pressure. This method of rainwater harvesting is good because the accumulated water is mostly clean and usually requires no further treatment to make it fit for human use.

3. Dams: These are barriers that are designed to trap water. Rainwater can accumulate directly in them or drainage systems can be created to direct water into them. Water collected in dams is mostly used for irrigation purposes or treated and then distributed for domestic use. They can also be used to harvest a lot of water because of the way in which they are modeled. Unlike ponds, measures are put in place to reduce the amount of water draining into the ground.

4. Underground Tanks: These are also ideal for collecting rainwater. They are constructed by digging into the ground and creating a space which is then cemented to reduce water infiltration. The top is also sealed and water is obtained through pipes directed into the tank. To get water out, pumps are used. Underground tanks are wonderful for harvesting rainwater because the rate of evaporation is reduced since they are located underground where sunlight does not really penetrate.

5. Rainsaucer: Sometimes one can decide to collect rainwater directly as it falls from the sky by using a rain-saucer. These look like upside down umbrellas or big funnels. Some are usually attached to a pipe so that the collected water is directed elsewhere. Some people also do a little improvisation by placing the collecting container underground with only the rain-saucer above the ground. It is a simple method yet effective.

6. Water Collection Reservoirs: Water collected through this method is not really clean and may be contaminated. However, it can still be used for crop irrigation. Such rainwater is harvested from roads and pavements.

7. Barrage: A barrage is a dam that has several openings which can be closed or opened to control the quantity of water that passes through it. It is usually large and can be used to collect a lot of water.

8. Slopes: Rainwater tends to collect at the bottom of slopes when it flows on the ground. When it rains heavily, water levels can rise to the hill top. This is a simple and natural way to harvest rainwater.

9. Trenches: This is another great way to harvest rainwater for irrigation. When it rains, the water is directed to the farm using trenches. It is one of the traditional methods of rainwater harvesting that is still very much in use today.

10. Rain Barrels: These are also used for rainwater harvesting. They are specifically designed for this purpose and can be purchased from retail stores. Rain barrels are used for harvesting rainwater that falls on rooftops.