City water is still relatively cheap and abundant in Calgary Canada, although there are carbon costs attached. Here we think of the concrete that goes into storage dams and reservoirs, not mention the networks of pipes and electricity that drive the system.
Low-carbon rainwater harvesting is becoming increasingly popular, as residents shoulder their responsibility to do something about global warming. Sure, the storage tanks and pumps come at a carbon cost, but after that, the rainwater is almost refreshingly free.
Are You Saying I Could Drink the Water from My Tank?
No, not at all unless you want to invest in a reverse osmosis water filter. Of course, you may already have one, because you do not trust the chemicals the municipality adds to make the council water drinkable.
An alternative model uses bottled water for human consumption, and low-carbon rainwater harvested for other household purposes. There are two levels of rainwater collection and consumption to consider.
A Low Level Method for Collecting Rainwater
The eaves trough water discharges into a tank through a leaf filter at the most elementary level. The user draws the water from a tap a distance from the bottom, where the sediment collects. The overflow enters the storm water drain.
However, you could also add a demand-driven electric motor, that feeds the stored water into your home system. A series of valves would allow you to choose between own water, and the municipal supply.
Comprehensive Low-Carbon Rainwater Harvesting
The arrangement in our second image would suit a householder, or business without access to municipal water, or subject to interrupted supplies. In this example, the eaves trough water enters a header tank after leaf / debris filtering, before passing through a sand filter on its way to the main, underground tank.
From there, a demand pump delivers the water through a final filter to a secondary tank. This water then enters the domestic system via a pump, and potentially feeds the entire house.
Reasons to Consider Harvesting Rainwater
The direct financial benefits are minimal. It could take decades to recover the financial outlay. However, water is a scarce resource, and we should conserve it wherever we can. Besides, a large proportion of harvested domestic rainwater eventually enters the sewage system, where it gains a second life after reprocessing.
This information comes to you with compliments of Valiant Exteriors Limited. We are Calgary’s small, family-owned roofers and siding specialists, with great ways to make your home simply better.
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Image: Low-Carbon Rainwater Harvesting Image Adityamail BY CC 3.0