An introduction to rainwater harvesting

Gain an understanding of what rainwater harvesting is and learn the basics of how rainwater harvesting systems work by exploring the main types of systems, key benefits, and essential project considerations.

In this module, you’ll get an introduction to rainwater harvesting by learning about critical project considerations, the main types of rainwater harvesting systems, and the key benefits associated with using these systems.

This module is to be used as a general overview only, please check your local regulations and guidelines.
Our water resources are under pressure. Demand for water is rising due to population increases, lifestyle shifts, and climate change.
Solutions like rainwater harvesting can help overcome such challenges. Rainwater harvesting is simply collecting and storing rainwater to use for purposes such as  flushing toilets, watering gardens, or even washing clothes.
It’s a great way of reducing your customers’ reliance on mains water supplies and can help them achieve a significant saving on water consumption.

Harvesting rainwater is a much more sustainable approach to using water in domestic settings, especially for communities that rely on imported water to supply their needs. Rainwater harvesting can benefit households and the environment by:
* Preserving our natural water sources
* Relieving pressure on mains water supplies
* Reducing water bills
* Reducing the risk of flooding (as less rainwater is discharged to drains, sewers, and rivers)
* Reducing energy use within communities
* Meeting new energy and water efficiency standards"

It’s important to make sure that a rainwater harvesting system is suitable for your customers’ needs. Before starting a rainwater harvesting project, let’s look at some things to consider:

How much water can be collected?
Calculate the amount of rain that falls in your region and assess the size of your collection area to understand if demand can be met.

How much water needs to be stored? And the costs? Choosing the right tank is key to minimising costs. Its size needs to balance cost and storage capacity. It should also have an overflow which is connected to the sewer mains. Occasional overflows help flush out floating debris and reduce maintenance.

There are different types of rainwater harvesting systems that you could consider:
* Water collected in storage tank(s) and pumped directly to points of use;
* Water collected in storage tank(s) and fed by gravity to points of use;
* and Water collected in storage tank(s), pumped to an elevated cistern, and fed by gravity to the points of use.

Ready to learn more about Grundfos rainwater harvesting pump solutions? Explore our range and learn how to distribute rainwater from collection to usage point. Dive into the issues and solutions in the following modules.

Course overview

Modules
Modules: 4
Completion time
Completion time: 20 minutes
Difficulty level
Difficulty level: Intermediate