by: Charlene Rennick
“; } ?>
As the urban horizon reaches its outward limits and begins its climb upward, the number of people per square city foot, increases in density. The impact that this kind of population crunching has on the demand for municipal water supplies is enormous. Recent water bans in this vast country of inland lakes demonstrates the kind of blunt force that urban density has on water supply.
Aquifers include any geological structures that hold or move ground water and are a source for underground wells or springs. They can become stressed or experience accelerated erosion due to the strain of providing water for such high density urban structures.
To offset some of the pressure of supplying clean water where there is a high demand, a simple addition of green technology can make a huge difference. Rainwater harvesting is a free source of water and is a renewable energy source. It can be used for washing and watering. Once the initial expense of the collection and storage equipment is relieved, the savings can be recouped very quickly.
Many countries in the Caribbean and South America have been harvesting rainwater for domestic use during the past 300 years.
What do you need to Harvest Rainwater?
The first piece of equipment is usually free. It is called the catchment area and is the roof of your house. The conveyance system includes the eaves, trough and gutters if you are able to collect from your rooftop. Before setting up under your roof, it will need to be determined if any toxic substances have been used in its construction. These could contaminate the rainwater. If your roof is made of wood, plastic, fibreglass or aluminium, it is safe to use. Clean cisterns are essential to store the water. Pump(s) are required to remove water from the cistern and a filtration device is necessary to remove dust and pollens. Any of this equipment can be purchased or built easily.
If your roof is not an option, uncoated stainless steel, galvanized steel, reinforced concrete or baked-enamel finishes can be used as a catchment basin. Make sure it says lead-free. The following components are the minimum requirements for a catchment basin, according to http://www.toolbase.org/Technology-Inventory/Sitework/rainwater-harvesting:
- A solid secure cover
- A coarse inlet filter
- An overflow pipe
- A manhole, sump, and drain to facilitate cleaning
- An extraction system that does not contaminate the water; e.g., a tap or pump
- A soakaway to prevent spilled water from forming puddles near the tank
Additional features might include:
A device to indicate the amount of water in the tank
- A sediment trap, tipping bucket, or other "foul flush" mechanism
- A lock on the tap
- A second sub-surface tank to provide water for livestock, etc.
Hydroponic gardens are the perfect place to start using harvested rainwater. The principle of recycled water is inherent in this style of plant care. Nutrients are added to the water source and recirculate to nourish the plant. This minimizes the quantity of water needed. Even a large plastic barrel as a catchment basin with an inexpensive hand-held filter system would provide enough water for a small-scale domestic hydroponic kitchen garden or home operation.
Square Foot Gardening
I couldn’t understand some parts of this article, but it sounds interesting