Water Conservation & Rainwater Harvesting

Over the years rising populations, growing industrialization, and expanding agriculture have pushed up the demand for water. Efforts have been made to collect water by building dams and reservoirs and digging wells; some countries have also tried to recycle and desalinate (remove salts) water. Water conservation has become the need of the day. The idea of ground water recharging by harvesting rainwater is gaining importance in many cities.

In the forests, water seeps gently into the ground as vegetation breaks the fall. This groundwater in turn feeds wells, lakes, and rivers. Protecting forests means protecting water ‘catchments’.

In urban areas, the construction of houses, footpaths and roads has left little exposed earth for water to soak in.

Rainwater harvesting is the gathering, or accumulating and storing, of rainwater. Traditionally, rainwater harvesting has been practiced in areas where water exists in plenty, and has provided drinking water, domestic water, water for livestock, water for small irrigation and a way to increase ground water levels.

Not only does this recharging arrest groundwater depletion, it also raises the declining water table and can help augment water supply. The artificial recharging are becoming very important issues. It is essential to stop the decline in groundwater levels, arrest sea-water ingress, prevent sea-water from moving landward, and conserve surface water run-off during the rainy season.

Specco Treatment Inc. believes in the responsible management and design of systems that are functional and especially engineering designed to provide & comply with those purposes in a safety manner. Specco is proud of represent big companies like Cultec, Atlantis & Rainwater Harvesting in which each of them have the knowledge and experience that complement our vision with the environment and in this specific case, stormwater.

Cultec’s specialty is in below ground stormwater detention ponds. They work with both traffic rated ponds and non-traffic rated ponds. Cultec System is the only system that can be worked in more that one level of recharged chambers. This is a big advantage because the foot print of the pond can be reducing substantially.

Also, Cultec have a complete system compose of manifolds, feed connectors, recharger chambers, stormfilter, filter fabric and polyethylene linear. Not just your system will be good engineered designed it also will be more functional and effective than any other system in the market.

There are many types of systems to harvest rainwater. Notable systems are systems for runoff rainwater and rooftop rainwater harvesting system. The type used depends greatly on the purpose (domestic or industrial use) and to some extent also on economics and physical and human considerations.

Atlantis have innumerous alternatives that can meet any applications focused on the runoff or rooftop rainwater harvesting system. Some examples are their permeable paving or drainage cells and multi-functional D-Rain Tanks..Atlantis work with drainage cells both for runoff rainwater and rooftop rainwater applications.

Also, Atlantis have alternatives for the collection of rainwater below ground both no matter if it is for reuse or for drainage, both alternatives can be handle with the D-raintank products. All of this companies are independent of each other, however have the specially engineered systems in which we first believe as professional, effective and warranty us the excellent results that every of us expect.

As rainwater may be contaminated, it is often not considered suitable for drinking without treatment. However, there are many examples of rainwater being used for all purposes – including drinking – following suitable treatment.

Rainwater harvested from roofs can contain animal and bird feces, mosses and lichens, windblown dust, particulates from urban pollution, pesticides, and inorganic ions from the sea (Ca, Mg, Na, K, Cl, SO4), and dissolved gases (CO2, NOx, SOx). High levels of pesticide have been found in rainwater in Europe with the highest concentrations occurring in the first rain immediately after a dry spell, the concentration of these and other contaminants are reduced significantly by diverting the initial flow of water to waste as described above.

A mechanism can be used to send the initial water flow to waste, usually the first few liters. These are commonly known as ‘first-flush’ diverters, and are used to increase the chance that the large-particle residue that might accumulate on a collection surface is washed away from (and not into) the storage tank.

Such a system also compensates for the fact that the initial minutes of a rainfall can include airborne pollutants being washed from the sky (chlorination is needed), and likewise minimizes contamination of the captured supply. Simple but regular inspection and maintenance of such a device is usually necessary. The water may need to be analyzed properly, and used in a way appropriate to its safety.

Rainwater Harvesting provide all the necessary equipment for the design and creation of any individual, household and business systems that are interest in the reuse of rainwater ensuring that the water remains a sustainable resource safety for both human health and natural environment.

Depending on the application and conditions of the stormwater to be collected, they select the components that better fit the rainwater harvesting system. They can provide you with rain heads, water diverters, tank screen, water tank, insect proof screens, flap valves, tank overflow outlets, pump systems etc..

At the moment, 2 types of systems are generally used. These include home improvements and commercial systems. Both of these systems are known under the term water harvesters. In both cases, the system consists of a storage tank that as mentioned before can be provide by Atlatis, Cultec or Rainwater Harvesting, to store the water and piping (to guide the water in).

Additionally, extra pressuring equipment as pressure vessels, inline pump controllers or pressure sensitive pumps may also be required and can be provide by Rainwater Harvesting Inc. Finally, water purifying equipment as water-purifying plants, UV-lights or filtration equipment are sometimes (depending on local conditions) added to purify the collected water.

Atlantis also have a division named Atlantis Ultraviolet which is specialize as the name indicated, in ultraviolet systems for this application too. Specco also represent companies like Water Tech who also can provide you with alternatives for Filtration Equipments.

Depending on local circumstances, a gravity-fed system may already be enough to have a pressured water collection system. In the latter case, no pumps/pressure vessels are thus required to have a pressured system. In practice, gravity-controlled systems are usually created by placing the water harvester on an elevation (rooftops).

Solar pumps are great use for this type of systems, since they are fill the tank during day light and store kinetic energy that can be use all day long through saving electricity. For this you can also considered our Specco Renewable Energy division.

Rainwater tanks may be constructed from materials such as plastic (polyethilene) and concrete as well as fiberglass and stainless steel which are rust and chemical-resistant. Tanks are usually installed above ground, and are usually opaque to prevent the exposure of stored water to sunlight, to decrease alga blooms. Tanks may be covered and have screen inlets to exclude insects, debris, animals and bird droppings.

Typically, rain is collected on rooftops and other surfaces, and the water is carried down to where it can be used immediately or stored. You can direct water run-off from this surface to plants, trees or lawns or even to the aquifer.

Some of the benefits of rainwater harvesting are as follows:

Reasons For Using Rainwater & Conserve Water
To store water at an economical cost. To save money on your water bills. You see the value in pure fresh natural rainwater.
To prevent the impact of stormwater run-off on the local environment by detaining or retaining runoff and preventing flood levels to increase.
Increases water availability.
Checks the declining water table.
Is environmentally friendly.
Improves the quality of groundwater through the dilution of fluoride, nitrate, and salinity.
Prevents soil erosion and flooding especially in urban areas.

Leave a comment