Convenience is something we have all come to appreciate, but at a cost. While we can all go to the sink right now and get a fresh glass of water, it should be made known that there are times when you should use city water and times where using harvested rainwater instead.

The most basic of rainwater harvesting techniques are put together for watering plants, irrigation, and even air conditioning. You don’t have to sanitize the water for these operations, making them simple projects that any homeowner can do. Something as simple as routing rainwater from a gutter to a large bucket is enough to have water for plants for a week or more as long as evaporation is kept in check.

You probably wouldn’t think it clean to wash your clothes in rainwater. In some cases it probably wouldn’t be, but with the proper harvesting system and filter it’s never been easier to clean clothes with pure water. A typical wash will take many gallons of water. And while that won’t be a great deal of resources at once, over the course of a year it will save a ton of money and help the environment.

You may also consume rainwater if it has been properly cleaned. Because there are special filters necessary to make the water pure, you should never attempt the project yourself or without a filter. Drinking rainwater directly can sometimes be dangerous and should not be attempted. Even businesses are starting to use harvested rainwater for consumption- but only according to regulations and following safety standards.

Emergency services use rainwater as well. Firefighting agencies fill reserve tanks with alternative water sources such as lakes, ponds, streams, and rainwater. Alternative water sources allow firefighters to route funds to more important matters, instead of paying it to a monthly water bill. You would be surprised at how much just a routine training exercise uses in terms of gallons of water- proving the need for greener practices.

Some arguments state that using city water isn’t harmful to the environment like other more extreme matters. The fact is that water facilities take a lot of energy and man power to operate. If you can use rainwater with low-energy systems to get work around the house done, you will be conserving energy. With more energy saved, the environment will be less strained.

In Conclusion

Even if you aren’t familiar with the act of building your own rain harvesting system, you should take on a project or two as a hobby. The family can pitch in and help the cause in their free time. It’ll bring the family closer together during the process of helping the environment.

Learn more about sustainable building and Asheville.