Water Wise Plumbing
It’s a no-brainer that people are keen on water-wise plumbing in a dry continent like Australia. Throw in some weather extremes along with El Nino, and we get even worse drought issues. Can you save water and money with retrofit changes to your house and habits? Here’s a couple of ideas to get you thinking:
Harvesting Water
Water harvesting means collecting the rainwater off your roof, and possibly other surfaces, and storing it in a tank to be used later. Rainwater is excellent for gardens and flushing the toilet. You can also use it for filling the swimming pool and washing the car. And the big attraction for collected rainwater? It’s free, so it can reduce your water bill. Most households, if not all, can install a tank and collect the rainwater off the roof. Your driveway is a good option for collecting ground runoff. In apartments, rain can be collected for the whole building and the water can be used to benefit all the residents, think small gardens, for instance. The water can also be filtered through water filtration systems for other purposes inside your home.
Do the Math
Before embarking on tank purchase and installation, getting some data together is a good idea. What size tank do you need? What is the area of my roof? What is the average rainfall where I live? Is there room for the tank and to what use will I put the water? Where is the tank best situated for optimal rain harvesting, and should the tank be connected to the household mains so the water can be used indoors – flushing toilets, for example? Think about this – using rainwater for your toilets, laundry and gardening will save you 70% of your annual water bill! Also, check with your local council about incentives or rebates that may apply if you go down that harvesting path. Councils are up to date with sustainability issues and can point you in the right direction to specialists who can help with your project. (more…)
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