Rainwater Management

What Is Rainwater Management?

Compared to municipal hydrant water, rainfall or rainwater is softer and purer, provided the house has clear roofing and non-pollutant roofing accessories along with well-designed roof framing and lining. 

Here are a few ideas for rainwater usages:

• To water the garden or fuel the sprinkler or irrigation system
• Water plants
• Use it to clean vehicles
• To wash the pets
• Refill the fish pond and fountains
• Refill swimming pool
• Use rainwater to clean sidewalks, windows, and driveways
• Utilize it for domestic non-potable fixtures such as dishwasher, washing clothing, toilet, showering, bathing, etc.   

Advantages Of Rainwater Management 

The advantages of rainwater harvesting are plenty, though here are a few of the most crucial ones:

Reduces Erosion And Flooding

Harvesting rainfall is beneficial to the environment in many ways. For example, it can minimize erosion in gardens and around downspouts. In addition to that, it can help manage stormwater runoff. 

Moreover, rainwater doesn’t create corrosion and scaly hard water. Also, it may prevent flooding in specific areas. 

Minimizes Water Bill

Rainwater management will help people save on water bills. As a result, it also can enable governments to slash costs for whole communities. 

When people rely on rainwater, they can substantially reduce their dependency on water treatment supplies and other water services. 

Reduces Dependency On Groundwater 

All over the world, groundwater sources are under immense pressure because of demand. Digging deep wells isn’t only costly but can also cause damage to the environment, such as collapsing soil. 

Additionally, the harvested water can be collected, stored, and utilized during droughts or when groundwater sources are depleted.

Types Of Roofs

When it comes to rainwater management, the type of roof matters most. This is because it’s the initial layer in the overall rainwater harvesting process. 

Here are some types that will work wonders:

• Tin
• Asphalt shingles
• Clay roof tiles and slates 
• Ceramic
• Rubber
• Cement

In contrast, here are a few roof types people should avoid at all costs:

• Wood
• Shake Shingles
• Cedar

Elements Of Roof-Top Rainwater Management

The process of rooftop rainwater management includes using additions such as rainwater heads, filtering, storage, etc.

Here are a few common elements involved in this entire process:

Catchments

The catchment is a surface that collects the water and routes it to the rainwater harvesting system. This could be paved surfaces, like a courtyard or terrace, or a non-coated surface like the backyard. 

People can also use their roofs to collect rainwater. Some of the best roofing for rainwater harvesting include:

• Corrugated metal roofing
• Reinforced concrete (RC) roofing
• Membrane roofing

Spout And Gutter

Channels near the sides of the sloping roof collect and carry rainfall to the water tank. Therefore, the size of the spouting and gutters should be as per the flow in torrential rains. Nevertheless, it’s recommended to make the channels 10-15% larger. 

They can be made of galvanized plain sheet, polyvinyl chloride (PCV) sheet, or bamboo trunks. 

Conduits

People need a combination of rainwater heads and gutters to collect rainwater. However, to transport the water to the tank, users need roof drains or downpipes. They can be made of either galvanized iron or PVC, like spouting and gutters. 

First Flushing

A first-flush or rain diverter is a valve used to ensure that runoff from the rain’s first spell doesn’t enter the harvesting system and is discarded. 

It’s crucial because the first spell of rain carries comparatively larger contaminants from the catchment surface and the air. 

However, to enhance the system and get purified rainwater, consumers can add roof flashings and cappings along with the first-flushing device. 

Filter

A filter is utilized to eliminate suspended contaminants from the rainwater collected from the roof. It’s a chamber loaded with filtering materials such as coarse sand, gravel, and fiber to remove dirt and debris before the water enters the storage tank. 

Storage Facility

There are numerous options to choose from in terms of the storage facility. They’re available in different shapes, materials, and sizes:

• Shape: Some of the forms include rectangular, square, and cylindrical
• Material: Some of the common materials include reinforced concrete, metal sheets, and plastics sheets
• Tank Position: Based on the available space, these storage tanks can be built above ground, entirely underground, or partly underground

Recharge Structures

Rainfall could be charged in the underground water aquifers; this is an underground coating of water-bearing porous rock or unconsolidated rock materials such as sand, silt, or gravel.

This collection is maintained inside fitting structures like borewells, recharge pits, recharge trenches, or dug wells.  

Factors To Consider

Here are a few factors to consider beforehand:

Storage Tank Size

People should first consider the tank size, which depends on where the rainwater will be used? 

For instance, people who aim to use it to irrigate large lands will require more extensive storage tanks compared to those utilizing it for home-usage. 

Property Size

Apart from the tank size, individuals should consider property size; in other words, where will that tank be placed? 

Choose a water tank that fits in easily. And avoid setting up an industrialized size tank in the residential area. 

The Roof Size

If the catchment area or roof size is tiny, rainwater harvesting might not work appropriately because a small roof collects less water, which won’t be enough even for home-usage.