What is rainwater harvesting?
What is rainwater harvesting, you ask? Rainwater harvesting—also known as rainwater catchment, rainwater capture, or rainwater collection—is the simple act of collecting the rainwater that runs off the hardscapes on your site for beneficial use.
There are passive methods for rainwater harvesting, including infiltration basins and bio-swales, that slow or stop the flow of runoff across your site. This allows stormwater to infiltrate into the ground, hydrating soils and recharging groundwater.
But the BlueBarrel System™ is for active rainwater harvesting, meaning you catch and store the water in barrels for later use. If used in the garden, stored rainwater will also hydrate soils and recharge groundwater. With active rainwater harvesting, you control when and how the water is used.
But why collect rainwater if I already have water available?
Rainwater harvesting is rising in popularity with renewed concerns about water supply, resource consumption, global climate change, and emergency preparedness. Many think of it as a new technology whose time has come, but at BlueBarrel, we like to remind folks that rainwater harvesting is an ancient technology whose time has returned. Truth is, people have been collecting rainwater since the beginning of time as part of living in harmony with the land. Now that you understand what is rainwater harvesting, let's get on to understanding why everyone should be doing it.
Everyone should be harvesting rainwater. Here's why:
Protect the Environment
The environmental benefits of rainwater harvesting are many! When you install a rainwater catchment system you are aligning with Mother Earth in a variety of ways:
- Reduce your Draw on Stressed Systems: Aging water infrastructure is expensive to update, and groundwater and reservoirs are often overdrawn. When you supply a portion of your own water from the rain that falls on your roof, you reduce your draw on these stressed systems.
- Restore the Hydrologic Cycle: In a natural landscape, approximately 50% of stormwater infiltrates into the ground, recharging groundwater. About 40% evaporates, and only 10% runs off. In developed landscapes by contrast (e.g. our neighborhoods!), only 15% infiltrates and a whopping 55% runs off! When you collect rainwater for use in your garden, you fix the broken hydrologic cycle by restoring the infiltration link.
- Manage Stormwater and Protect your Local Watershed: When rainwater infiltrates onsite, it is prevented from entering stormdrains and surface waters as polluted runoff. Left unmitigated, rainwater sheets off hardscapes collecting contaminants along the way. If everybody captures a little, we can take the peak off storm loads and the associated erosion and pollution. The result is healthier waterways.
- Reduce your Carbon Footprint: There is a strong nexus between energy and water in our modern world. In the state of California, for example, 20% of per-capita energy use is dedicated to treating, heating, and transporting water! By reducing your reliance on pumped and treated water sources, you are contributing to a collective savings in energy.
Nourish your Plants
Rainwater is high-quality water that is especially great for plants. Why? Four primary reasons:
- 100% Soft Water Source: Rainwater is free of the salts, minerals, and heavy metals that leach into groundwater and surface waters−a 100% soft water source!
- Contains Organic Matter: If caught from a rooftop and stored in barrels, rainwater will accumulate a small amount of organic matter which can be very beneficial to your garden.
- Perfect pH Balance: Rainwater tends to be slightly acidic. Most organically grown plants prefer a soil pH of 5.5 - 6.5, which is on the acidic side of the neutral pH 7. Rainwater can help you maintain the perfect soil pH balance.
- Natural Nitrate Delivery: Rainwater contains nitrates - the most bio-available form of nitrogen. This is one of the three macro-nutrients that plants rely on.
Be Prepared for Emergencies
There is tremendous peace of mind in knowing that you have many gallons of water stored and accessible on your site in the case of an emergency. While collected rainwater is not potable without treatment, in an emergency it can be disinfected with a variety of home-scale techniques for a reliable emergency water supply. Click here for an example from one BlueBarrel customer.
Save Money
The cost of water is rising in most regions and this trend is expected to continue with no end in sight. When you meet some of your water needs with rain, whether you're on a municipal water meter or a private well, you will see ongoing cost savings. Metered sites will see a drop in metered consumption, and those using wells will save in energy costs due to reduced pumping.
And speaking of costs savings, many cities and water districts sweeten the pot by offering rebates and incentives for rainwater harvesting. Click here to learn about rebate options in your area!
Increase Awareness and Wellbeing
Home-scale measures such as collecting rainwater for irrigation help us become more aware of our resource use. You will find yourself tuning into nature's flows as you observe the rate at which your system fills and empties, and the health of your garden throughout the seasons. You may connect with friends and neighbors to share inspiration about what you are doing to be more sustainable in your home. There is a sense of wellbeing and invigoration that comes with understanding and living in proportion to the earth's resources, and in turn, enjoying the garden's bounty!
