Rainwater Collection Systems Explained

Rainwater Collection in modern urban areas is something that is still new and at its infancy in many respects but with many areas these days experiencing changing climates the installation of rainwater collection systems is now becoming more popular.

The biggest question for many home owners is how to go about implementing rainwater collection and what type of rainwater collection system to install. There are many types on the market but broadly speaking you can divide rainwater collection systems into above ground and below ground systems.

When making your choice there is much to consider. Below ground rainwater collection systems are obviously the most efficient at collecting as much rainwater as possible. The fact that the inlet to the tank is below ground level allows rainwater to be diverted easily by the use of gravity from all of the roof area, thus maximising the rainwater collection potential of your roof. Despite being very efficient, below ground rainwater collection systems can be expensive to install. Installation costs include excavating the site and lack of access to existing residences can make these systems prohibitive to many houses.

Above ground rainwater collection systems are entirely different. These consist of rainwater tanks made of from plastic, concrete, stainless steel and timber, etc, etc. Set up costs for above ground rainwater collection systems are typically viable to more households. In most cases all that's required to start with is to connect a rainwater tank to a downspout, then connect an overflow, add a pump and then sit back and start collecting rainwater. Rainwater collection using this method can be limiting, unless you live in a very high rainfall area as rainwater collection from just one downspout typically doesn't yield large quantities of rainwater.

Therefore it appears as if both of the above mentioned rainwater collection methods do have their advantages but also their limitations. The obvious solution to the problem is to take the above ground rainwater collection system which is more cost effective to install and then adapt it so that it can collect rainwater from as much of the roof area as possible.

A rainwater collection system that has this ability is very important so as to make it viable and efficient. During times when rainfall is abundant collecting rainwater from one downspout may be sufficient but during hotter, drier times collecting as much rainwater as possible then becomes more important. Having the ability to connect adjacent downpipes to the inlet of a rainwater tank can increase the rainwater collected by 200 to 300%.

Another feature of the above ground rainwater collection system is that it can be installed in stages. This means that if cost is an issue there is no need for one large initial outlay, thus making it a very viable option.

So for people interested in setting up their own rainwater collection system, above ground rainwater tanks can be a very cost effective option and when installed to collect as much rainwater as possible this type of rainwater collection system is also very effective.