Rainwater harvesting can be an incredibly good idea,
especially in Britain, where we have such a changeable climate. With plenty of
wet days, the opportunity of collecting water to reuse is both rewarding and
cost effective.
So why is it important that we all try and collect rain and
storm water?
Let’s go back to basics - we get a lot of storm water in
Britain. This can pick up rubbish, chemicals, dirt and other pollutants and
flow into a storm sewer system or directly to lakes, streams, rivers, wetlands
and coastal waters. Everything that enters the storm sewer system is left
untreated and discharged into the water bodies we use for swimming, fishing and
for drinking water.
During a period of heavy rainfall in urban areas, the
surfaces of streets, pavements and roofs collect excess rainwater, causing
environmental problems. The flow of water and dissolved contaminants range from
chemicals applied to lawns, organic animal waste and metal waste from copper,
nickel and zinc roofs and cars, which are deposited in nearby rivers and
streams of water. This happens because the building materials we use in today’s
society doesn't allow for storm water to permeate through the ground in built
up areas.
The runoff of contaminated storm water can have many
adverse effects on plants, fish, animals and people, such as:
· Sediment can cloud the water and makes it difficult
or impossible the growth of aquatic plants. Sediment can also destroy aquatic
habitats.
· Excess nutrients can cause algae blooms. When the
algae die, they sink to the bottom and decompose in a process that removes
oxygen from the water. Fish and other aquatic organisms cannot exist in water
with low dissolved oxygen levels.
· Bacteria and other pathogens can reach swimming areas and
create health hazards, often making beach closures necessary.
· Rubbish such as plastic bags, bottles and cigarette butts
that reach water bodies can choke, suffocate or disable aquatic species like ducks,
fish, turtles and birds.
· Household hazardous wastes like insecticides, pesticides,
paint, solvents and other vehicle fluids can poison aquatic life. Land animals
and people can become sick or die from eating diseased fish and shellfish or
ingesting polluted water.
· Polluted storm water frequently affects drinking water sources.
This in turn can affect human health and increase the costs of drinking water treatment.
By harvesting rainwater in water butts, we help to allay
some of these effects and can also reuse this water supply as and when we need
it. Not only that, but you can help the water supply in times of drought,
because you would have stocked up and also save some money on your water bills
too!
