Harvest Rainwater to End Water Deprivation-


It is a startling reality that fresh water may become very expensive in the next coming years, as water rates are rising rapidly in drought ridden areas throughout the United States. The United Nations recently reported, in their “Coping with Water Scarcity” article, that about two thirds of the globe’s inhabitants will be facing water shortage issues by the year 2025. As it stands now, about twenty-six countries are grouped as water stressed – meaning they do not have enough water to sustain economic and agricultural development. This is because roughly 97 percent of the earth’s water is saltwater and another 2 percent is held in ice caps and glaciers, leaving only about 1 percent of fresh, drinkable water to be consumed by billions of individuals. A large amount of the world depends on natural underground water storage tanks called aquifers. Unfortunately, the demand outweighs supply in most areas and the people are forced to dig even deeper wells, which lower water levels in every continent. It has been reported that Chinese officials are contemplating a shift in the country’s capital from Beijing due to severe water scarcity. In the U.S., the Colorado River is ranked as one of the worlds most stressed and over-used rivers. Southern California consumes 14 percent more than its share from the Colorado River, leaving little water to flow downstream and nourish the Colorado delta in Mexico. Consequently, the once vivacious ecosystem there has turned into a desiccate area. “Up until a hundred years ago, we were hardly using but a fraction of the Earth’s water,” states William Cosgrove, of the World Water Council. “Today we are using more than half of it and the result is we are reaching a dangerous point that is not sustainable.”

This water demand calls for a major change in the way we access and control water supply. It does not seem reasonable, nor understandable to let our rainwater flow away unused, when we have substantial technology which allows the capture and filtration of this limited natural resource. Rainwater harvesting systems seem to be the answer to water shortages, as they are fitted to storm water drains on building roofs to catch the abundant falling rainwater. The rainwater then enters the tank through a filter, which removes leaves and other materials. The storage tank is typically buried under car or vehicle driveways, gardens, or under accessible entrances. It contains a pump which pushes the rainwater to the building where it is piped into toilets and outside taps. Dependent upon your normal water consumption, the rainwater harvesting system can save 30 to 50 percent of treated drinking water from the mains in homes and can save up to 80 percent of the treated drinking water in businesses or commercial buildings. Both rural and metropolitan communities should come together to plan for large-scale rainwater harvesting as a way of reducing water costs and sustaining crop production in seasons with low rainfall. This would eliminate worry for lack of water during off-rainfall seasons and would help support the surrounding population if water crisis does occur. However, rainwater harvesting systems can be very expensive to install, costing anywhere from $8,000 to $100,000.

Another (less costly) method for home water use is the pondless waterfall. Pondless waterfalls consist of a lined hole filled with rocks and a pump which recirculates the water. The system is low maintenance, costs much less than rainwater harvesting systems and takes up very little space. Pondless waterfall kits can be purchased from $1,000 and include all you need to create your own backyard waterfall. Rocks can be bought from $500 to $1,500 but many system users collect rocks themselves to alleviate the extra costs and they work just as well. Although that method of water conservation works for home use, the big picture calls for larger-scale, nation-wide rainwater recycling. Despite high costs associated with rainwater harvesting, the government should be held accountable for putting these systems in place for the good of its country’s people in times of water emergency. A strategy requiring that all commercial buildings have rainwater harvesting systems should be arranged, so that the government can play an extensive role in reducing domestic poverty, climate change acclimation and supporting the U.N’s Millennium Development Goal on water No. 7c. If you find that rainwater harvesting may be beneficial for your community, voice your concerns for the environment and economy to your local government officials, urging them to implement a water conservation program before it is too late.