Water Security

RAINWATER HARVESTING IS VITAL FOR THE
FUTURE OF SUSTAINABLE WATER RESOURCES 
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Personal Water Security Begins With
​Rainwater Harvesters
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Rainwater Harvesters are part of the solution!

​THE WATER CONSERVATION BENEFITS OF RAINWATER HARVESTING

Rainwater harvesting has many benefits but the main one is that it is a sustainable water management practice that can be implemented by anyone on many different levels, from a simple rain barrel to a
comprehensive rainwater harvesting system that integrates with an irrigation system or household plumbing.

When you think about it… do we need to use municipally treated water to sprinkle on our lawns and landscaping? 
​Definitely not!  Harvested rainwater is the perfect candidate for irrigation use in addition to so many other water uses. 


By using rainwater harvesting systems to supply water for some,
​or all of our water needs, you can reduce our dependence on municipally treated water.
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Overall, rainwater harvesting is viewed as a practice that is socially acceptable and
​environmentally responsible all the while, promoting self-sufficiency.
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​THE ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFITS OF RAINWATER HARVESTING

• The rainwater that falls on your roof and property is essentially free.  All it takes is a method to harvest it into a tank or cistern for later use.
• Rainwater harvesting can be a great educational tool to get people to recognize their individual or household water usage.  This can get them to start conserving water in other areas around their home.
• For communities that rely on imported water to supply their needs, collecting rainwater that falls naturally in the community can reduce the need for imported water.
• Rainwater harvesting helps utilities reduce peak demands during summer months, saving treated water for more important and appropriate water uses.
• While rainwater can be a perfect primary water source for many uses and situations, it is also a great backup water supply for emergency situations.

​THE WATER-ENERGY BENEFITS OF RAINWATER HARVESTING

While the logical use of rainwater harvesting is for water conservation purposes, it also reduces energy use within a community.
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• Typically, the end use of the rainwater is located on the property where the rainwater is collected.  Replacing municipal water use at a home and property with rainwater reduces the amount of water that a municipality has to treat and then pump to your house.  The treatment and pumping of municipally provided water require a lot of energy.
• The implementation of rainwater harvesting can help meet new standards of energy and water efficiency ratings and codes that are being developed in communities.

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​The traditional path of rainwater through our local water ecosystem and how it gets to our homes:

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​The simplified path available through the implementation ​of rainwater harvesting:

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​​THE ECONOMIC BENEFITS OF RAINWATER HARVESTING

​Collecting and using rainwater to replace municipal water use reduces your water bill

• Reducing municipal water use for areas such as irrigation reduces the amount of water that a municipality has to treat and pump.  This, in turn, reduces water service cost to a municipality.
• The widespread implementation of rainwater harvesting within a municipality’s service area can reduce the long-term water development needs of a city, allowing the city to use their existing water infrastructure investments more efficiently.  The cost to the community to supply treated water is becoming more expensive every year. The cost to construct dams, pipes, and treatment plants, not to mention the cost of maintenance and infrastructure replacement is huge.  As water users, the rate-payers in the community ultimately will foot this rising bill.  Therefore, the practice of rainwater harvesting can reduce water demand and thus allow municipalities to provide potable water service at a lower cost.
• Designing and installing rainwater collection systems can provide sustainable jobs for the economy of the future.  The rainwater harvesting industry can become a leading employer in the green infrastructure movement.  If you want to work send you resume and cover letter to [email protected]
• Rainwater stored onsite in a rainwater harvesting system can be available for wildfires and help protect the house and property.  Insurance companies can offer discounts for storing water onsite for

​THE ANCILLARY BENEFITS OF RAINWATER HARVESTING

​Rainwater can be used for irrigation use, indoor non-potable water use, and/or potable water supply.

• Rainwater harvesting can provide an independent water source in areas where other water sources are unavailable, or the water quality is unacceptable, or they are too expensive to develop, or they are too difficult to obtain.
• If used as a potable water source, the zero hardness of rainwater provides many advantages.  It eliminates the scale build-up in household appliances that could occur with the use of other water sources.  This will extend the life of the appliances.  In addition, it reduces the amount of detergent or soaps needed in laundry and dishwashing appliances, reducing money spent on these detergents and soaps.
• Rainwater from a potable rainwater harvesting system that has been properly filtered and disinfected is some of the best tasting water available.  It doesn’t have the many chemicals that municipally treated water has such as fluoride or chloramines (chlorine).

​RAINWATER HARVESTING IS THE KEY TO
​FUTURE WATER CONSERVATION GAINS

Ever since the US government enacted national standards in the U.S. Energy Policy Act of 1992 and set minimum efficiency standards for all toilets, showers, urinals and faucets manufactured in the United States, the opportunities for indoor water conservation has decreased.  During this time, outdoor water use efficiency standards have somewhat been neglected.  Therefore, rainwater harvesting provides a tremendous opportunity to achieve more water conservation gains at each and every residential and commercial property.

RAINWATER HARVESTING IS VITAL FOR THE
​FUTURE OF SUSTAINABLE WATER RESOURCES

​As you can see from the benefits and advantages listed above, the practice of rainwater harvesting is an important and vital part of developing a sustainable water resource path for any community.  As local water resources are stretched to provide for population growth and economic development, new water supply strategies and paradigms will be necessary to meet this demand.  Rainwater harvesting is an untapped resource that could be developed quickly within communities and that will also have a tremendous impact.  Rainwater harvesting is part of a sustainable water supply strategy for local communities.

If you got this far reading this . . .
YOU'RE awaking to the knowledge
Clean Water creates thriving populations around the world

Mahalo Denver for hosting Clean Water incentives!