Rainwater Harvesting - Essay Example

Rainwater Harvesting Introduction Rainwater harvesting is a technology that is used to collect rainwater from hard surfaces in response to water scarcity. The water is collected on surfaces such as rooftops and stored in home-made barrels or large underground reservoirs for later use in domestic consumption or farm irrigation. Rainwater Water is harvested in many regions due to variability in rainy season where some areas receive a minimal amount of rain that makes the practice crucial. The water is harvested using pots, jars and engineered technologies such as using pipes to direct water to underground reservoirs. Historically, harvested water has been utilized for drinking purposes, agricultural uses, and landscape watering. However, in recent times, water harvesting is utilized for residential and commercial landscapes as the primary source of water. Water harvesting is an efficient water conservation tool that can be coupled with low water availability in deserts. The goal of this review is to describe the benefits of harvesting rainwater as an ideal response to water scarcity. The response to drought and water scarcity has been poor in many regions of the world since most governments are ignorant about water harvesting during the wet season. Water plays an integral part in supporting the functions of the ecosystem. Millennium ecosystem assessment report by UNEP shows that there is a link between a healthy ecosystem and improved food production. The aspiration to combat global hunger requires that additional water is retained to support industrial and domestic uses. However, the biggest challenge to water harvesting is that it is not included in the water policies of most countries (Sala and Court 4). There is little consideration of the ability of rainwater to combat scarcity, and thus, most countries rely on renewable water sources that are basically, surface, and groundwater. Oregon State is one of the few regions in the world that has made the positive step to include rainwater harvesting in its water policies. It is ensuring the success of this program in the households through building and construction recommendation for gutters and rainwater drains in both ancient and newly constructed buildings. It is critical to include rainwater harvesting in the nations water policies because even though availability is seasonal, it can go a long way to solving water problems. This publication highlights the link between rainwater harvesting and human well-being during drought. It targets all audience because rainwater harvesting is a lifeline for the well-being of all humans. It draws the attention of the readers to the positive aspects of rainwater collection and storage using modern technology. The limitations of this technology are also highlighted. Suggestions are proposed on how to minimize potential limitations and maximally capitalize on the potential benefits of rainwater harvesting for domestic and industrial use. Rain Water Uses in Oregon In Oregon, rainwater is accumulated on-site for reuse rather than letting it run off into rivers. The water that is collected from rooftops is redirected into deep pit reservoirs with percolations where it is reused for domestic purposes, in gardens, livestock, and local irrigation. At home, the water is used for indoor heating of houses, drinking, long-term storage, and groundwater reserve. Rainwater provides an independent water supply that supplements the main supply and provides water for regional restrictions. The project is useful in mitigating drought in low-lying areas, reducing the demand for wells to enable groundwater to remain sustained, and avails reliable, portable, clean water that is free from salinity and other salts. It also reduces storm water runoff that pollutes fresh water bodies. Rainwater Harvesting System Rainwater harvesting system is made up of three components that include; the supply i.e. rainfall; the demand i.e. landscape, and water transport system that directs water to plants. Water storage is a supplementary element that that is non-compulsory but collects runoff water that flows off land surfaces, rock catchments, and rooftops. Water harvesting system constitutes of catchments, transportation, first flush and filters. Catchments are the surfaces that receive the rainfall directly such as rooftops. Transportation refers to the pipes that carry the water from the catchment to the harvesting system. The first flush is the device that flushes off the water that is received in the first shower while filters remove silt, leaves, dust, and other organic matter to prevent them from entering the storage tank. The technique used to harvest rainwater largely depends on the affordability of the system to the users and the number of users. This is determined by the size of the institution. Large institutions prefer larger reservoirs and in most cases, water is stored in underground tanks. In Oregon, rainwater harvesting system collects water from the rooftop into a storage tank where it is used for domestic purposes. They use simple rain barrels set below a downspout to water the garden and provide a substantial amount of water for home use. Oregon Building Codes Division supports the effort to conserve water through approval of rainwater harvesting system as the alternative method to state plumbing code. The state has introduced new filtration and treatment technologies that are used to harvest rain water in a relatively simple manner. The harvesting systems are installed in existing buildings and new constructions. The system includes roofs, gutters, or roof drains, piping system or storage tank or cistern. The tanks are located either inside or outside the house, partially above or partially below the ground, on rooftops or underground. Basement locations are preferred mostly because the water is gravity-fed and is protected from freezing. Some tanks are enclosed to increase the roof surface catchment area. Rainwater Harvesting Techniques Surface runoff harvesting This technique is used to collect water from surfaces and drain it into underground reservoirs to be used for irrigation. It helps to re-use water and reduce storm water runoff. It is part of the water conservation program in Oregon whose goal is to maximize the catchment area and reduce consumption. It is regarded as a cost-saving measure that eliminates post-construction runoff. Engineers circumvent the high ground water on soils with low permeability, bedrocks, and dense rocks with poor surface infiltration using water harvesting technology. The runoffs are infiltrated onsite to prevent building jeopardy. Rooftop harvesting Most Oregonians collect water from roof surfaces. The efficiency of this water collection system is determined by the surface area and orientation of the roof. For instance; steep-pitched roofs lose more water than low-pitched roofs. The design, material, and location of the storage system also influence the efficiency of the system. The amount of the water collected depends on the amount of rain, and the exterior square footage of the roof surface. The amount of water collected if estimated by finding the product of the catchment area and the average rainfall. In Oregon where the amount of rainfall is low, calculating the amount water collected is necessary to determine the average water use. Literature Synthesis Rainwater harvesting in developing countries has become an integral strategy that is used to circumvent water-related health risks that are caused by the consumption of dirty underground water. Most of the people in developing nations languish in poverty and cannot afford the use of modern technology to collect clean water from their rooftops. Efforts are underway by the United Nations towards meeting the millennium goals to eradicate extreme poverty, hunger and avail clean water to the people. One of the strategies that are used to curb water shortage, reduce flooding, and stop soil erosion is through the use of rainwater harvesting technology that reduces the amount of runoff water that flows downstream. To improve access to clean potable water, UNEP is urging people to establish gutters on buildings that will help to collect clean water that would otherwise go to waste. The organization is evangelizing the technology to be a worldwide practice so that the use of rainwater will be the immediate supplementary supply of portable drinking water (Buguma et al. 3). In South East Asia and Malaysia, rainwater is commercially used for car washing whereby a plastic container is installed in parking lots Global water shortage affects over 18billion people that cannot attain improved sanitation. The impact has been explained in a recent research done in Uganda where lack of clean water and sanitation facilities has resulted in detrimental impacts on the health of the citizens. It has also affected productivity and the general socio-economic progress of the people, mostly children. The challenge of overdependence on rural household water sources such as springs, wells, boreholes, and taps has undermined the relevance of rainwater harvesting. The nations governance has been urged to increase government funding for water, particularly, rainwater harvesting programs, to alleviate the challenge of water-related diseases that contribute to high morbidity and mortality rates. More than two million people die of water-borne bacterial, viral, and parasitic diseases by contamination of drinking water and poor drainage systems. The need for sustainable water source is necessary since researches indicate that more than one-third of the population in developing countries will suffer from severe water deficits, and the effect will be heavily experienced in arid and semi-arid regions. This is because of overdependence on ground water that is seemingly unreliable because of the deepening level of waterbed that has been caused by the disruption of water catchment areas. To maximize the resultant social and economic welfare of the people without compromising the sustainability of various ecosystems, rainwater harvesting is proposed as the most efficient technology to alleviate water scarcity and pressure on other water resources. The technology is all inclusive and not limited to particular regions since, the little water that is experienced in semi-arid deserts and the high amount of rainfall in equatorial rainforests will be collected for the benefit of the inhabitants. In Alwar District, India, water challenge has been promoted greatly by the fact that all wells have dried up yet the region is becoming increasingly overpopulated. The region receives 16inches of rainfall annually that occurs in the monsoon months of June to September. Ancient Indian scriptures emphasize on the key technology of water harvesting that is facilitated by the construction of village jihads that trap and store water. In this region, water is worshiped as a precious thing in religious rituals such as marriage or when a male child is born. Rainwater is of importance for irrigation of plants in the midst of dry seasons. Water availability is not only a challenge to underdeveloped and developing nations but also to developed countries since, industrialization and globalization have led to the encroachment of water catchment areas. That is why, the need for building and maintaining sustainable water sources is emphasized in the United States (Singh 27). The American Rainwater Catchment System Association promotes sustainable rainwater harvesting activities that are aimed to solve the problems involving portable, non-portable, storm water and energy. Their mission is to install water storage facilities to all American households to curb water challenges that occur during drought (Arcsa.org. 1) Advantages and Limitations of Water Harvesting Although two-thirds of the earth are made of water, not all the water is suitable for use and that is why people resort to rainwater. Rainwater is advantageous because it is easy to maintain, reduces water bills, suitable for irrigation, and reduces demand for ground water, and can be used for multiple non-drinking purposes. However, rainwater exhibits several limitations that include; the unpredictability of the rainfall pattern. The initial cost of setting up the water harvesting system is very high. The project requires regular maintenance because they are prone to rodents, algae, and mosquitoes. Some of the roofs sip chemical, animal droppings and decomposing organic matter that may contaminate the water. The size and volume of the tank impose storage limits to the capacity of the tank such that excess water is drained out to flow to the river. Capitalizing on the Advantages and Improving the Limitations The economical and socio-economic benefits of rainwater harvesting are unlimited. When used appropriately, rainwater harvesting can be a profit making an investment in that it will enhance agricultural productivity, save money, time, and medication. Rainwater is easy to put an economic value into because of improved food security, improves health and water management. It enables decentralized management of water supply at the individuals doorstep (CEF.com). The limitations can be utilized to become beneficial by ensuring proper installation of the filters to eliminate ubiquitous contaminants. Multiple underground reservoirs can be installed to increase capacity. Works Cited Arcsa.org, American Rainwater Catchment Systems Association. Arcsa.org. N.p., 2015. Web. 13 Nov. 2015. Buguma, David et al. Rainwater and Health in Developing Countries: A Case Study on Uganda - United Nations University. Unu.edu. N.p., 2015. Web. 13 Nov. 2015. CEF.com, Advantages And Disadvantages Of Rainwater Harvesting - Conserve Energy Future. Conserve-Energy-Future. N.p., 2013. Web. 13 Nov. 2015. Sala, Jessica Calfoforo, and Luisa Cortes. Rainwater Harvesting: A Lifetime for Humaan Beings. United Nations Environment Programme/SEI Vol. 1.Issue. 1 (2009): 1-80. Web. 13 Nov. 2015. Singh, D. K. Rain Water Harvesting. Jaipur: Oxford Book Co., 2012. Print. Woltersdorf, Laura. Sustainability Of R Ainwater H Arvesting S Ystems U Sed For G Ardening In T He C Ontext Of C Limate C Hange And IWRM.. Frankfurt, Johann Wolfgang Goethe University of Frankfurt, Germany, 2010. Web. 13 Nov. 2015. Masters Thesis. Read More