Water is crucial to our survival and it's often something we take for granted. However, with recent news highlighting the challenge of our dwindling supplies, could rainfall harvesting be the key to protecting this vital resource?

Here, we'll look at how rainfall harvesting could benefit the human population, particularly within developing countries. We'll also address the current issues the sector faces and how it could be improved.

What is rainfall harvesting?

Rainfall harvesting involves collecting rain water which has built-up on surfaces, storing it for future use. It is largely taken from the roofs of buildings, then stored in rainwater tanks. It is a very common practice in rural Australia, and it's a very simple technique that could prove invaluable as our supplies start to run dry. 

What benefits could it deliver?

There are a lot of benefits rainfall harvesting can present. The most obvious one is ensuring we have a healthy water supply to drink. This is especially important in developing countries, where water is in short supply. 

Rainfall harvesting can also have benefits on the environment too. It reduces the risk of flooding and erosion, as well as the risk of sinkholes caused when water is totally drained from the soil, causing it to collapse. 

Collecting and using rainwater instead of mains water can also help to lower bills. The rainwater itself has a lot of uses, such as washing clothing, flushing toilets and bathing. It is also better for watering plants, reducing the amount of salt they are exposed to. 

Understanding rain fall harvest challenges

While there are certainly a lot of benefits of rainfall harvesting, there are also a number of challenges. Implementing storage containers to homes would be quite a challenge in terms of both space and costs. There is also the matter of safe storage to be concerned about. 

Pumps will typically be required to pump the water from the storage, into the property. This wouldn't just be potentially expensive to implement, but it would also cause issues with energy usage. The filtration systems will need to be frequently cleaned.

How could it be improved?

The challenges associated with rainfall harvesting can't be ignored. However, there are ways around some of these challenges. In terms of safety, PH meters from RS Components could be used to test whether the water is drinkable. Ensuring the water within the tanks aren't exposed to direct sunlight will also prevent algae from developing. 

Cost wise, rather than installing single rainwater storage containers at every home, communal containers could be used. These would provide recycled rainwater to a number of properties, funded by the government. 

As you can see, rainfall harvesting can deliver a lot of great benefits. However, its challenges will need to be addressed before it can prove to be a viable option. Rainfall isn't always safe to drink, particularly if it is collected from buildings. So, more education on rainfall harvesting would also be required to ensure it is carried out safely. 

About the author:

Tejas Maheta is the Founder of startwithhow.com and a tech geek. Besides blogging he love reading books, Learning new things, and Hanging out with friends.