How A Stormwater Harvesting System Can Benefit You

1. How A Stormwater Harvesting System Can Benefit You If you are looking to reduce your water consumption, you may want to consider installing a stormwater harvesting system. It can be particularly useful if you live in an area that gets a lot of rainfall every year. Stormwater is rainwater that has reached the ground and becomes contaminated with hydrocarbons from vehicles, silt, road salt, fertilizers, nitrates, and other elements, making it unusable. However, a good harvesting system will treat it properly and make it suitable for use in non-potable applications. A well-designed system should eliminate the debris, pollutants, sediment, hydrocarbons, and other contaminants, sanitize it properly, store the treated water and deliver it for the end use. Reasons for pursuing a stormwater harvesting system include: Water Conservation Water conservation is one of the primary reasons to have a stormwater collection system. Several non-potable demands on a property can use a great deal of water, including irrigating turf and landscape areas, flushing toilets and making up water for cooling towers. Stormwater is a great source of water and with the right harvesting system for stormwater, you could significantly reduce your water bills in the long run. Environmental Sustainability A stormwater harvesting system can minimize stormwater runoff on your property, which can prevent harmful contaminants such as fertilizers, sediments, metals and pesticides from entering nearby watersheds, aquifers and streams. It can also help minimize the chances of streambank erosion and flooding in certain areas. Collecting stormwater is a great way to help the stormwater management program in your municipality. Turn a Liability into an Asset A good stormwater collection system can turn a liability into an asset. Many municipalities require stormwater detention to ensure that the local stormwater infrastructure does not become overwhelmed. It is often a requirement to install a detention system that captures water from a rain event on site, releasing it slowly to the local storm system. This is a sunk cost that can be turned into an asset by allowing the property owner to use the captured stormwater, saving money on their water bill.