Cisterns Back in Fashion
With municipalities restricting home water usage because of drought conditions, it’s time to start saving every drop of rain that falls from the sky. Back on Grandma and Grandpa’s farm they might still use a cistern in the basement to collect groundwater. It probably comes in handy when the local water tower runs dry.
We now call linking gutter downspouts to stainless steel tanks “rainwater harvesting”. Rainwater crops are primarily collected during the winter months. According to the new tradition, gracious landowners are then expected to share their liquid bounty with grass and vegetable gardens throughout the summer. Early autumn picnics on the lawn kick off a new cycle.
North Carolina already offers tax incentives for rainwater harvesting. Other states and the federal government should consider similar inducements. Since many of us pay a flat rate for water, we have no real financial incentive to install rainwater harvesting equipment.
Rainwater harvesting systems provide communities with the following benefits:
• Reduced runoff means fewer pollutants washing into storm drains, and less local flooding.
• Water captured from the sky is normally cleaner than water piped in from a river or reservoir.
• Municipal water districts save energy by pumping less water out to homes and businesses
• Collecting rainwater isn’t rocket science. Connect a couple of 50 gallon drums with some pipe, direct a gutter downspout into one of them and you’re on your way.
• Rainwater farmers can filter and drink the water if they so choose.
• Apocalyptic Mad Max style future now seems more remote, but still entertaining to consider.
rainwater harvesting, cisterns
July 21st, 2008 at 7:04 am
[...] the Building Standards Commission has adopted new residential construction codes intended to cut water usage and increase energy efficiency in new homes. The Commission intends to phase in these new [...]