Advantages of Water Harvesting

Water harvesting is a technique where water is collected from natural bodies of water such as ponds, streams, rivers, lakes, etc. and stored in underground reservoirs. These reservoirs are then used to provide water for irrigation purposes. There are many advantages to using water harvesting techniques including saving money, reducing dependence on municipal water supplies, and providing water for non-potable uses.

Saving Money: 

The first advantage of water harvesting is that it saves money. By collecting rainwater and storing it in underground reservoirs, homeowners can use their own water supply instead of relying on expensive municipal water services. In addition, they do not have to pay for the infrastructure costs associated with building and maintaining water distribution systems.

Reducing Dependence on Municipal Water Supplies:

Another advantage of water harvesting is its ability to reduce reliance on municipal water supplies. When rainwater is harvested, it is no longer dependent on local water companies. Instead, it becomes an independent resource that can be used for any purpose.

Providing Water for Non-Potable Uses:

A third benefit of water harvesting is that the water can be used for non-potable purposes. This includes things like washing cars, flushing toilets, watering gardens, and even powering turbines for electricity generation.

Types of Water Harvesting Systems:

There are two types of water harvesting systems: surface collection and subsurface collection. Surface collection involves capturing rainfall directly off the ground while subsurface collection involves capturing rainfall before it reaches the ground. Subsurface collection is generally considered to be more effective than surface collection since it captures more water. However, it requires a much larger investment in terms of time, labor, and materials.

How Does Water Harvesting Work?

When rain falls, it runs down the ground until it hits a body of water. At this point, the water begins to flow over the land and into the river or lake. Rainfall is captured at the edge of the stream or pond and flows into a catchment area. From here, the water travels through pipes and tunnels to storage tanks. Once the water is stored, it can be pumped back to the home for use in landscaping, drinking, and other non-potable uses, or it can be released back into the environment.