Water shortage: Tips on rain water harvesting
Dry taps, rivers, and a depleted water table are just a few of the many consequences that Indians have to face today.
An acute water shortage is now facing most major Indian cities. Dry taps, rivers, and a depleted water table are just a few of the many consequences that Indians have to face today. With melting glaciers and global warming, floods, and droughts, water issues are not just a concern for India but also for the entire world.
Few tips based on what we’re seeing from HOUZZ INDIA community of homeowners and home pros for beginning water harvesting in your home.
Install free-standing barrels at home: By installing a large cistern (if space permits) or smaller covered barrels, rainwater from the roof and other niches where it tends to collect can be diverted with the help of pipes.
Consider hiring a Pro: Landscape architects and contractors would help you arrange and install your rainwater harvesting system properly. The costs of installing a rainwater harvesting system within a home is less if the system is incorporated during the construction phase of the building.
Divert rainwater into the underground water table: Rainwater can also be collected and directed towards deep recharge pits or trenches. These filter the water and pass the collected water into the porous layer of the soil.
Don’t forget to filter rainwater before bringing it to domestic use: It is important to filter the water you harvest before you use it in your garden or inside the home. Professionals on Houzz recommend using charcoal water, sand, PVC pipe filters.
Searches related to water conservation are increasingly becoming popular on Houzz since January with users looking for Rainwater harvesting and water storage solutions the most. Houzz.in polled their community of homeowners and professionals to find out what daily efforts are being made to conserve water.
Top findings include:
Water usage in bathrooms and kitchens: To contribute their bit and conserve water, 53 per cent of respondents used less water at the washbasin while 9 per cent made a habit of taking shorter showers and 8 per cent flushed with less water.
Rainwater harvesting: 13 per cent of the respondents made the most of the monsoon seasons by installing some sort of a rainwater harvesting system.
Cutting water usage in appliances: Washing machines and dishwashers can contribute to wasting water in our homes. 9 per cent of respondents saved water by using these appliances only when they were full. Additionally, a few respondents noted that they used the wastewater from their RO (this is the wastewater by-product after the filtration process) purifier to mop the floor, flush the toilet and even water their garden!
By Preeti Singh Trend Expert, Houzz India Trends Expert