Did you know?
- About half of the water that we use every day does not need to be drinkable – and yet we tend to use water from our taps for almost everything
- Rainwater harvesting is an ancient water supply practice. It is still the primary water source for most people in developing countries
- In countries like Ireland, reusing rain water is always encouraged as it helps manage our water supply, helps with drainage in built up areas, and makes a difference to all the life in our natural ecosystems
- Rainwater harvesting helps to minimise urban flooding by preventing sewage systems from being overwhelmed and reducing volumes discharged into our drainage system
Why is this important?
- Rainwater harvesting and reuse offer an alternative source of water supply which may be particularly relevant in certain areas during water scarcity due to climate change
- Treated water is becoming an expensive commodity. It also reduces our dependence on water that has been processed through very expensive cleaning processes high-quality sources. About 30% of our treated water gets flushed down the toilet!
- Rainwater Harvesting will help keep your local river clean. Collecting rainwater limits stormwater overflows and pollution that we see in our rivers and lakes after storms
- We are developing new treatments for water and using these means that rainwater can be seen as an option for lots of different water demands – in homes, in farms and in industry
- Demand for clean water in Ireland is growing all the time and providing water to our cities is becoming a very testy subject. For example, there are proposals to take water from the Shannon River to supply taps in Dublin City. We need to look to the widest range of possible options if we are to prevent more problems like this.
What can you do?
- Instead of wasting water running our taps, try to collect the rain to water flowers, vegetables and trees
- Have a trigger hose in your yard or garden instead of a turn cap tap. This can make a big difference to the amount of water you use
- Check out different rain water harvesting options – there is sure to be something that can suit your needs and circumstances simple and inexpensive options can save money and benefit the environment
- Climate change may bring changes to our waters that we have not anticipated. See if you can collect information in your local area – for example by measuring rainfall or water sampling. Having a groundswell of citizens scientists feeding in data from across the country, provides an invaluable bank of data that scientists can draw on when addressing water challenges.
For More Information:
Guide on how to create a Rainwater Planter
https://www.dublincity.ie/sites/default/files/2021-04/a-how-to-guide-to-rainwater-planters-english.pdf
Water Conservation Calculator
https://www.water.ie/conservation/home/water-conservation-calculator/
Water Saving Devices for your Home
https://www.water.ie/conservation/home/water-saving-devices/
The National Water Forum
https://thewaterforum.ie/app/uploads/2021/06/2021-03-22-Water-educational-resources-and-inspirational-stories.pdf
Water Forum Resources
Water Services:
https://thewaterforum.ie/app/uploads/2023/05/Water-Forum-Factsheet-4-Water-Services-final.pdf
Protect the Water We Use Video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vu-QNR6Zp1s
