The harvest of rainwater for domestic purposes started a long time ago. People stores rainwater so they can use something to quench their thirst, clean their body, and feed their animals especially during the dry season.
Due to population growth, global warming, and climate change, water has become scarce in many countries around the world. Water levels have dropped gradually, and it has become a serious concern for the government because it leads to illnesses and even death of the citizens.
Modern homes and big companies nowadays dispose of various chemical wastes into huge bodies of water which leads to pollution. This phenomenon has become a global problem, and the government spends billions to address it immediately and sustainably. The supply of clean water has depleted. Thus, an alternative method is the harvesting of rainwater.
Although the Earth is covered with three-fourths part of water, only a little part of it is suitable for agriculture or human consumption.
Harvesting of rainwater started many years ago from the third century BCE in the farming communities of Pakistan, Iran, and Afghanistan to be used for agriculture purposes and other domestic use. In ancient Indian communities, they collected rain and stored it in tanks for drinking and farming irrigation.
Also, the town of Venice depended on rainwater harvesting for centuries. The lagoon around Venice is brackish water which is not safe for drinking. As such, the ancient citizens of Venice established a system of collecting rainwater which is based on man-made insulated collection wells.
Water is filtered down on the specially designed stone flooring, layers of sand, and it is collected at the bottom of the well. As the years passed by, Venice has conquered territories on the mainland until it started importing clean water by the boat from the local rivers. However, they still use the wells, and it has become important during war times when access to the mainland is blocked by the enemy.
Today, climate change has got people conscious of their water supply, and they started innovating ways to save water. They recycle water that can be used for several tasks inside the home. Some of the structures built are the aqueducts, reservoirs, tanks, and pipes.
Harvesting rainwater is a simple and practical way to deal with the water crisis. As people become environment-friendly nowadays, rainwater harvesting is becoming popular.
It also leads to eco-conservation and smart use of natural resources. The water tables in most urban areas are now falling, and many people have become dependent on bottled water which is costly and sustainable.
Thus, in this article, we will discuss the history of harvesting rainwater, its benefits, and ways to harvest rainwater. In the last part, we will also tackle the four methods on how to filter rainwater to make it safe for drinking.
Solve the scarcity of water- Rainwater harvesting can be one of the permanent solutions to the water crisis in various countries around the world. This is a workable solution for areas with sufficient rain but with insufficient groundwater supply. This is true in hilly areas which are used for both animals and humans. Also, in remote areas where surface pollution is not problematic, the harvest of rainwater can be beneficial.
Grow plants and tend the animals- A bad monsoon can lead to low crop produce and a shortage of food. Animals can suffer badly from lack of water too. For example, the Indian and African subcontinent are often faced with water crisis especially during the summer season. Farmers are greatly affected because they cannot have sufficient water to tend their animals and plants. Thus, rainwater harvesting is the answer for farmers who rely on the monsoon for water supply.
Prevent water-borne diseases- Since some of the communities around the world don?t have a clean water source, people don?t have a choice but to consume polluted water. As such, they are prone to water-borne diseases and the mortality rate increases. According to studies, around 2 million people in Peru do not have access to any water supply, and those who have access to a water source are at high risk of contamination. This is also the case of Honduras, according to the UN-Habitat.
Revitalize the groundwater level- Harvesting rainwater will enable people to store it for future use. With this, the groundwater level will be revitalized, and its quality will soon improve. As such, the level of groundwater will rise, and it can become easily accessible in the future. Ground wells will be prevented from drying up, and it can also increase soil fertility. Finally, it can prevent surface runoff and reduce erosion of the soil.
" />The harvest of rainwater for domestic purposes started a long time ago. People stores rainwater so they can use something to quench their thirst, clean their body, and feed their animals especially during the dry season.
Due to population growth, global warming, and climate change, water has become scarce in many countries around the world. Water levels have dropped gradually, and it has become a serious concern for the government because it leads to illnesses and even death of the citizens.
Modern homes and big companies nowadays dispose of various chemical wastes into huge bodies of water which leads to pollution. This phenomenon has become a global problem, and the government spends billions to address it immediately and sustainably. The supply of clean water has depleted. Thus, an alternative method is the harvesting of rainwater.
Although the Earth is covered with three-fourths part of water, only a little part of it is suitable for agriculture or human consumption.
Harvesting of rainwater started many years ago from the third century BCE in the farming communities of Pakistan, Iran, and Afghanistan to be used for agriculture purposes and other domestic use. In ancient Indian communities, they collected rain and stored it in tanks for drinking and farming irrigation.
Also, the town of Venice depended on rainwater harvesting for centuries. The lagoon around Venice is brackish water which is not safe for drinking. As such, the ancient citizens of Venice established a system of collecting rainwater which is based on man-made insulated collection wells.
Water is filtered down on the specially designed stone flooring, layers of sand, and it is collected at the bottom of the well. As the years passed by, Venice has conquered territories on the mainland until it started importing clean water by the boat from the local rivers. However, they still use the wells, and it has become important during war times when access to the mainland is blocked by the enemy.
Today, climate change has got people conscious of their water supply, and they started innovating ways to save water. They recycle water that can be used for several tasks inside the home. Some of the structures built are the aqueducts, reservoirs, tanks, and pipes.
Harvesting rainwater is a simple and practical way to deal with the water crisis. As people become environment-friendly nowadays, rainwater harvesting is becoming popular.
It also leads to eco-conservation and smart use of natural resources. The water tables in most urban areas are now falling, and many people have become dependent on bottled water which is costly and sustainable.
Thus, in this article, we will discuss the history of harvesting rainwater, its benefits, and ways to harvest rainwater. In the last part, we will also tackle the four methods on how to filter rainwater to make it safe for drinking.
Solve the scarcity of water- Rainwater harvesting can be one of the permanent solutions to the water crisis in various countries around the world. This is a workable solution for areas with sufficient rain but with insufficient groundwater supply. This is true in hilly areas which are used for both animals and humans. Also, in remote areas where surface pollution is not problematic, the harvest of rainwater can be beneficial.
Grow plants and tend the animals- A bad monsoon can lead to low crop produce and a shortage of food. Animals can suffer badly from lack of water too. For example, the Indian and African subcontinent are often faced with water crisis especially during the summer season. Farmers are greatly affected because they cannot have sufficient water to tend their animals and plants. Thus, rainwater harvesting is the answer for farmers who rely on the monsoon for water supply.
Prevent water-borne diseases- Since some of the communities around the world don?t have a clean water source, people don?t have a choice but to consume polluted water. As such, they are prone to water-borne diseases and the mortality rate increases. According to studies, around 2 million people in Peru do not have access to any water supply, and those who have access to a water source are at high risk of contamination. This is also the case of Honduras, according to the UN-Habitat.
Revitalize the groundwater level- Harvesting rainwater will enable people to store it for future use. With this, the groundwater level will be revitalized, and its quality will soon improve. As such, the level of groundwater will rise, and it can become easily accessible in the future. Ground wells will be prevented from drying up, and it can also increase soil fertility. Finally, it can prevent surface runoff and reduce erosion of the soil.
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