Importance of Rainwater Harvesting System in a Housing Complex

In a housing complex, rainwater harvesting can be broken up into these components:

• Rooftop catchments: Rainwater is collected from the rooftop by a network of gutters and downspouts off the building.


• Collection tanks: The collected water is channeled into storage tanks the size of which is commensurate with the requirement of the complex.


• Filtration systems: These are often attached to the tap to make sure the released water is clean from impurities and safe to use.

• Reduced water bills: Installing a rainwater harvesting system can help whittle down the water bill of an apartment complex substantially, sometimes by over 50% or even more. These savings can shave off a handy amount from CAM charges and in a city like Kolkata which gets so much rain, it makes total sense.


• Water conservation: With the ever-increasing menace of global warming, freshwater sources are fast depleting. Installing RWH systems in housing complexes can play a key role in preserving scarce freshwater sources by capturing and using rainwater, thus lessening the load on civic water supplies, which could be quite expensive. Studies have revealed that installing RWH in gated complexes can reduce their reliance on municipal water supply to as low as 40%.


• Mitigates urban flooding: RWH collects and stores rainwater that would otherwise have contributed to stormwater runoff. This lessens the load on the drainage network during floods, thus mitigating chances of flooding in urban areas. This system reduces the volume of water going into urban storm drains, thus preventing flooding of small and medium scales.


• Reduces dependence on groundwater: Rainwater harvesting can substantially reduce the dependence on groundwater. The stored rainwater can be used for various purposes, including flushing toilets and car-washing. If treated properly, it can also be used for drinking, thus placing less demand on potable groundwater. This in turn contributes towards water security and biodiversity while recharging aquifers.


• Promotes sustainable living: By reducing dependence on conventional sources of water, reducing pressure on already stressed systems. Also, through efficient resource utilization, it helps reduce carbon footprints and preserves ecosystems.


• Enhances property value: As home buyers become increasingly environment-conscious, the demand for RWH in housing complexes is on the rise. Gated communities that have rainwater harvesting offer substantial benefits in terms of energy efficiency and savings in other utility costs. Sensing the higher demand for such properties, developers are investing in this value-addition in new stocks.


• Long-term viability: RWH systems require very little maintenance, just regular cleaning to prevent contamination. This, added to the pluses of reduced water bills and less reliance on municipal water supply, means RWH is a great investment in terms of long-term viability in these times of water scarcity and increased sensitivity on sustainability.