Following the recent announcement that water bills are set to rise by 21% over the next five years, experts are urging homeowners to consider rainwater harvesting, and say it could save £198 on water bills.
Rainwater harvesting involves collecting rainwater and repurposing it for various uses within the home. Simple rainwater harvesting involves collecting rainwater in a water butt and using it on outdoor tasks, whereas a more lucrative option is to install a device that collects rainwater and re-purposes it for use with toilet flushing, clothes washing, car washing and garden irrigation.
According to Drainage Central, on average per week, a family of four uses 2,415 litres of water:
- 1075L on gardening (Considering 5L watering can size, and 1 hour of sprinkler use per week).
- 20L on car washing (Per car).
- 200L on clothes washing (Considering 4x washes per week).
- 1120L on toilet flushing (Considering 8L used per flush, 5 flushes per day).
With the current average litre of water costing 1.3p in metered homes, this works out as costing £3.14 per week, and £163.28 per year, before the price hike.
After Ofwat proposed a 21% increase in water costs within the next five years, this would roughly increase to £197.57.
Using the Brett Martin rainwater harvesting tank as an example, the rainwater is collected in the tank from the roof via guttering and downpipes. The rainwater then enters the tank via a filter and any debris passes across the filter and downstream. Upon demand, i.e. toilet flush, the submersible pump delivers water to the point of demand.
Jess Thomas, director of Drainage Central said: ” As we unfortunately see water prices on the rise, investing in long-term, money-saving, and sustainable changes to our homes will always be beneficial. Every little change makes a difference, so whether you install a simple water butt to use collected rainwater on gardens and cars, or whether you opt for something that benefits indoor use too, every step taken is better than nothing.”
“While these steps are more beneficial in terms of money for homes on a water metre, anyone can re-purpose collected water and make a positive impact.”
