All one needs to survive is given my mother nature, she is tranquil, ever patient, and her love for all loving creatures showers from above.

 

 “The Gift of Life it is said: Rain”, it is this rain that filled the voids of planet earth with the richness that sparked life on this beautiful and something that is in such short supply. The growing human population, with its thirst for this gift, has made it one of the most important resources on this planet. 

In settlements throughout the urban facades and rural outback, rooftop rainwater harvesting even though it yields a lesser volume is an effective method of collecting water through sustainable architecture.

 

This method has five key components: 

 

The Catchment 

The surface that receives direct rainwater is known as the catchment. This surface doesn’t always have to be a sloped roof but can also be terraces, courtyards, paved or unpaved open ground, and even concrete structures. As the rainwater, falls on to the surface it collects and the next step helps take it forward in the system. 

 

Transportation 

Rainwater from the surface is carried forth by the medium of transportation, which is recommended to be UV resistant pipes and fittings of the required capacity. Water from the sloped roofs can be channeled through the gutters and down-take pipes. For a terrace system, the water can flow through the drainage system onto the filter system. 

 

First Flush 

The first flush is a mechanism that discards the water received during the first shower. As the first shower is filled with atmospheric contaminants, gutter debris, and surface dirt. The first flush mechanism can be as simple as a modular transportation system, which can manually be detached or shifted to avoid the first shower. 

 

Filter 

Many are skeptical on the levels of sterility of rainwater. However, it’s more about where one chooses to utilize the collected water. Rainwater is not recommended for direct consumption as it requires a heavy filtration process, but it is highly recommended for cleaning purposes, replenishing one's garden and recharging groundwater. 

There are multiple methods of filtering rainwater, from simple sand and gravel to utilization of charcoal, sponge, and an in-depth method of a filtration tank system. 

 

Storage 

The filtered rainwater can be stored according to the quantity collected. If the household has a large catchment area then they can have multiple layers of storage such as a primary use tank, a secondary outdoor reserve and the last a recharge pit. The primary use tank can be connected to a separate plumbing channel where the water can be utilized to flush the toilets; the secondary outdoor tank can be utilized to clean the property and water the garden. The recharge pit acts as a reserve and overflow tank, which in time replenishes the localities ground reserve.