The practice of catching rainwater and reusing it dates back to 2,000 years ago in Thailand and is prevalent in places with limited water resources. Rainwater harvesting is just what it seems, the collecting and storing of rainwater that can be reused. Typically water is collected from rooftop drainage system and is stored in tanks but other methods can be used. This water can then be reused for flushing toilets, watering plants and washing cars versus using costly potable water. 185,000 gallons of potable water are used by a typical family in one year for recreational and utility usage. Places such as Portland, Oregon already have laws and regulations in place to try and conserve while Illinois has legislation in place that may be putting it on its way to allow this method of reusing rainwater. Is the recycling of rainwater an appropriate method to use for the conservation of our water resources?
The proposed bill in Illinois, Rainwater Harvesting for Non-Potable Uses, would require amendments to the Illinois Plumbing License Law and standards for collection and distribution by the Illinois Department of Public Health. The passing of this bill would make it easier for individuals and businesses to collect rainwater and reuse it. Passing a bill such as this one would be extremely beneficial to the individuals,businesses and the area's impacted and would give a use to excess rainwater. Due to the reduction of potable water use, implementing a harvesting system would be mean spending less money on utilities for individuals and communities. The usage of rainwater also helps to conserve municipal water and well systems. The initial installation cost for a harvesting system starts at around $5,000 although this may seem very costly it eventually balances out due to the savings in utilities as mention earlier. Also the instillation process of the rainwater harvesting systems create many new "green jobs" for people in the area.
The harvesting of rainwater is also advantageous to the environment. The collecting of water helps to combat flooding and erosion from heavy rainstorms. Once rain hits a tree, roof etc. it becomes polluted and has the possibility of flowing into streams and rivers which can end up polluting whole watersheds. If rainwater is harvested and stored in tanks then it reduces the amount of rainwater that ends up polluting other natural water sources. In regards to the bill in Illinois, reducing this volume of water from getting into sewers means reducing cost in water treatment plants as well.
If the bill were to be passed, it would make Illinois the first "Great Lake State" to make rainwater usage in this form a reality. Personally, I believe that the passing of the Rainwater Harvesting for Non-Potable Water bill would definitely be a step in the right direction for Illinois. The use of rainwater for functions such as toilet water is essential for water conservation, not only does it prevent damage to the environment but it also is cost efficient in the long run. Better yet though, with other places including Arizona, Oregon and Texas that have already implemented rainwater harvesting systems other regions may look to this as another form of sustainable growth and hopefully adopt similar policies.
The harvesting of rain water is an excellent resource for limiting pollution from runoff while also providing sources for some utilities that don't require treated water. I wonder if there is a possibility for further innovation that would allow private users of these water catching systems to treat their own water to increase the number of uses that water could provide. Obviously, new technology addressing this demand would be costly at first, but ultimately demand could drive down the cost as production became cheaper. The growing shortages of fresh clean water in the world indicate the need for innovative solutions for meeting water demands. Capturing, processing and reusing rain water could provide an effective strategy for addressing this issue.
ReplyDeleteRainwater harvesting is an awesome way to stop runoff and collect water needed as a resource. More states need to jump on the wagon and begin implementing this into their community planning. It is a huge advancement in urban areas, to provide supplemental water for cities' requirements. I agree that the passing of a non-potable bill would be a good step for illinois. The cost of reclaimed water exceeds that of potable water in many regions of the world, where a fresh water supply is plentiful. However, reclaimed water is usually sold to citizens at a cheaper rate to encourage its use.
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