The use of harvesting can help meet some of the design criteria for SUDS such as reducing the volume of run-off from frequent events by providing interception and storage.
Rainwater harvesting can form part of an integrated water management system, which can be complementary to SUDS.
Ideally, as part of this integrated system, two storage facilities are required, one which would stay full all of the time (for harvesting) and one which would empty relatively quickly (for SUDS).
Although it is difficult to quantify in designs (i.e. no run-off for rainfall events below 5 mm), there are considerable cost, environmental, and energy saving advantages to rainwater harvesting.
Our Rainwater Harvesting system utilises both hard and soft surfaces for collecting and storing rainwater that would otherwise have gone into the drainage system, into the ground or be lost to the atmosphere through evaporation.
The system functions by collecting rainwater, filtering out leaves and debris through the block or paving surface, aggregates and geotextile filter, then storing it in a holding tank immediately below the hard landscaping (or alternatively a lawn). Water can then be drawn off via a pump for use in a variety of non-potable applications as and when required. Odours are kept at bay by the action of incoming water which introduces oxygen, maintaining an aerobic condition within the system.
For queries or technical support on our rain water havesting offering please call 01335 372222.