How to filter rainwater

If you own a house or cottage, you have a source of good quality water right on your roof. All you have to do is collect it in a tank and filter it appropriately. A simple system for collecting, treating and storing rainwater can save you up to 80 USD a month, solve the problem of drought in the garden and help protect drinking water sources.

Why use rainwater

Rainwater recycling has three advantages:

1. 1. In view of the increasing drought, you can thanks to the rain barrel better manage scarce drinking water resources.

1. 1. Rainwater is completely free, and therefore brings considerable savings, especially for garden owners. Because of the drought, it is harder for rainfall to soak into the soil and most of the water in the garden runs off. However, you can still use the rainwater in the tank for weeks after the rain.

1. 1. If you water your garden with rainwater, it will reward you with a richer and tastier harvest. Because rainwater is much more natural and healthy for the plants. than the chlorinated water from the line.

And what does he have recycled rainwater use? It is ideal for watering the garden, of course, but after suitable treatment and filtration it can also be used as domestic water. You can use it to flush toilets, wash clothes, use it for cleaning and, after more thorough treatment, even for personal hygiene.

How to filter rainwater

There are several stages and methods of rainwater filtration. The choice of filters should depend mainly on the location of the tank, the purpose of the rainwater and whether you will be feeding the water into the household plumbing.

Rainwater finds a wide range of applications not only in the garden.

Rainwater filtration for watering only

The first stage of filtration, i.e. capturing larger debris from the roof before entering the tank is always necessary. Further water treatment depends on whether the rainwater tank is underground or above ground – i.e. whether the water is pumped or not.

A rainwater harvesting system is installed at the downspout. the so-called filter basket, which catches the largest debris, especially leaves, insects, bird droppings and others. These debris would rot in the tank and degrade the water. The filter baskets contain a container in which these debris are collected and which needs to be emptied regularly.

When capturing rainwater, it is also advisable to install on the gutters themselves leaf catcher, i.e. a grill that prevents such debris from entering the gutter at all. If you only use the water for watering your garden and do not pump it out of the tank, this method of filtration is often sufficient.

However, the water from an underground rainwater tank must be pumped out. To prevent the rainwater pump from being damaged by smaller particles that are not caught by the filter basket, it must be fitted with a a filter for fine mechanical impurities.

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Household rainwater filtration

If you want to use rainwater in the home, it is necessary to choose a more effective way of separating larger mechanical impurities, a filter basket is not sufficient in this case. In underground rainwater tanks, the most common method is to use filter shaft, which discharges the impurities into the sewer. The advantage is that you do not have to remove the trapped impurities in any way.

In addition to the submersible pump in the tank, a pump is used to pump the water Comprehensive rainwater harvesting equipment, which is placed in the building. This draws water from the tank and distributes it to the pipes in the building. At this stage, the water should also be treated by multi-stage filtration. Beware, however, that this water is still potable after treatment and you must therefore always have separate pipes for potable water and recycled rainwater.

Methods of filtration and treatment of rainwater

Stormwater contains chemical pollutants from the surrounding environment, mechanical particles, and biological contaminants. Method rainwater filtration must therefore be selected with respect to the intended use of water in the household.

Mechanical filtration

For Watering and flushing toilets with rainwater is enough for you fine mesh filter for mechanical impurities. These small particles could damage the pump, the piping and the sanitary equipment.

Carbon filter

Removes chemical and biological pollution activated carbon water filter. Thanks to its porous structure and exceptional properties, activated carbon has the ability to capture a really wide range of substances, but it is not 100% effective against all kinds of pollutants.

Combined filter

Rainwater filtered through combined mechanical and carbon filter is suitable not only for watering and flushing toilets, but also for cleaning and washing. If you choose a carbon filter even when flushing the toilet, you don’t have to worry about unsightly coatings on the toilet that are caused by microorganisms.

Honeywell rainwater filter with pre-filter, mechanical filter and carbon filter.

Other specific water filters

If you want to use rainwater also for personal hygiene, it is advisable to have the water analysed first and based on the results choose a more thorough filtration, often also disinfection. Some pollutants and microorganisms can irritate the skin and mucous membranes and cause health problems even in small quantities.

Can rainwater be consumed?

Rainwater treated with mechanical and carbon filters is in no way potable. It cannot therefore be used for direct consumption or for cooking. Although there are methods of treating rainwater to make it potable, these are very expensive systems which are not financially viable.

However, we use only 2 percent of our water for drinking and cooking. For other purposes, you can use alternative water sources and save not only money but also the environment.