Water conservation systems: rain water tanks or grey water recycling?

So you’ve decided to install a water conservation system at your home or business; now you need to decide what type of water system would best suit your circumstances: rain water tanks or grey water recycling?

The short answer would be both!  However, certain buildings and situations will be more suited to rainwater harvesting tanks than grey water systems and vice versa.  A block of flats may require a communal collaboration – some rainwater can be harvested from the top of the building and grey water (bath/shower water, basin water) can certainly be recycled (probably the easiest, least complicated form of gray water recycling is to use it for garden/lawn/landscape irrigation.  Although communal water conservation systems may be more difficult to organises, any sceptics should soon see the benefits when the building’s water bills start falling.

Many private homes are suited to both rain water tank installation as well as greywater systems.  However, thatched rooftops are unsuitable surfaces for collecting rainwater so this is a case where a grey water system, such as a grey water irrigation installation, will be the option to choose.

Business buildings may not produce much greywater (from showers or baths) so in this case, a few rain water tanks would probably be the best choice.  Business buildings (especially warehouses and factories) often have iron rooftops – the best rainwater collection surface.  The large surface area of these roofs is conducive to collecting vast quantities of rainwater – a series of 10000 litre water tanks, 15000 litre water tanks or even 20000 litre water tanks could be installed along the building walls.  The rainwater could be used for industrial processes, saving a business significant amounts off water bills as well as improving the ‘green’ status of the business – important in these days of eco-conscious consumers.

Rainwater harvesting tanks and greywater recycling really go hand in hand and, if possible, both water systems should be installed.

At the heart of most water conservation systems is a water tank or a series of water tanks.  In South Africa, we recommend water tanks, rainwater tanks, tank stands and other high quality products made by JoJo Tanks.