Benefits of using rainwater for cleaning purposes

The guest post below outlines some of the many benefits of harvesting rainwater. We always recommend that home owners install larger water tanks where possible; small ‘rain barrels’ do not store much rainwater and soon overflow during a good rainfall event.

Water is an essential part of our world, it defines not only our existence but also the existence of the entire environment. Although it seems like our water supplies are endless, the truth is that it is becoming a scarce commodity. Even though almost every household in ‘developed countries’ has access to tap water, the process of its delivery and purification requires  energy – a resource that isn’t endless. That is why harvesting clean rainwater is a great activity for all households. It is not only beneficial from a financial and environmental point of view but it is also easy to collect and use.

Statistics show that almost 150 litres of water are used each day by each household for basic needs like showering, cleaning, washing, and only a small percentage of those 150 litres are used for cooking and drinking. So why don`t we save money by using something as simple as the rainwater for an everyday activity, like cleaning? Here are some of the main benefits by switching to rainwater:

• Clean water without chemicals

Everyone knows that the tap water that we all have access to at home is clean and suitable for drinking, and yet most people prefer to buy and drink expensive mineral water because of all the chemicals which municipal contains. Rainwater, on the other hand, is clean as the mineral water but is also free. Unlike the regular water, the rainwater does not contain lime scale or salt which makes it perfect for washing the dishes, the car, watering the plants and the grass or for cleaning. It is has been proven that when irrigated with rainwater, plants grow faster because of the absence of chemicals. Rainwater can also be more efficient when doing the dishes when compared to municipal water. If rainwater is to be used for potable purposes, it is highly recommended that it first be filtered and purified (in case any impurities have been collected from the roof and gutters).

• Saving money

There are many rainwater harvesting systems on the market  but a simple water tank or a rain barrel would be perfect for your home. It is not expensive at all and at the same time it is very simple to use. It will collect and store all the water you and your family need from the rooftops so that you can use it at any time. This type of system will significantly reduce your water bills. If you decide to use the water from your rain barrel in the plumbing system this could possibly prevent the appearance of corrosion in the pipes because of the lack of salt. You can also reduce your electricity bill, at least during the summer months. With spring coming (in the Northern Hemisphere), the rainwater would be your perfect for spring cleaning.

• Environmental benefits

Rain water tanks and all the other rainwater systems are beneficial not only for the household but also for the environment. As the water supplies in the world are decreasing and the number of restrictions, regarding our water usage are growing, rainwater harvesting systems are becoming increasingly necessary from a sustainability point of view. So if we think about it, one water tank will not only provide us with all the water we need but will also help preserve our precious environment. There are companies like Flat Clean London which are using only rainwater for their needs.

Source: Guest post by Kate Chamile

JoJo Tanks South Africa offer a wide range of products such as plastic water tanks and chemical tanks to suit every household, business or agricultural need, including silo tanks and silo tank stands as well as other high quality JoJo Tanks products.  See JoJo Tanks’ VERTICAL TANKS, HORIZONTAL TANKS (transporter tanks), STEEL TANK STANDS and OTHER JOJO PRODUCTS and see JoJo Tanks’ NEW 6000 LITRE UNDERGROUND TANKS. Also see our FAQ and WATER TANK PRICES.