Why Rainwater Harvesting Makes Sense:

• Save drinking water - this is the slogan in times of ever increasing water prices. Rainwater harvesting systems from GRAF are the solution with which you can reduce your drinking water consumption by up to at least 50 %. Thanks to up-to-date technology and complete systems, which meet all your need in terms of convenience and reliability.

• Cheaper source of water: water charges are set to increase substantially in the coming years. Valuable drinking water is much too expensive for flushing toilets and irrigating gardens. Therefore, it makes sense to utilize the rainwater that falls on your roof as it can substitute up to 50% of the water that you use in your home and pay for via the meter.

• Environmentally friendly: Climate change is leading to more violent and erratic rainfall patterns leading to increased flooding on the one-hand and prolonged droughts on the other. Rainwater harvesting helps to mitigate these effects in the following ways:

-  Minimising stormwater run-off by storing the water on-site for subsequent use which helps to  prevent downstream flooding.
 - During periods of drought, rainwater harvesting helps to ease the pressure on mains water  supply meaning more effective use of water resources for all.
 - Preserves groundwater supplies.
 - Reduces effort and costs for water treatment and transport
 - Counters rising water and waste water costs
 - Relieves sewage treatment systems, as some rain is retained for use later after heavy rainfall  and peak loads are reduced for the sewer network.

• Emerging Planning Regulations: Provision for rainwater harvesting is increasingly becoming a prerequisite for being granted planning permission, especially in areas that have a high flooding risk and areas that are facing increasing water shortages. As mentioned above rainwater harvesting can help to successfully mitigate both these issues.

• Water Security of Supply issues: There have been increasing instances where the ability of mains water systems to adequately supply the population it serves has come under significant pressure. As a result, one can no longer assume that mains water by itself is going to be able to cater for one’s water needs. Effective water management planning will require an effective back-up system when mains water is under pressure and rainwater harvesting is the most environmentally friendly back-up system available.