With average UK annual temperatures predicted to rise by up to 3.5°C over the next 70 years, climate change is already driving the need for innovative solutions to the management of rainfall and surface water. Changing rainfall patterns are likely to lead to wetter winters and drier summers, sea levels are expected to rise and extreme weather events look set to become far
more commonplace.

The average person in England and Wales now uses 150 litres of water every day - almost 50% more than 25 years ago. Washing and toilet flushing account for much of this figure, with drinking, cooking, car washing and garden watering also playing large parts. Yet while continental countries such as Italy and Spain enjoy water supply capacities of on average 2,785 m³ per person, per year, England and Wales has a surprisingly low capacity of just 1,334 m³ per person. The high population densities in areas such as South East England mean that there is even less water available to each person in
these regions.

Rainwater re-use solutions offer a way to address this increasingly important issue by collecting and recycling rainwater, rather than simply allowing it to drain away. This not only reduces the demand for mains water for toilet flushing, laundry, vehicle washing and irrigation purposes, but also eases the potential for flooding which can be created when rainwater deposited by extreme storms is simply left to run to ground.

Why Harvest Rainwater?

• Population growth and rising consumption is increasing the demand for water
• Climate change is creating pressure to conserve water
• Legislation is enforcing the need to conserve water
• Higher water charges and water metering are predicted