| Fluctuations in weather patterns over the past 10 years have left the British Isles victim to both catastrophic flooding and severe droughts. Both extremes have created problems in the supply of purified water, raising a growing population’s awareness of the need to respect water resources, especially drinking water.
Gardeners have collected rainwater for centuries to water their plants and maintain levels in ornamental ponds. Today, ‘grey’ rainwater itself is harvested for a variety of other purposes where potability is not an issue. These include toilet flushing, laundry, and chores such as car washing and patio cleaning, especially where high volume pressure washers are used. Consumers with water meters would see immediate financial benefit from using ‘free’ water for functions like this.
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Grey water is also ideal for domestic hot water systems where it would significantly reduce the problems of the scale deposits that plague the majority of homes in the UK because of the high mineral content of ground water supplied by water companies.
Nu-sustainable blends its expertise in roofing and integrated solar energy systems with development of a novel integrated rainwater harvesting panel. The smooth surface of this panel prevents moss growth, and, by collecting water where it falls, rather than where it runs off, the system avoids the risk of clogging from dirt in gutters and downpipes. |
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Usually placed near the apex of a pitched roof, the Nu-sustainable rainwater harvesting panels feed into one or more loft tanks, which supply grey water to toilets, outdoor taps and any other appropriate points. The rainwater tanks are protected by simple cut-off valves and overflow pipes and can be provided with a mains feed to maintain minimum levels required for toilet flushing during bad droughts.
The Nu-sustainable system can also be used with conventional ground level or underground storage tanks, with water being pump to a feed tank in the loft, as required. |
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