Technical Critical Analysis of Rainwater Harvesting Systems

This essay provides a technical critical analysis of an article discussing rainwater harvesting systems. It explores the benefits of these systems, including cost savings and environmental advantages, focusing on how they can reduce water consumption and lower water bills. The essay analyzes two types of rainwater harvesting systems: those that plumb into the home and those used for gardens, highlighting the Graf System as a cost-effective option. It examines the experiences of households using these systems, employing cost-efficiency versus benefit analysis and compare-and-contrast tools to evaluate their performance. The essay references expert opinions and research to support its findings, concluding with a detailed overview of the various rainwater harvesting systems and their impact.

Running head: HARVESTING RAIN WATER TO PAY BILLS
1
Harvesting Rainwater to Pay Bills
Student’s Name
Institution

HARVESTING RAIN WATER TO PAY BILLS 2
Harvesting rainwater to pay bills
Introduction
Harvesting rainwater is greatly significant for people living in houses or homes with
rooftops as water harvested from rain serve other purposes in the which otherwise
conventional water from the main supply that is paid could have been used for. Rainwater
harvesting system is a process of collecting water from natural rain falling on the rooftops of a
house. Water collected from rain enters tanks specifically designed to purify, treat and store it.
Water from these storage facilities is used in the garden to water plants, water livestock,
domestically for laundry and cleaning when properly treated and even for drinking and indoor
heating for houses (Ward, Memon, & Butler, 2012). Rainwater harvesting is simple, cost
effective and doesn’t require advance skill to start and operate.
Description
The article analyses two rainwater harvesting systems; rainwater harvesting system that
plumb into your home and rainwater harvesting system that water the garden. The rainwater
harvesting system that plumb into a home enables homeowners to use water in the laundry for
washing in the washing machine, flush toilets, clean the house and water the garden. The best
option that the article recommends is the Graf System and its entails excavating the garden to set
site for laying the tank (Donna, 2014). The tank doesn’t require regular check-ups since it has
self-cleaning filter due to this, the tank is checked after one year. The cost of 2700liters of water
is 2500 pounds. The rainwater harvesting system that waters garden is comparatively more
expensive than the one that plumbs into a home. The excavation for this system also doesn't go
deeper; most depth is 100mm.

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Explanation
The two modern systems of rainwater harvesting systems are cost effective compared to the
traditional systems. The cost of acquiring and installing the systems are cheaper at the same time
operation, and maintenance fee is equally affordable compared to the conventional systems.
Rainwater harvesting systems help individuals cut a significant capacity of water used in the
homes from the main supply source. Reducing the amount of water consumed translates to lower
water bills (Aladenola & Adeboye, 2010). Much money is saved in this way and used to develop
other segments of the home. Using reliable and free water in the gardens help improve the
harvest of backyard crops grown. The crops are harvested and sold to raise income that is used to
pay other bills in the home like electricity.
Analysis
The article analyses the experience of households in their journey with rain water
harvesting system to explain how the system has helped them save water bills and at the
same time paying them bills. The cost efficiency versus benefit analysis tool is used by the
author in the article. The author explains in paragraph two that, by adopting rainwater
harvesting system of the latest technology, one can reduce water consumption by 40%
according to research done by Rain Water Harvesting Association (Donna, 2014). The
author also analyses the experience of other people with the latest and most innovated
rainwater harvesting tank system to explain its benefits about efficiency and cost. The
author brings the story of Jonathan McGee and his wife Jessica and the experienced they
have encountered with the innovative type of rainwater harvesting system. The family
explains how the system is cost effective and how it has worked well then they anticipated.

HARVESTING RAIN WATER TO PAY BILLS 4
The author adopts the compare and contrast analysis tool in comparing the tow different
experts who have experience in this field. In terms of support, the article quotes two
different experts who have expertise in the field. The author cites research done by Rain
Water Harvesting Association and the findings that they have made to support the benefits
of rainwater harvesting system. The association comprises enthusiasts the conduct
thoughtful research on the rainwater harvesting systems that best suits their members. The
author often quotes Phil Barnard who is also an expert working for Chandlers Building
Supplies a specialist company on the issues rainwater harvesting system. The two experts
are immensely knowledgeable, and their findings can help an individual make appropriate
decisions in adopting the system.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the article gives detailed instructing information while also highlighting
knowledgeable sources that would assist the reader in understanding in length rainwater
harvesting system. The article tackles the most important segments that best explain with
distinction various rainwater harvesting systems that one can choose from. By analyzing the
feature of a rainwater harvesting system that water garden and that plumb a home, one can
make justifiable decisions. Cost efficiency, performance, and installation requirements
influence the conclusion that one makes in choosing the rainwater system.

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References
Donna F. (2014). Harvesting Rainwater: using the weather to pay your bill
Altadena, O. O., & Adeboye, O. B. (2010). Assessing the potential for rainwater
harvesting. Water Resources Management, 24(10), 2129-2137.
Li, Z., Boyle, F., & Reynolds, A. (2010). Rainwater harvesting and greywater treatment systems
for domestic application in Ireland. Desalination, 260(1-3), 1-8.
Ward, S., Memon, F. A., & Butler, D. (2012). Performance of a large building rainwater
harvesting system. Water Research, 46(16), 5127-5134.
Ward, S., Memon, F. A., & Butler, D. (2012). Performance of a large building rainwater
harvesting system. Water Research, 46(16), 5127-5134.