Every litre of rain flushed is another litre of water that can be left in our reservoirs
Rainwater harvesting (RWH) has been installed at tens of thousands of locations across the UK, with millions worldwide. The technology allows householders to save up to 50% of the water usage, by using clean rainwater in toilet and laundry systems. 70% of all UK housing that will be standing in 2050 has already been constructed.
Yet until now, no technology has been designed that meets the needs of this retrofit market. The patented technology incorporated in the innovative FlushRain rainwater harvesting system has solved this quandary to open a new market for rainwater reuse at a cost affordable to all.
Benefits of our rainwater harvesting system:
In the southeast, the high demand for water in the country’s most populous and least-wet region means there is less water per capita than in Sudan or Syria (Environment Agency, Cited in Waterwise, 2009). FlushRain installations have demonstrated that household water demand can be reduced by over 20% generating significant water AND cash savings.
Use Less
But if we use less the water companies, if we are on a meter, will receive less income. But surely they don’t put profit ahead of a sustainable supply for the future!
Thames Water says that rainwater harvesting is not considered a worthwhile resource. It doesn’t work in a drought!
Neither will Thames Water’s system work in a real drought! But if we use rainwater harvesting to reduce the consumption of drinking water, there will be more water in the reservoirs and there will be less chance of a drought.
Help to keep our reservoirs full.
Retrofitting FlushRain can be achieved in most properties throughout the UK. New houses must be designed to comply with the National Planning Policy Framework. This ensures that rainwater runoff cannot increase as a result of the development. Sustainable drainage systems (SuDS) are now an integral part of household developments, yet the high cost of installing RWH (>£5k/house) prevents RWH uptake on a large scale. FlushRain has a lower cost, is easier to install and generates faster return on investment than traditional RWH technologies.
We may have enough, although the Department for the Environment says that 9 water companies are seriously stressed, and Thames Water says there may not be enough to go around.
No rain when we need it followed by too much all at once?
At FlushRain, we recognise that the wholesale replacement of our water infrastructure to meet the demands of a changing climate is unlikely to occur any time soon. Every litre of rain flushed is another litre of water that can be left in our reservoirs. As uptake of rainwater use increases, we can all play our part to help delay the impacts of droughts.
The FlushRain RWH system utilises a small roofspace mounted suction pump and storage tank. The suction pump is attached to a series of collection cartridges which are mounted near the top of each rainwater downpipe. During rainfall, these fill with water and trigger a float switch. Once all of the cartridges have been filled, the single pump activates and draws water via small hoses from each cartridge into the loft tank.
Thames water suggests there may not be enough to go round.
Defra defines 9 water companies as “seriously stressed” in terms of sustainability.
Ofwat says that if we are to meet the significant challenges of the future, we will need to start doing things differently.
It seems a reasonable assumption, constant supply, increasing population and more use of drinking water.
The climate change committee have suggested to Ofwat that demand for drinking water is managed and reduced. They describe it as a “low regret” strategy.
So a lot of people who should know agree that the status quo of drinking water cannot continue, but not a lot is happening.
For a start, we flush toilets, wash cars and water the garden with drinking water. Surely it would help if we stopped using drinking water for this.
It is possible, please select your water company from the list and fill in your details below, an email will be sent to your water company CEO on your behalf.
The message that will be sent will read as follows:
"I would like to help your company to reduce the consumption of drinking water. A lot of people say we need to do this to protect future supplies.
Please will you supply me with a FlushRain system so that I can flush my toilets with rainwater and use rainwater from water butts to wash my car and water my garden."