What are the different components of a Rainwater Harvesting System ?

There are several types of rainwater harvesting systems that range in complexity and capacity depending on the requirements. Despite the varied systems available, the essential components of rainwater harvesting systems remain the same.

The components of Rainwater Harvesting Systems are listed as follows:

• Catchment Area – Refers to the targeted surface area that will be used for harvesting the rainwater
• Coarse Mesh – Refers to the mesh installed at the inlet point to avoid the passage of debris, dried leaves etc.
• Gutters (optional) – Refers to the channels created along the perimeter of the catchment area to transport rainwater
• Conduits or Piping Systems – Refers to the piping system installed for transporting the water from the catchment surface to the storage devices
• First Flushing Devices – Refers to the non-return valve system that can be engaged to flush out the runoff from the first rainfall ensuring that it does not enter system
• Filter Devices – Refers to the filter devices installed to remove suspected pollutants entering the storage devices
• Storage Devices – Refers to the sump or storage devices where the harvested rainwater can be stored for later use.