Why harvest rainwater?

Rainwater Harvesting admittedly sounds like a cumbersome and expensive idea when it really isn’t.  The concept is very simple, and it’s really not rocket science. To put it simply, it rains – the rain runs off the roof – you catch it in a big bucket with a few added gadgets – and then you use your collected rainfall however you fancy; stock watering, irrigation etc.

According to research carried DEFRA in 2011, the British farming industry uses around 180 million cubic meters (180 billion litres) of water each year, the majority of which comes from mains water supplies.

To put this in context, we are based near Rutland Water Reservoir (the second largest reservoir in England) which holds 124 billion litres!

The price of mains water has risen by far more than inflation over the past twenty years, and it is now one of the major costs associated with farming. For farmers, a water leak of just one litre per minute equates to watering another 25 cows in a dairy herd.

Most water used in farming and industry – around 85% – doesn’t need to be of mains/drinking water quality. In fact, Rainwater is better for crops, with a balanced pH and none of the chemicals that can be found in mains water.  Adding a rainwater harvesting system can reduce water bills by up to 75%. Even considering the initial investment, rainwater harvesting remains an affordable, attractive option that will easily pay for itself in a short period of time.

In addition, according to research by DEFRA, there are over 1,000 fires in agricultural buildings each year. That figure doesn’t include fires that occur out in the fields or in hedgerows – farmers won’t forget the extreme heat we witnessed in the Summer of 2018 and will admit that it certainly made field fires more of a risk.  In addition to that, the remote and rural nature of farming means that there are rarely fire hydrants in the vicinity for firefighters to utilise, which could be rectified by an on-farm Rainwater Harvesting System.

So, let’s put pen to paper. The Calculation in the below graphic shows exactly what you could get out of a complete Rainwater Harvesting system.

Is Rainwater Harvesting expensive? Certainly not - there are significant grants available from the government for Investment in Rainwater Harvesting technology. Follow these links for more information:

• Above ground rainwater harvesting tanks – https://www.gov.uk/countryside-stewardship-grants/above-ground-tanks-rp18
• (in areas targeted for the reduction of water pollution from agriculture – can be paid up to £100 per cubic metre per year)
• Below ground rainwater harvesting tanks – https://www.gov.uk/countryside-stewardship-grants/storage-tanks-underground-rp17
• (in areas targeted for the reduction of water pollution from agriculture – can be paid up to £350 per cubic metre per year)
• First flush rainwater diverters – https://www.gov.uk/countryside-stewardship-grants/first-flush-rainwater-diverters-and-downpipe-filters-rp19
• (in areas targeted for the reduction of water pollution from agriculture - £125 per unit per year)

Agri-Linc can help you with all your rainwater harvesting specifications here : https://www.agri-linc.com/farm-machinery/tanks.html , we stock a large range of high-quality EnduraMaxx tanks.  The above graphic should make figuring out what you require a little easier, but don't hesitate to get in touch with one of our team on 01778 591225 .