Rainwater can be collected and used as an alternative to public mains water supply. This rainwater can be used at home, work and in the garden.
As the rainwater harvesting sector expands, BS 8515 has been published to protect the public and to make sure that reliable systems are designed, installed and maintained.
There are three basic types of rainwater harvesting systems:
a) Water collected in storage tank(s) and pumped directly to the points of use
b) Water collected in storage tank(s) and fed by gravity to the points of use
c) Water collected in storage tank(s), pumped to an elevated cistern and fed by gravity to the points of use.
These systems include:
1) Internal or external locations for tanks
2) Single or multiple linked tanks
3) Freestanding or fully or partially buried tanks
4) Communal tanks supplying multiple properties
5) packaged systems or components.
BS 8515 gives guidance on the design, installation, testing and maintenance of rainwater harvesting systems supplying non-potable water in the UK. Non-potable water is water that can be used for other things excluding human consumption. This includes laundry, WC flushing and garden watering. It does not cover systems supplying water for drinking, food preparation and cooking, dishwashing and personal hygiene.