Mistakes when collecting rainwater: You should avoid these seven mistakes
Downpipe, bin, done: collecting rainwater is actually easy. Nevertheless, there are a few aspects to consider
It is clean and clear. Plants love it. Even the clothes feel nice and soft after washing: There are many reasons to collect rainwater. Rising costs for drinking water and the trend towards self-sufficient systems are prompting many people to optimise their rainwater usage with modern systems. But rainwater harvesting is also possible on a small scale, even on your own balcony. What do you need? Roughly speaking, a downpipe and a collection tank. Sounds simple, but we can also make mistakes when collecting rainwater. We explain what these are and give tips on how you can best avoid them.
1. unsuitable containers or the wrong material
The choice of container is very important. For example, do not use containers that contain chemical residues. Wood weathers over time and could also be treated. Instead, use high-quality plastic containers that are specially designed for storing water. Our tip: Closed decorative rain barrels allow little light to pass through and thus prevent algae from forming in the water in warm weather.
2. inadequate cleaning of the collection containers
Dirt, leaves, algae, insects or other impurities impair the quality of the collected water. Our tip: Clean the collection containers regularly, ideally in spring and autumn or after heavy rainfall. However, please do not use any aggressive chemicals for cleaning! A brush and a sponge are sufficient.
3. lack of cover
Open containers can lead to impurities such as leaves, dust, animal faeces and especially mosquito larvae getting into the water. Stagnant water is an ideal breeding ground for mosquitoes. Our tip: When purchasing new collection containers, make sure you choose a closed system.
4. excessive accumulation of water
If you do not use the collected water regularly or the collection container is overfilled, stagnant water also encourages bacterial growth. Our tip: Use the collected water regularly or - if this is not possible or necessary - drain it.
5. missing or too small overflow
As well as being wasteful, overflowing water can also cause damage to the surrounding area, for example to façades. Backwater and pressure can also damage the tank. Our tip: Modern complete systems are already equipped with a suitable overflow. If you would like to retrofit, we at GRAF also offer suitable accessories such as our downpipe filters. You can also use overflow bends through which the water can be channelled into another container.
6 Insufficient filtration
It can be useful to filter the collected water to remove dirt and other impurities. For above-ground systems, for example, we recommend using a rainwater tank with a filter in the downpipe, which channels the rainwater from the roof into the barrel. Our tip: if you have an underground tank: Install one of our internal filters, which are also space-saving, directly into the tank.
7. a rain barrel that is too small
Does your rain barrel regularly overflow and is still too small for the whole garden? We offer numerous options for an above-ground extension - whether in the form of a rain barrel connection, our wall or column tanks, rainwater amphorae or a variety of other rainwater storage tanks. We can also consider the installation of an underground tank. At GRAF, we offer the right solution for every garden.
To summarise, we can definitely say that collecting rainwater always makes sense: apart from the fact that you can save money and protect yourself from droughts, the controlled drainage and infiltration of rainwater also reduces the risk of flooding. Hobby gardeners also improve the soil quality and promote the growth of their plants. This makes gardening and balcony planting even more fun in the end ...
