Rainwater harvesting is the accumulation and storage of rainwater for non-potable use such as toilet flushing and machine wash down, and for outside use such as gardening and car washing.

Rainfall is usually clean, only when it hits a surface does its microbiological, chemical and aesthetic qualities become compromised. The recommended use for harvested rainwater in Ireland is therefore restricted to toilet flushing, clothes-washing, washing machines, garden irrigation, car and fleet washing and some industrial processes.

In Ireland, each person uses an average of 150 liters of water per day. 45 liters of this is used to flush the toilet. A small office with 10 employees can use up to 108,000 liters of potable water per year to flush the toilet.

According to the DOEHLG, it costs $2.07 per m3 to treat water in Ireland (€1.09 per m3 for water supplied and €1.01 per m3 for wastewater discharged). Cutting down on the amount of potable water that is used for non-potable processes could save the exchequer over $100 million per year whilst also allowing necessary upgrades to the water treatment systems be carried out.

For more detail please see additional information or contact your local merchant.