LiviosWe consume regarding 100 liters of drinking water per day. And this for applications where rainwater can be used as well. You can save half of your annual water bill. the construction site Livios give a brief explanation.
In collaboration with Livios
16-09-22, 11:00
Last update:
16-09-22, 11:47
Source:
Writing Livios
Rainwater is easy to collect and free. Hence the obligation to install a rainwater tank in new constructions in Brussels and Flanders. Thus, you kill three birds with one stone: you help prevent floods, you save more valuable drinking water and you save on your water bill.Read more regarding rainwater cisterns.
How does a rainwater cistern work?
The rain that falls on your roof is collected by the gutter. This water flows to a cistern or reservoir rather than to the sewage system. A prefilter stops leaves and dirt, an overflow in the cistern prevents flooding in wet weather. The pump then directs rainwater through a network of pipes to draw points in your home and garden.
Tip: With a simple water barrel you can also collect rainwater and use it for your garden. Furthermore, it is easy to install yourself.
How much drinking water do you save?
In Wallonia, the average price for 1m³ of drinking water, including VAT, is 5.05 euros. A family of 4 consumes an average of 312 liters of water per day, or around 115 m³ per year, which corresponds to an annual bill of 580.75 euros. In Brussels, the average price for 1m³ is 4.24 euros, in Flanders, this rate varies between 4.01 euros and 5.56 euros (depending on the water company).
Filtered rainwater is suitable for all applications that do not require drinking water, such as toilet flushing, washing machine, car washing, cleaning, watering the garden … In short, regarding 50% of a family’s total water consumption can be perfectly replaced by rainwater.
In addition, rainwater offers some interesting benefits.
How big should your cistern be?
A rainwater cistern is compulsory in Brussels, but not in Wallonia. Nevertheless, it is a good idea to install one. “A 5,000 liter cistern is a minimum,” says Jan Lauwers of O Beton. “In practice, it is advisable to install a slightly larger volume. »
Due to climate change, the heaviest rainfall is short-lived and periods of drought are getting longer. It is therefore interesting to install a recovery tank larger than what is minimally required. Result: you collect rainwater to make the most of periods of extreme precipitation, and at the same time avoid increasingly long periods of drought. “Of course, you shouldn’t overdo it, because your cistern won’t fill up and it will never overflow, which is important for the quality of the stored water. »
How much does a rainwater harvesting system cost?
For a rainwater harvesting system with a concrete tank, you pay between 1,500 and 4,500 euros. For a rainwater collector with a plastic tank, the price is between 2,240 and 6,000 euros. Don’t forget that you still need add installation fee. They depend on the situation. Is it a new construction or a renovation, is the place easy to access, is there a lot of excavation to be done…?
In the case of renovation, the installation costs are usually higher due to more intensive work such as the replacement of pipes and therefore also more extensive demolition work. The cost of equipment needed for installation, such as pipes, is limited. According to a recent study by Test-Achats, this investment will be amortized following regarding seven years by the gain on your water bill.
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This article is written by our partner Livios.be.
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