Introduction

Whole Systems Approach to Ecological Design

Appropriate Technology: Water

Organic Agriculture and Local Food

Appropriate Technology: Energy

Green Building & Retrofitting

Rainwater Harvesting

Rainwater is typically collected from roofs and stored in tanks adjacent to houses. Excellent manuals are available from The International Rainwater Harvesting Alliance (see aside).  Usually the first amount of rain after a dry period is flushed to the ground.  The rain is then stored and used as shown opposite.

Ferro-cement rainwater tanks being built in Bolivia. The tank opposite has the calcualtions to enable future tanks to be built in the village.

Often a sand filter is used between the storage tank and the house.  This can be backflushed every year with water pressure.

• Composting Toilets

Rainwater harversting - Illustration from Ecohouse by Sue Roaf et al - Click on image to enlarge

The International Rainwater Harvesting Alliance was created during the World Summit for Sustainable Development as a response to the ever-increasing water management crisis
Click on image for more information