Page 5 - Landscape SA 104

ADVERTORIAL

RAINWATER

HARVESTING

Rand Water’s Water Wise team explains how you can
harvest rainwater in your garden or landscape.

outh Africa has always been a water • Install rain tanks to capture the rain from
scarce country, and with an increase your roof;
Sin the demand on our freshwater • Use permeable paving so water can soak
resources, and predicted effects of climate into the ground instead of running off.
change, it is likely that this trend will Use pebbles between paving instead of
continue, if not worsen. Rainfall is expected cement, for example;
to become more erratic and extreme – so • Direct water off paved surfaces like
you could get the same amount of rain in a driveways into the garden using swales
year, but instead of being spread out over (a small rib of concrete that directs the
the rainy season in lots of short showers, it water off to the side);
may fall in a few violent storms with long • Look to see where water collects in your
dry periods in between. garden, usually at the lowest point, and
put in a pond there to store the extra
Catching the rain rainwater;
• Create dry river beds using lined
What to do? The answer is simple – treat channels covered with a variety of rocks,
water as a precious commodity, don’t pebbles and stones in various colours Harvested rainwater can be collected in small
waste it, and get the most from every and sizes; ponds or reservoirs
drop. If rainfall does become more erratic • Use existing gutters to direct water to
and showers are heavier, then the best storage containers, rain tanks or specific
strategy is to capture the rain when it areas in your garden; behaviour towards water and to use it
falls for use during the dry periods. In • If you direct water into your garden, use more wisely. Save on your water bills,
natural areas, 55% of rain soaks into the mulch, pebbles or gravel in that area to ensure that your plants don’t suffer
ground, 40% evaporates and 10% is lost break the force of the water and prevent during dry periods, and play your part
to runoff. As buildings and paved areas are soil erosion. in conserving our most precious natural
added, so the runoff increases to around • If you are using a rain tank, make sure resources by harvesting rainwater.
20% for the house and garden, 30% for a you cover the openings to prevent
complex where there is more paving, and mosquitoes from breeding. Also, use a For more information visit the Rand Water
55% for a heavily industrialised area. This filter to trap leaves and twigs that may website www.randwater.co.za and click on
is a significant amount of water going to flow into the tank. the Water Wise logo. Alternatively, email
waste. Here are some ideas for capturing us at waterwise@randwater.co.za or call us
this runoff rainwater in your garden or The only answer to preventing the water at 0860 10 10 60. We also have YouTube,
complex: crisis in our country is to change our Twitter, and Facebook! LSA

Mulch can be used to allow rain water to infiltrate the Create culverts lined with pebbles to channel rainwater
ground and prevent soil erosion

Landscape SA • Issue 104 2021 3