Rainwater harvesting
In its origins, humanity used surface water, but as it spread geographically and the different civilizations were born, settling in semi-arid and arid zones, different ways of extracting water from the subsoil and rainwater harvesting were developed. In recent years, the shortage and contamination of surface and underground water, as well as the lack of connection to hydraulic networks in certain towns, has led to the resumption of the practice of collecting rainwater.
Many architects and designers have recognized the importance of this practice, thus designing buildings, houses, bus stops, sculptures, urban equipment, and furniture that capture and store rainwater, contributing to optimize the use of water. There are even some buildings and homes that are self-sufficient in terms of water consumption, by making the rainwater drinkable through filtration and disinfection systems.
Currently there are many rainwater catchment systems. One of the most used is the harvesting of rainwater from roofs of houses and buildings, storing it in a tank (such as cisterns, flowerpots, garbage cans and barrels), and then using it to water plants, washing vehicles and terraces, flushing toilets, washing clothes, among others.
There is no doubt that the collection of rainwater is an ecological practice that helps to reduce the demand for drinking water supply, thus reducing the need to exploit natural sources for the extraction of this vital liquid and, therefore, contributing to the preservation of water resources.