Save money by collecting rainwater
Tuesday 22 June 2021
The Netherlands is known for the rain that can fall all year round. Annually, all this rainwater amounts to 70 to 90 cm! By collecting and using rainwater cleverly, you can save a lot. We tell you more about the advantages of collecting rainwater. You can also read more about the types of rain barrels here. Whatever type of rain barrel you choose, they are all suitable for collecting water.
Tip 1: Buy a rain barrel
The simplest way to collect rainwater is to buy a rain barrel. You can roughly choose between 2 types. A rain barrel made of wood or plastic.
The price of a wooden rain barrel is €160. A cheaper alternative is the plastic rain barrel. This costs €70 euros. Both prices include VAT.
The water you collect in the rain barrel can be used for many things in and around the house:
Watering the plants
Cleaning your garden furniture
Washing your car
Run your washing machine
Flushing the toilet
Watering the houseplants
If you collect and re-use your rainwater cleverly, you can save up to 1000 litres of water per year on average!
Rainwater harvesting in the garden
Rainwater collection in the garden is done with a rain barrel. The rain barrel is connected to the drainpipe. Should your drainpipe need replacing, then we have several roofers who can quickly and competently make this right for you. It may be that the design of the wooden rain barrel appeals more to you. It is good to know that a wooden rain barrel wears out faster. In addition, the price of a wooden rain barrel is higher than that of plastic. The wooden rain barrel, on the other hand, has the natural look. It is a matter of taste which one you choose.
Whatever rain barrel you choose, always take one with a lid. Mosquitoes love stagnant water. They lay eggs, increasing the risk of mosquito nuisance in and around the house. If you don't want twigs in your water, you can put a pair of tights in the bottom of the rainwater tank.
Another advantage of collecting rainwater is that it contains less calcium. There are also ways to use the rainwater for flushing your toilet. Per flush you save a lot of water! We have several plumbers who will not only give you advice, but also help you with this job.
Tip 2: Drain rainwater
Unfortunately, most rainwater ends up in the sewer. This not only leads to your sewer overflowing when it rains heavily, but also to missed savings. By disconnecting the rainwater, you have two major advantages:
a greener garden, which stays naturally moist
The chance of a subsidy per square metre. You can check this with the municipality
Average costs of disconnecting rainwater
The disconnection of rainwater costs an average of €1200 including VAT. This will save you up to 1200 litres of water a year. A gardener is the professional who gives advice on how to properly disconnect rainwater for your garden. In addition, a plumber can, in consultation with the gardener, disconnect the rainwater for you. So collecting rainwater by disconnecting it pays off!