As a plumbing company, Sun Plumbing deals with water – a LOT of water! We believe in conserving water as it is a precious and valuable resource. One way to conserve water at your residence is through rainwater harvesting. You may have not heard of it or may not be familiar with it, so we thought it would be a good topic for this month – the beginning of Spring!
Springtime = Rain!
Florida’s weather is different from many states due to the fact that our state has subtropical and tropical climate zones. According to an article on the NBC WESH Channel 2 news website, forecasters at the National Weather Service office here in Melbourne decide when the rainy season officially begins for Central Florida. It can vary in the different areas of Florida because of those subtropical and tropical climate zones.
The rainy season for much of Florida generally begins in May and lasts five months! Yes, almost half our year is the rainy season. In large part, as would make sense, it coincides with our hurricane season which runs from June 1 – November 30. So, unlike states in the north and even out west, our rainy season is Spring and Summer as opposed to Fall and Winter.
What Can I Do With All That Rain?
We all know that rain provides much-needed water for the natural ecosystem, watering nature and filling water resources for wildlife to drink. We also know that even with sophisticated irrigation systems, many farmers still rely on rain for their crops to grow properly. But, what about the rest of us? Is there anything useful that we can do with rainwater? Indeed, there is!
Rainwater harvesting, according to Texas A&M Agrilife Extension, is the capturing, diverting, and storing of rainwater for later use. By harvesting rainwater, we reduce the demand on the existing water supply. Additionally, it reduces erosion, run-off, and contamination of surface water. So, not only can it benefit you personally, but it also benefits the environment!
How Do I Catch and Store All That Florida Rain?
You can start with the basics. If you are somewhat interested in rainwater harvesting and want to “test the waters” so to speak, then start simple. Place some five-gallon buckets around your yard in areas that you notice tend to puddle during rainstorms.
After dabbling in it with your five-gallon buckets for a while and you feel ready to move on to true rainwater harvesting, then you can have an actual rainwater harvesting system installed. A picture of such a system is provided in the above link to Texas A&M Agrilife Extension.
I Caught It! Now, What Do I Do With It?
Whether caught in a simple bucket or an actual rainwater harvesting system, there are multiple uses for your captured rainwater. It can be used to water your landscaping or indoor plants, fill your pets’ water bowls, and wash your vehicles. Here in Florida, we fill bathtubs and buckets prior to hurricanes in case we need water for our toilets or for cooking, washing dishes, etc. With a rainwater harvesting system, you are always hurricane-ready!
Why Might I Need a Plumbing Company?
Depending on the complexity of the system you have installed, there will be pipes involved. Some systems will have more pipes than others. However, any time you have a leaky or broken pipe, you may need a professional plumber.
SUN PLUMBING IS HERE FOR YOU
We hope you will seriously consider rainwater harvesting to help benefit your family as well as our local ecosystem! In the meantime, if you have any plumbing needs, please call us at Sun Plumbing. Rain or shine, Sun Plumbing has been serving Brevard County for over 45 years because Sun Plumbing is “as dependable as the sun!”
