Question

It has been made mandatory to install rain water harvesting and solar water heater in all buildings in urban area. (1)what is the rational when rainwater alredy passes into drains?(2)Why are solar water heater being installed when electric geijer are available?

Answer 1

Dear student,

(1) In urban area rainwater flows away as surface runoff and passes into the drains. This runoff could be caught and used for recharging ground water aquifers by various kinds of structures to ensure percolation of rainwater in the ground instead of draining away from the surface. Some of the commonly used recharging methods are:-

a) Recharging of bore wells
b) Recharging of dug wells.
c) Recharge pits
d) Recharge Trenches
e) Soak ways or Recharge Shafts
f) Percolation Tanks


(2) Solar water heater uses solar energy, which is a renewable source of energy. Thus, it saves electricity, which is not the case if an electric geijer is used. Also, maintenance costs for solar water heating systems are generally very low. Solar water heater has benefits over the electric geijer and therefore, solar water heater are being installed.

Regards.