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Every drop counts – rainwater harvesting for a sustainable future

In the UK alone, more than three billion litres of clean water are wasted every single day. With water bills creeping ever higher, organisations are looking for smarter and more sustainable ways to manage their usage.

Rainwater harvesting has previously been considered a nice to have, but it’s fast becoming a building essential. At Premier Modular, we’re helping our customers future proof their buildings by integrating systems that save water, reduce flooding risk and slash utility bills.

What is rainwater harvesting?

Rainwater harvesting is the practice of capturing rainfall, for example from rooftops and hard surfaces, storing it, and reusing it for non-potable purposes. This includes sanitation, washing or irrigation. It’s a simple concept with ancient roots: the Romans had cisterns, the Ancient Egyptians carved water channels, and today’s systems follow the same basic principles, just with smarter technology.

There are a number of benefits of rainwater harvesting, with a key one being the reduction of water bills. The average office worker uses 50 litres of water per day, so by harvesting rainwater, the savings can add up quickly. Rainwater systems can offset up to 50% of mains water usage, significantly lowering a building’s operational costs its lifespan.

Installing rainwater harvesting also improves an organisation’s sustainability credentials. With growing pressure on the UK’s water supply, which is predicted to reach 5bn litres needed every day by 2050, reducing reliance on mains water is a big step toward ESG goals and sustainable building standards like BREEAM.

As extreme weather becomes a more common reality in the UK, rainwater harvesting can also support with reducing the likelihood of flooding, as it removes the amount of surface water following a rainstorm. Harvesting this water reduces the load on local drainage network and makes your site more resilient during storm events.

Integrating rainwater harvesting into your build

Modular buildings are built for flexibility and efficiency, and rainwater harvesting systems align perfectly with that ethos. Systems can be integrated at design stage alongside other sustainable technologies, depending on your project requirements. The result: a more holistic, efficient and environmentally-responsible building.

We’ve installed rainwater harvesting in a number of our projects, to reduce bills and improve operational sustainability for our customers. We designed rainwater harvesting systems for 15 HS2 sites for offices and welfare facilities, Hull’s first Code-5 social housing development, reaching a national benchmark for sustainable building, and for buildings at HMP Full Sutton, as the MoJ modernises the prisons estate.

In a climate of rising costs and growing environmental responsibility, it’s time to make smart use of rainwater a priority. Whether you’re developing a temporary or permanent site, our team can help you integrate sustainable water strategies into your next modular project.

Get in touch with the team today to find out more.