A community rainwater harvesting system diagram showing rainwater being recycled in multiple homes

Communal Rainwater Harvesting

Communal Rainwater Harvesting is the process of capturing and reusing rainwater for use as an alternative water supply in multiple residential properties. Recycled rainwater can be used to cover many non-potable applications within typical homes, including toilet flushing, irrigation, and car washing.

Communal systems are commonly regarded as the best solution for implementing rainwater harvesting in residential homes. By utilising communal systems rather than individual plot systems, homeowners are relieved of maintenance duties, and the risk of cross-contamination with the public water supply can be mitigated by removing internal components from homes. Discover more below.

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Communal Rainwater Harvesting Versus Individual House Systems

Why Communal Rainwater Harvesting is important

Did you know that many regions in England are considered ‘seriously water stressed’ by the Environment Agency? As the country's future water deficit grows to an additional 5 billion litres per day by 2050, communal rainwater harvesting offers a long-lasting solution to improve water efficiency within homes.

Issues around water scarcity are not the only problem with water in the UK. Water management is also an issue with aging sewage infrastructure regularly reaching capacity and releasing pollutants into nearby natural water courses.

Rainwater harvesting is a solution to both of these problems. Not only can systems reduce per capita consumption of water by replacing precious drinking water with recycled rainwater in non-potable outlets, but rainwater harvesting also prevents large volumes of surface water from entering the over-capacity drainage network.

Rainwater harvesting is proven to reduce water consumption in residential properties by up to 55%.

Our Communal System Types

Our team of experts are on hand to help you select the most efficient type of system for your residential project. Utilising over two decades of experience as a UK manufacturer and maintenance provider for water reuse systems, our team will assist with all aspects of your project, including sizing, technical help, water-saving estimates, supply, and installation. Take a look at some of our system types below.

Community rainwater harvesting diagram showing rainwater being captured from roof areas and recycled.

Non Pressurised System

Able to provide high flow rates to points of use.
Ideal for medium to large developments.
Can be linked with on-site attenuation systems.
Utilises a secondary header tank, sized to provide a suitable capacity based on the number of homes.
Intelligent mains water top-up feature achieved via a compliant air gap in the header tank.
Header tank, controls, and pump set housed in a small external building, constructed from either brick or GRP.
Provides a reliable water supply in the event of a failure scenario.

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A rainwater harvesting diagram showing a storage tank and control unit

Combi System

Ideal for use in medium-sized apartment blocks or small-scale housing developments.
Integrates a secondary break tank within the combi control unit to provide a suitable internal capacity.
Combi control units are supplied in a range of capacities, sized to the project specifications.
Located in a plant room or weather-proof cabinet.
Pre-wired, pre-built, pre-tested unit housing an energy-efficient booster set to provide a water supply to usage points.
An automatic mains water top-up is achieved via a compliant air gap into the combi control unit.

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Further Information

Communal Systems versus Individual Plot Systems

Remove ownership and maintenance responsibilities from the homeowner to a management organisation.
Remove internal components from homes, assisting with reduced risk of cross-contamination between the rainwater and mains water supplies.
Prevent homeowners from switching the system off due to a lack of knowledge.
Can be linked with onsite attenuation capacity for a more cost-effective per-dwelling solution.
Can work as part of a wider biodiversity plan whilst saving space by reducing the required capacity of swales and ponds.
Utilise commercial grade components for extended lifespan.
A single point of maintenance.
Mitigate the need for consumer behaviour changes in water usage by supplying them with rainwater.

Communal Rainwater Harvesting versus Water Fittings

Many rely on the ‘water fittings’ approach for achieving greater water efficiency within homes. Water fittings are technologies that reduce the use of water in key outlets, examples include air-assisted showers, aerated toilet flushing, and dual-flush toilets. Communal rainwater harvesting is the optimal water-saving solution because…

Communal systems cannot be simply removed by homeowners for high water using alternatives.
Using rainwater rather than mains water is commonly seen as indistinguishable.
A lasting piece of infrastructure which can be monitored, maintained, and enforced.
Offers centralised monitoring of water levels and water savings.

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System Schematics

System Schematic - Community Rainwater Harvesting & Active Attenuation