Answers
How can I support the RAIN Foundation?
Please contact RAIN and find out how you can support our programme or a specific project in one of our coutries.
Can the RAIN Foundation support me?
If your organisation is working in one of RAIN countries and you are interested to collaborate with RAIN of start up a rainwater harvesting project, you can send an email with your questions and RAIN will reply to you as soon as possible.
If your organisation is located in another country, RAIN is eager to learn from you about your plans, knowledge and ideas. However, we are unliklely to be able to collaborate with you(r organisation) within our current programme.
What is a ferro-cement tank?
Ferro-cement tanks consist of an framework of steel reinforcement, which is covered with a cement plaster. Within the RAIN programme most ferrocement tanks have a size of 10 m3 and are used to store roof water runoff. They are connected with the gutter by a pipe. The inflow is filtered by a coarse-leaf filter and the use of a so-called first-flush device, which diverts the first mm's of rainfall. This type of tank is known to a long life span (approximately 20 years) and is build by masons and beneficiaries. It's design is generally easy to replicate. More information can be found here.
What is a sand dam?
A sand dam is a concrete dam build in the riverbed of a seasonal and sandy river, perpendicular to the flow direction. The functioning of a sand dam is based on sedimentation of coarse sand upstream of the dam, which will increase the riverbed aquifer. During the rainy season, flood water will percolate in this sandy riverbed, creating a groundwater reservoir upstream of the sand dam. A sand dam will provide water throughout the dry season through continuous recharge of groundwater through the riverbanks and is known to reach capacities of 1500 m3 and even more. Water can be extracted by upstream located hand dug wells.
What is surface-runoff?
Suface runoff is a term used to describe the flow of water, from rain, snowmelt, or other sources, over the land. A land area which produces runoff draining to common point is called a catchment area. Surface runoff may cause erosion of soil materials, which contain contaminants such as fertilizers, pesticides or human and animal faeces. If surface runoff is used as drinking water, RAIN recommends treatment (filtering and/or treatment) before using the water. Using surface runoff for other uses like irrigation is not necessarry.
What are the main water quality indicators?
Water quality is determined by the composition of water as affected by natural processes and human activities. Water quality depends on the constituents dissolved or contained within the water. It is often presumed that the chemical composition of water is the only factor involved. However, especially (micro) biological factors are of main importance when considering water quality. Next to this there are also physical factors. Please find here the indicators RAIN applies for water quality measurements.
How can I improve the water quality of my RWH tank?
Please download this booklet for water quality aspects on page 58 or find more information here.
How can I clean my tank?
Please download this booklet for cleaning instructions on page 66.
Do I need to treat and/or filter rainwater before use?
Water treatment only makes sense if it is done properly, and if hygienic collection, storage and use of water ensure prevention of contamination. If all these measures are in place and contamination has occured or if you are using surface runoff as drinking water, find here some treatment and filter techniques.
How much water can I store?
On this website you will find a simplified rainfall runoff calculator which can give you an indication of the amount of water you could store from your roof or surface catchment. More detailed information on sizing or your systems can be found here.
Where does RAIN work? What is a type 3 area?
RAIN currently focuses it programme within so-called type 3 areas. In these areas rainwater harvesting is the only feasible solution for having access to water. Groundwater is not accesible or is not suitable for drinking due to water quality problems and piped water or water from springs are not available. If you want to find out if RAIN can support your programme or project, it first has to be located within a type 3 area.
What are the costs of a rainwater harvesting system?
Please click here for more facts & figures.