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weeds, adds nutrients to the soil to help feed plants, and helps to conserve water.Mulch can be used in and around:

- Flower beds and vegetable gardens

- Trees, shrubs and woody perennials

- Lawns - Mulch your lawn? Yes, you can "grasscycle" (leave the clippings on thelawn when mowing). The clippings quickly decompose and release valuable nutrientsback into the soil to feed the grass, reducing the need for fertilizer by 25 to 50percent.

• Compost - Compost helps sandy soils hold nutrients and water, loosens claysoils, and feeds the beneficial soil life so it can feed and protect your plants. You canmake your own compost at home, or buy it in bags or bulk.

• Limit impervious surfaces - Use porous pavement, gravel paving blocks, orother pavement options that let rain seep into the soil, in place of asphalt andtraditional concrete. Porous pavement is a special type of pavement that allows rainand snowmelt to pass through it, thereby reducing the runoff from a site and

surrounding areas. In addition, porous pavement can filter pollutants from therunoff.

Rain gardens reduce stormwater runoff from roofs and impervious surfaces.

Capture Rainwater 

Another alternative is to collect rainwater from rooftops in rain barrels - mosquito-proof 

containers that collect and store rainwater that would otherwise wind up in storm drains andstreams. Rain provides free "soft water" to homeowners-containing no chlorine, lime or

calcium-making it ideal for gardens, flower pots, and car and window washing. A rain barrel

can also be used to collect water and store it for when you need it most-during periods of 

drought-to water plants, wash your car, or to top off a swimming pool. A rain barrel will save

the average homeowner about 1,300 gallons of water during the peak summer months, or

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40% of total household water use. In some drought-prone regions, rain barrels may not be

legal, so check with local authorities before using them.

Reduce fertilizer and pesticide use

Chemical fertilizers and pesticides applied to lawns and gardens wash off and pollute streams

and water bodies. In addition, yard clippings and leaves can wash into storm drains and

contribute excessive nutrients and organic matter to the watershed. Use chemical pesticides

and fertilizers sparingly and always in strict accordance with the application directions. Use

compost and other non-toxic alternatives whenever possible. For more information about

pesticide use in your lawn and garden, go

to:http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/controlling/garden.htm.

Rain barrels are a cost-effective way to collect and store water for garden and lawn irrigation and other purposes.

Check to see if rain barrels are permitted in your area.

Rainwater harvesting systemsRainwater harvesting systems re-use much of the rainwater, reducing the amount of surface water disposal and saving precious treated water.

After rain, roof and hard standing water is usually collected into the underground drainagesystem and disposed off site into the main surface water sewer, watercourse or soakaway.But if all of the developments in the surrounding areas are disposing of their water at the

same time, this overloads the system.

Rainwater management can help in obtaining planning permission on sensitive developmentsites where planning authorities may be looking for innovative elements to be incorporatedin the building. Some developments are receiving planning permission with restrictions onthe rate of surface water disposal from site, which can also be helped by the installation of agood management system.

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Inten can provide the complete solution for rainwater management problems:

• Site survey to establish requirements.

• Design of tailored system to maximise use and savings.

• Supply and installation of complete underground system.

• Commissioning of internal plumbing and electrical installation.

Rainwater harvesting in a commercial situation

In a commercial application, up to 85% of the total water requirements can be serviced byrainwater including office buildings, factories, schools and hotels. All have a high demand for toilet and urinal flushing and other uses such as wash down areas and industrial processing.

A large, well known, dairy company has recently had a rainwater harvesting system installedon a new plant. The rainwater from the main building was directed to several largeunderground storage tanks and re-used back in the building for wash down purposes.Thesavings against the cost of using mains water has resulted in a payback period of less than1 year, against the cost of installation.

Rainwater harvesting in a domestic situation

In a domestic situation, up to 55% of the total water requirements can be serviced byrainwater including toilet flushing, washing machines, not forgetting that rainwater isnaturally a “soft” water and can therefore substantially reduce the amount of detergentsrequired. External uses such as car washing and garden watering can also be catered for.

A typical 4 bedroom detached house built with a direct rainwater harvesting system feedingthe 3 WC’s, washing machine and external tap for car washing and garden irrigation willhave a payback period of less than 3 years. After that, ongoing savings will be made.

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Contact Inten for help with rainwater harvesting solutionsA typical 4 bedroom detached house has recently been built with a direct rainwater harvesting system feeding the 3 WC’s, washing machine and external tap for car washingand garden irrigation.

The payback period is projected at less than 3 years against the cost of installation. After that, ongoing savings will be made.