A basic residential rainwater harvesting system

You probably know that rainwater harvesting is a smart step to a greener home and greener bank account. Using rainwater for watering and other residential uses conserves drinking water and lowers your water bill. It’s a win-win, especially for Jersey Shore residents who have high water bills.

But did you know that harvesting rainwater during storms and releasing slowly later on during non-storm events helps take the pressure off impaired waterways (like the Barnegat Bay) which get inundated with stormwater sheet flow from impervious surfaces. If every homeowner added a 50 gallon rain barrell to their property that quickly adds up to millions of gallons of water attenuation.

Now, GreenWorks is making it easier than ever to go green blue by giving away a free rainwater barrel for home use! The new rain barrel will introduce you to rainwater harvesting and begin saving you money right away.

How do you enter the contest?

1. Look for the free Coffee News publication at any of 800 local restaurants in Ocean and Monmouth County.

2. Find the GreenWorks ad and follow the directions to be entered into the drawing for a brand new, free rainwater barrel for rainwater harvesting at your home!

GreenWorks Environmental is a certified rainwater harvesting expert and is proud to work with RainXchange amongst other leading companies.

We’re proud to announce that GreenWorks was recently awarded the distinction of Certified RainXchange™ Professional (CRP) by Aquascape, Inc. The CRP is a rainwater harvesting professional certification program created in June, 2009.

Rainwater recycling is a natural extension of the eco-friendly services we offer. It’s a great way to have a positive impact on the environment and save money at the same time.

GreenWorks is working exclusively with Aquascape, Inc., North America’s leading water gardening industry innovator and the inventor of the low-maintenance, naturally balanced ecosystem pond.

Certified RainXchange™ Professionals such as GreenWorks are the most qualified and informed RainXchange™ rainwater harvesting system installers in the water gardening industry. We are required to attend continual training and education seminars and maintain a proven record of outstanding work and dedicated customer service.

Ready for your complimentary rainwater harvesting consultation? Give Victor and the GreenWorks team a call (732-223-2073) to get the most out of the rainwater falling on your property!

Monmouth County residents are facing sever water restrictions, near-drought conditions plague much of our state and many people’s lawns and gardens are an ugly shade of beige due to the lack of recent rain in the Garden State. Using water wisely is an absolute must, especially when facing the type of conditions we’re seeing now.

In fact, water quantity issues and challenges will be a growing challenge for New Jersey residents and folks around the country in the coming years. Our current levels and patterns of water usage are simply not sustainable. We use drinking water for our lawns, drink bottled water from plastic bottles and let rain water run off our lawns and into the sewer.

Highest consumption patterns are highest in summer; Here are a few things homeowners can do to use water more wisely, reduce their water bills and ensure lush landscaping regardless of rainfall levels.

Evaluate Water Usage, Needs and Goals – How do you and your family use water on a daily basis? How much water do you use in an average week? Do you use water to wash cars with? Do you drink tap water? These and other questions must be considered in order to best understand how you use water, how you could use water and what makes the most sense for your family and your home.

Increase Water Efficiency – Consider using low-flow shower-heads and toilets. These are two of the largest water wasters in most homes. Low-flow equipment is affordable and can be installed by many DIYers. Evaluating your water usage and increasing basic water efficiency in your home are good first steps to using water wisely.

Install a Rain Barrel – Rain barrels are usually the most cost-effective way to start saving water at your home. They can be used to for irrigating plants and shrubs close to the home. Rain barrels are prone to low water pressure so if you want to deliver rain water to parts of your landsaping further away from the barrel, an accessory pump can be added to improve water pressure. Newer rain barrels come in various colors and styles, some that can be aesthetically pleasing and combine well with your lawn and landscaping.

Use Greywater – Greywater systems are experiencing a surge in interest and increased installations across the country. Greywater recycling filters and re-use shower, laundry and dishwater water for irrigation and other non-potable uses. They require a larger up-front investment but will pay big dividends for many years to come. The best time to install a greywater recycling system is before the home is built.

Evaluate Drinking Water Usage – Evaluating how a home uses drinking water for consumption and other applications is crucial to saving and better using water. Many homeowners use drinking water to water their lawns simply because they don’t think that there are other options. Additionally, many families are buying plastic bottles of drinking water,most of which comes from the same municipal sources as the water in their home. Buying and drinking water in plastic bottles is extremely expensive and comes with huge environmental impacts. Whole-house treatment systems, water filtration systems, potential health effects – how you feel; glass bottles – does not taint or leech, Testing/screening could be important. Treatment measures and technology are continuously evolving. Depends on what your level of comfort is, what you and your family want.

Become a Rainwater Recycler – You already recycle plastic, glass & paper, why not rainwater! Storm-water sheet flow is already touted by many as being the primary source of non-point source pollutants. So why not capture that rainwater that falls on your house and put it to good use by re-using it for irrigation, topping off your pool or as part of a water garden. There are many types of larger-scale water storage devices that are affordable, easy to install and do a wealth of good for the environment and your property.

Save Money, The Environment and Our Children – Our pocketbooks and wallets feel the impact of our water usage decisions first where using less water means lower water bills. But long-range planning and thinking about how you’ll use water in the months and years ahead can be educational, enlightening and help preserve our environment. In many cases, it can also mean a more comfortable home and a happier, healthier family. But ultimately, it’s our children who will benefit from good water stewardship now. That’s the best reason to help conserve our most precious natural resource.