Last Updated on 15 July 2025 by Maelle
For a garden to continue to play its role as a beautifying feature of a home’s exterior, it is essential to properly care for the plants within it. And to achieve this, a good watering plan is essential. However, the amount of water required is so significant that it would be detrimental to the family’s economy to adopt the city’s distribution system. Therefore, it is necessary to opt for a permanent and free water source such as rainwater. But how can rainwater be recycled?
What do you need?
Water used to water a garden does not require any specific treatment. It would therefore be unnecessary, and even very disadvantageous, to use water from the city’s distribution network. Instead, it seems better to opt for a permanent and economical source, such as a well, a borehole, or a rainwater collector. The latter has the advantage of providing quality water for plants, generating significant savings, and helping the environment. It is therefore a necessary accessory for enjoying rainwater. But it’s not the only one. To use the rainwater you collect, you’ll need a water pump. Websites like Ma-pompe.fr will help you find the best water pump. About the water collector The rainwater collector must be installed under the roof, directly connected to the gutters. Several models are currently available, with varying volumes. The smallest are around 200 liters, while the largest are close to 10,000 liters. The most recommended type of rainwater collector for watering a garden is the outdoor tank. In addition to being able to supply the water distribution system for toilets, washing machines, etc., it will be suitable for watering the entire area of your garden. Therefore, before choosing a tank model, first determine your needs precisely. This will allow you to purchase the ideal model for you. Also, your roof must have a suitable configuration (be large enough and have a good slope) and the tank must have a cover to prevent foreign objects from falling into your water.
Installing a Rainwater Collector
This depends on the type of tank. It can be buried or outdoor. In the first case, the ground must be adequately reinforced. It will therefore be necessary to first assess the condition of the ground on which you wish to install the tank to better plan the installation. In the second case, that is, for an outdoor tank, the ground must be sufficiently level; it should also be borne in mind that climatic constraints such as winter can damage its various components. To overcome this last limiting factor, it is more advisable to install the tank in a cellar located in the extension of the roof slope. Then, install grates and a collector equipped with a filter to protect your water from contamination. Finally, connect your tank to the collector.
Some alternatives
The method listed above is the most widely used today. However, there are several other methods that achieve the same result, namely, to benefit your garden from rainwater. The first and simplest is spreading. It simply involves the water falling on your roof being drained directly into your garden, without any intermediate accessories. For this method to work, your roof would, of course, need to have a certain slope. However, it would be very clumsy to bother your neighbors with water coming from your home. So pay attention to this detail. In any case, this method seems rather archaic, ineffective, and sometimes very disadvantageous. Indeed, since large quantities of water drain through the ground, its rise could weaken the structure of your house.
As an alternative, you could opt for a drainage pipe. The water from the roof would then flow, after passing through the gutter, into a pipe that would lead it directly into the ground of your garden. To install it, you need to dig a trench all around the house. It can then be placed following the route
