Rainfall of 2000 tonnes in Solingen for efficient and eco-friendly water management
SBV's Rainwater Tank Initiative Aims for Sustainable Water Management and CO2 Neutrality
The Spar- und Bauverein (SBV) in Solingen, Germany, has embarked on an ambitious initiative to install rainwater tanks in their local settlements. This project forms a significant part of the SBV's climate protection plan, aiming to improve sustainable water management and advance the city's CO2 neutrality goals.
Rainwater Collection and Use
The heart of the plan lies in the collection and utilisation of rainwater. By installing rainwater tanks, the SBV captures rainwater from rooftops and other surfaces, which is then utilised for non-potable purposes such as garden irrigation, flushing toilets, and cleaning. This approach reduces the reliance on treated municipal drinking water.
Water Management Benefits
The rainwater tanks offer several advantages in water management. They help to decrease the volume of stormwater entering the drainage system, thereby mitigating the risk of flooding and reducing stress on local waterways. Where possible, excess collected rainwater can percolate into the soil, supporting groundwater levels. By conserving drinking water, the project also contributes to the protection of freshwater supplies.
Contribution to CO2 Neutrality
The project's environmental benefits extend beyond water management. Less demand for treated drinking water means decreased energy consumption at water treatment and pumping facilities, reducing associated CO2 emissions. By minimising stormwater runoff and managing water locally, the community avoids carbon-intensive infrastructure projects. The initiative also encourages a culture of sustainable resource use, aligning with broader climate goals.
Key Features and Details
Each rainwater tank has a capacity of about 430 liters and weighs around 46 kilograms. The new rainwater tanks are equipped with a filter system and a return line. Aricon, a Solingen-based company, is delivering 300 new rainwater tanks to the SBV, with 100 to be installed in the Weegerhof settlement.
The connections for the rainwater tanks are standardised, making it easy to connect a hose. The use of the new rainwater tanks requires a basic requirement of an active tenant community on site. The initiative for this project originated from the "Greenlings", a group of residents from the SBV settlement Weegerhof dedicated to ecology, biodiversity, and sustainability.
The collected rainwater will primarily be used for the irrigation of plants in the SBV settlements and green areas. The SBV plans to install around 2,000 rainwater tanks with a capacity of 430 liters each in their settlements since June 2024. The SBV presented the project to the media at the Washing House Weegerhof.
The rainwater tanks are 100% recyclable, another sustainability aspect. The active involvement of tenant communities in other SBV settlements could simplify and accelerate the installation process. The Spar- und Bauverein's (SBV) initiative is setting an important example in the City of Hills, demonstrating the potential for sustainable water management in the pursuit of CO2 neutrality.
- This SBV rainwater tank initiative, with a focus on environmental-science and sustainable-living, aims to promote CO2 neutrality by collecting and using rainwater for non-potable purposes such as garden irrigation, flushing toilets, and cleaning, reducing dependence on treated municipal drinking water.
- By utilizing the technology of recyclable rainwater tanks in home-and-garden settings, the SBV is able to conserve drinking water, decrease energy consumption at water treatment and pumping facilities, thus lowering associated CO2 emissions, contributing to its CO2 neutrality goals.
- The SBV's rainwater tank initiative, by encouraging community participation and the involvement of tenant communities, fosters a culture of sustainable resource use, aligning with broader climate change and environmental-science goals.
