Storm Zina: Its Implications

Hello all. It’s me, your friendly Green Patriot. As I’m sure you all know, we have been enjoying a considerable amount of rain and snow coming from Storm Zina. Given that a picture says a thousand words, let’s take a look below:

What I find interesting is not only the unusual amount of rainfall that we are getting, but how markedly different it is than last year, when we had a severe drought and needed to appeal to international agencies for water.

Have we forgotten about that so quickly?

While weather fluctuations are normal, ones that are this dramatic are symptomatic of responses to climate change. In sum: we will most likely experience drought again, and we need to be prepared for it. It’s bad enough that there are water distribution problems in parts of Beirut and Mt. Lebanon. But if we harvest the rain, some of our water needs will be addressed. Let us not allow this opportunity to pass us by!

While I have addressed rain-harvesting before, I am going to do so again. Simply put, one places a large container on the roof of their building, which catches the water. The water is then funneled through a filtration system, making it potable. Below is a diagram:

The water can then be used for household purposes.Naturally, this is a template, and a catchment system is designed to suit your needs.

I hear the sighs of many people, saying that it is too expensive to build, that their neighbors in the building will never agree to having it, etc. I will not argue, as I am not familiar with either your budgets or your neighbors.

There are some who are so happy to have this water that they are placing plastic barrels either outside or on their roofs, bringing the containers inside when they are full, and boiling the water in the kitchen to cleanse it. This way they can shower, which they cannot do usually. Quite a thought, Lebanon.

Lebanon: Re-visiting Rain Harvesting

Hello, Lebanon. It’s me, your friendly Green Patriot. The amount of rain we’ve been getting over the past few weeks has been interesting, to say the least. Lately, we’ve been getting a lot of rain, but I don’t think we will have that luxury for long. We are due for a serious water shortage by 2015.  

The amount of rain we’re getting…and the short arc of time during which we will have it…makes me think about rain harvesting all the more. For those unfamiliar with the term, rain harvesting is a method through which we can accumulate, treat, store, and later reuse rainwater. People do this to have more drinking water, water for livestock, water for irrigation, as well for menial things such as cleaning, etc. It can even supplement groundwater, and make a large difference in the amount of usable water available to us.

This is done in a very easy and inexpensive fashion. Rainwater is collected from the roofs of buildings, and it runs through an apparatus that cleans it and makes it appropriate for use. Household rainfall catchment systems are appropriate in areas with an average rainfall greater than 200 mm (7.9 in) per year. Lebanon is one such country. There are several different types of rain harvesting systems, depending on what you want them for. I have already posted a diagram in which the system is designed to increase the level of groundwater. Here is one sample design in which the rainwater would be used for your home purposes:

Obviously, this design would be adapted slightly for the purpose of an apartment building, but you get the idea. It would save you money on water, help the environment, and help us maximize our resources to the maximum. Let’s start thinking about conserving and using our natural resources wisely. We can do it, Lebanon!!

Lebanon: Water Conservation and Rain Harvesting

Hello, my fellow Lebanese. It’s me, your friendly Green Patriot. Did any of you see the television commercial yesterday on conserving water? It’s true, we do need to conserve water. Luckily for us, as a country that has rain, we can do that.

Rain harvesting allows us to accumulate, treat,  and store rainwater for reuse. This method has been used to provide drinking water, water for livestock, water for irrigation, as well for menial things such as cleaning, etc. Although it needs to be treated before use, it can supplement groundwater in this fashion, and make a large difference in the amount of usable water available to us.

This is done in a very basic manner. Rainwater is collected from the roofs of buildings, and it runs through a basic system that cleans it and makes it appropriate for use. Household rainfall catchment systems are appropriate in areas with an average rainfall greater than 200 mm (7.9 in) per year. Lebanon is one such country. A typical rainwater harvesting system meant to supplement groundwater looks like this:

There are other rain harvesting structures that do not flow into the soil if the water is meant for other purposes (cleaning, etc.) Designing a rain harvesting structure is based on your needs!

At present, out of our 8 billion six hundred thousand cubic meters of rain, only one billion is being used. Lebanon, we have the potential to use our rainwater to our advantage! This system is inexpensive to implement, and would save us both money and resources, regardless as to whether or not we implement it in our homes, in our water companies, or on public level by the government. We have the technology and the rainwater potential to do so. We can do it, Lebanon!