Collecting Rainwater at Home
Rainwater tanks are becoming a familiar sight in gardens where summers are dry or water prices are rising. The systems collect water from roofs and store it for later use. Their main (17) ________ feature is that treated drinking water is not needed for every household task. Garden watering, for example, can often be done perfectly (18) ________ with stored rainwater. Installation requires some planning. A tank must be large enough to be useful but not so large that it becomes visually (19) ________. Filters reduce the (20) ________ of leaves entering the system, while covered containers prevent insects from breeding. In colder regions, extra (21) ________ may be needed against freezing temperatures. Users also need to develop an (22) ________ of local regulations, especially if rainwater is connected to indoor pipes. With good care, the system can operate (23) ________ for many years. For households, the long-term (24) ________ can be both financial and environmental.