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What is a Rainwater Catchment System

A Rain Catchment System collects rainwater from either a roof, paved area or runoff. The water is then filtered and stored in an above or below ground tank.

The rainwater can be used for either residential, commercial or landscape use.

A Rain Catchment System can be as simple as a small swail to stop water flooding off a slope or as technically advanced as a system that catches rain to supply a structure with water for drinking, sanitation, cooling, landscaping or agriculture. A Rain Catchment System is designed to most efficiently collect the rain water that falls on any given structure or property.

"God must think we're crazy. We let the rain fall off our roofs onto our soil. It washes the soil away and flows to the bottom of the hill. We then climb down the hill and carry it back up to drink." (Ugandan project worker)

The History of Catching Rain

It has not always been this way. Primitive Rain Catchment Systems were invented independently in various parts of the world and on different continents thousands of years ago.

In the Loess plateau of China (Ganzu Province), rainwater wells and jars existed as long as two thousand years ago. In that same time period, historians have found an integrated rainwater management system and runoff that fed agriculture for the Negev desert of Israel and Jordan. In India, raincatchers can be found in 15 different environmental zones. The Mayan people in the Yucatan, Mexico have rich,ancient and traditional rainwater catchment technologies (dating back to the Aztecs and Mayas). South of the city Oxkutzcab on the foot of the Puuc Mountain we can still see the achievements of the Mayas. In the 10th century AD, we can find an integrated agriculture based on rainwater catchment. The people lived on the hillsides and their drinking water was provided by 20 to 45 thousand liters cisterns called Chultuns.

For at least three millennia, people across the world have harvested rainwater for household, livestock and agricultural uses.

Why should we catch rain?

The current source of water is scarce and there will be a 40% increase in water use by 2020. Where will the water come from? Wonderwater believes the answer is falling from the sky.

Water covers 70% of the planet. Approximately 97% is saltwater and another 2% is held in ice caps and glaciers. This leaves only 1% of the world's water for all 6 billion inhabitants, and half of that, we shockingly have polluted. The World Water Council believes that total protection of the global population is only possible if we find an alternative source to ground and surface water. No substance is more crucial to survival than water and yet an alarming social indifference prevails regarding its depletion.

All of our water is regenerated by rain and snowfall. The growth of population, major cities and chemical pollution threatens its quality daily and depletes this precious resource.


The North American Ogallala Basin, which extends more than 810 miles from Texas to South Dakota, is being depleted 7 times faster than it can be replenished by rain.

A recent U.S. federal report shows that in 36 states, water managers are anticipating a shortage in the next 10 years regardless of annual rainfall.

We need to start catching rain now before our resources are no longer readily available to us.

ABOUT WONDER WATER WEBSITE

Wonderwater has one objective: to create a supplemental supply of water so we will continue to have enough to drink, wash, cook, grow, and play in. We accomplish our goal with a 3000 year old practice - by catching, storing and using the rain.

 But there’s good news and bad news…

The bad news is that global consumption of water has been doubling every 20 years, more than twice the rate of human population growth. We are using water like it was an infinite resource. But it’s not. We are depleting our water supply.

 The good news is that water managers across the globe know that Rain Catchment Systems will make an essential contribution to resolving the water crisis.  For decades, Europe, Australia, Japan, China and Israel have implemented this amazing technology.

 "If the wars of the last century were fought over oil, the wars of this century will be fought over water." Scientists are looking for alternatives to oil but there is no alternative to water. As we prepare for this crisis, our greatest defense will be that no one can own the rain. It’s nature’s gift to all of us. So, on the days when it rains, smile - because the solution to the water problem is literally falling upon you.

Click here to watch our Flash movie that quickly explains what Rain Catchment is.

For Information about our products and services contact:

Wonderwater
p.o. box 1510,
mount shasta, california 96067

ph: 530.926.5050
fax: 530.926.5994

Email: info@wonderwater.net
www.wonderwater.net