Flushing the toilet with rainwater

Hello,

I wanted to ask if there is a possibility to operate a toilet flush with rainwater. That is, somehow install a tank that stores rainwater and is responsible for supplying the flush cisterns. And if this is empty, it should automatically switch to regular supply.

Is something like this profitable?

Hello nicobischof,

I once saw something on TV where they also used water tanks to collect rainwater. They then used it for the toilet flushing and the washing machine. I think it’s definitely worthwhile, especially since water prices are continuously rising.

Drinking water is scarce

hi!

you really bring up a very interesting topic! 97% of the water on earth is undrinkable seawater for humans. the remaining 3% freshwater is mostly locked in the ice of the poles and glaciers. only 0.3% of the total water supply on our earth is freely usable for humans.
when you then consider how much drinking water is wasted unnecessarily, you understand that ways must be found to prevent this.

best regards,
Mara

hello!

what Mara says sounds really frightening. and when you consider that the glaciers and poles will soon cease to exist, it makes me feel scared and uneasy. I really didn’t think there was so little drinking water on Earth. but you also keep hearing that various countries in Europe are already suffering from acute water shortages. one example of this is the south of Spain. this issue really affects all of us! and by saving the water that we thoughtlessly flush down the toilet every day, a lot could be done!

best regards,
yung

There are nice garages from Zapf, which offer huge tanks under the garage. However, I have not seen any prices for them yet. What would be interesting now are the prices for the piping to the points of consumption. Does anyone know about this?

hello!

what Mara says sounds really frightening. and when you consider that the glaciers and poles will soon no longer exist, it makes me scared and anxious. I really hadn’t thought that there is so little drinking water on earth. but you also keep hearing that various countries in Europe are already suffering from acute water shortages. one example of this is southern Spain.
this issue really affects all of us! and by saving the water that we thoughtlessly pour into the toilet every day, a lot could be done!

best regards,
yung

Despite all the scaremongering, one should remember that the worldwide amount of water = constant. There is a water cycle. Water is (although admittedly under energy expenditure) recycled and returned to the cycle. The shortage of drinking water in developing countries is definitely not due to you flushing your toilet with tap water. You should rather worry about the fact that due to E5/E10 agricultural land in developing countries is used for fuel production instead of food production.

My parents wanted to implement it exactly as the OP described. Unfortunately, it never happened because the investment costs for a private home water system are quite high. In addition, it also needs to be maintained. The rainwater must be at least somewhat filtered (keyword leaves). You have to clean the inserts in the downpipes regularly, you have to have an expensive cistern installed including piping.

In my opinion, such a system does not pay off quickly.