Water savings: a new deal with the recovery of rainwater

How to better consider the value of rainwater? On reading the Water Plan presented last week, this question appears to be representative of the expectations of a sector looking for a major change in their sector. In particular, those of member companies of IFEP, which has been promoting the virtues of rainwater harvesting for more than 15 years.

The syndicate welcomes from the outset the consideration of the resource as a national priority: "all actors, public, private, individuals, are concerned by this plan which has the advantage of laying out all the major projects surrounding water, the diagnosis is well made," he emphasizes. IFEP is also satisfied with the territorial nature of the plan, which is not intended to centralize everything, but on the contrary provides for water management at basin level. Nevertheless, if the 53 measures, in particular those governing sobriety, are positive, the IFEP notes an overall objective concerning the reduction of the water withdrawn less ambitious than during the Assises de l'eau of 2019 which provided for a reduction of 10% by 2024. This new plan provides for the deadline to be pushed back to 2030.

Massive rainwater harvesting to achieve water saving goals

The reuse of rainwater is a solution that fits perfectly into this Water plan and will make it possible to achieve the objectives according to IFEP. "For a detached house, up to 44% of the volume of drinking water consumed can be replaced by rainwater, a significant saving which will contribute to the overall objective of the 10% water saving requested. by the government," say its representatives. Using rainwater for specific uses such as toilets, washing floors, washing machines and watering represents for a household "hundreds of liters of drinking water saved per day, therefore a reduction very clear of the levy" they specify.

Provided that the measures relating to this subject are clarified or even reinforced. This is why IFEP calls for a collective reflection on the reuse of rainwater as an alternative resource to reduce drinking water withdrawals. The union specifically demands:

• A generalization on the whole territory: with regard to the drought of 2022, almost all the departments were affected by water restriction measures (Drought decrees). At a time of global warming, all territories are affected by tensions over resources. However, the support methods mentioned in measure 6 of the Water plan remain to be defined. Given the situation, the reuse of rainwater cannot be limited to certain territories or certain contexts, but must be systematized and globalized.
• A generalization on all types of buildings: a dynamic must be found to raise awareness among all audiences about the use of rainwater: individuals, communities, the agricultural world, industrial players... Measure 19 does not may not only concern agricultural buildings, but must be generalized to all buildings or structures with large roof surfaces and matching needs. In industry, the recovery and recovery of rainwater in processes must be part of the sobriety plans of the various sectors.
• The obligation to equip new constructions (residential, tertiary, industrial, etc.): as is the case in Germany or Belgium, systematic equipment to recover rainwater from future buildings must be discussed. This is the only way to ensure society's transition to sobriety in drinking water. Starting by reinforcing the Exemplary State approach mentioned in measure 5: the State must systematize the installation of rainwater recovery equipment on all its new buildings.

Furthermore, IFEP is at the disposal of the authorities to study the extension of the use of rainwater to a perimeter possibly larger than that currently defined by the decree of August 21, 2008 (measure 15 concerning the removal of regulatory obstacles). In addition, IFEP welcomes the fact that additional financial resources are dedicated to supporting new projects, especially if they concern projects for the recovery of non-conventional water, including the recovery of rainwater (measures 38, 39 & 41).

Rapidly deployable solutions, everywhere and for everyone

To respect the schedule provided for by the government's water plan, the recovery of rainwater is one of the fastest effective solutions to put in place, according to IFEP. The leading professions have innovative technical solutions, framed by regulations dating from 2008. Main advantages of these solutions: avoiding the waste of drinking water by re-adapting certain uses with rainwater, preventing the risk of flooding (in the face of rarer but more extreme rains) and increase autonomy (especially for individual houses).

For Thomas Contentin, president of IFEP: “Water sobriety also means adapting the quality of its water to its uses. The reuse of rainwater goes exactly in this direction, proven and sustainable solutions exist to effectively reduce the consumption of drinking water in buildings. If France wants to save water, it is with the recovery of rainwater that it has the best chance of keeping its commitments. The players in our sector are ready. »