Water shortages and hose pipe bans are increasingly becoming a problem and with less water available per person in England than in most other countries in Europe there is an ever-growing need to consider water conservation measures in homes and businesses across the UK.
With this in mind one simple and ancient method of improving the situation is rainwater harvesting and the guttering chosen for this is very important. Copper gutters and down pipes can form an integral part of the rainwater harvesting strategy. Copper does not rust and turn the water orange and has a mild disinfecting affect on the water - particularly relevant for storage of untreated rainwater.
Copper is a wholly natural material present in and essential to plants, animals and humans. For a nation of garden lovers this is particularly relevant as plants grow better using rainwater, which has a balanced pH and is free of chemicals such as chlorine. Also, besides its high corrosion resistance and attractive appearance, copper acts as an algaecide and fungicide, keeping growths such as moss and lichens to a minimum with obvious benefits when it comes to guttering and water harvesting.
With the proportion of water used in the UK for gardening alone approaching 50% during the driest months of the year, water harvesting must be a consideration. Also in a recent Save the Rainâ„¢ survey in association with British Water and Hydro International, it was revealed that 9 out of 10 householders believe rainwater harvesting is a good idea and one in three would be more likely to buy a house with rainwater harvesting already installed. So it could improve the value of your property while saving money and valuable resources.
But this is not a new concept; copper can be traced back for use in roofing and guttering to 27BC. Archaeologists have even recovered a portion of a water plumbing system from the Pyramid of Cheops in Egypt. The copper piping was found to be in a serviceable condition after more than five thousand years, proof that the basic copper properties have been appreciated and put to use since ancient times.
For further information please contact Coppa Gutta Ltd on 01489797774 or visit our website: www.coppagutta.co.uk