Imagine a world where capturing rainwater is as second nature as recycling.
We want to turn water from something people dislike into something they actively value. With ‘Engage the Nation’, we’re setting out to inspire action across households, communities, and businesses to make rainwater harvesting the norm, not the exception.
By gathering insights and encouraging collective action, we aim to create a future where rain isn’t wasted, but saved, reused, and made a part of everyday life. Join us on this journey as we work to shift perceptions and behaviours around water resources. Together, we can help build a smarter, more sustainable relationship with one of our most precious natural resources.
We want to hear your opinions, preferences and you currently engage
with rainwater and water resources. Complete our short survey in just
a few minutes and contribute to a more sustainable future!
Every year, billions of litres of rainwater fall on rooftops across the UK, only to be lost to drainage systems and often treated at wastewater works at a cost. Additionally, by 2025 estimates put our water usage at 5 billion litres a day, which is equivalent to 50 million average bathtubs a day. But what if we could capture and store that water for practical use, watering gardens, flushing toilets, or even cleaning cars? Rainwater harvesting is a simple yet powerful way to reduce demand on mains water supplies, conserve resources, and contribute to local water resilience.
We want to understand what motivates people to capture rainwater and what barriers are holding others back. Your experiences and opinions matter, because together, we can make a bigger impact. This is called Collective Action (something we're very passionate about) and it is essential to moving forwards in the climate crisis.
Below are some facts that might shock you about water in the UK:
Increasing Demand:
We're going to need 5 billion extra litres of water - daily.
Increasing Flood Risk:
Now 1 in 6 properties are at risk, rising to 1 in 4 by 2050.
Flood Damage Costs:
The average annual
damage of flooding
is £1.4 billion.
CSOs:
584,001 sewage spills into UK waterways in 2023.
Get involved has never been easier! We want to hear from you, including your thoughts and opinions. All you need to do is complete this short questionnaire and tell us about your rainwater capture habits.
At the end of the questionnaire, you'll be asked if you'd like to gain access to:
‘Engage the Nation’ isn’t just about encouraging people to save rainwater, it’s about learning from those who already do and sharing that knowledge with others. Whether you have a simple water butt or a more advanced rainwater collection system, your experience can help us shape the future of water capture in the UK.
By understanding how people currently use rainwater, we can develop smarter ways to support and grow this movement. Your participation will help us influence how water is managed and valued at a local and national level.
Through this movement, we aim to:
Grow a community of rainwater harvesters across the UK.
Gather insights into how people collect and use rainwater at home.
Promote smart water use, helping households get the most from their rainwater.
Build a better picture of how much water is being saved nationwide and build upon this positive impact.
Looking ahead, we want to create a highly engaged community that’s equipped with the right tools and knowledge to make a lasting impact. Our goals include:
Rainwater capture offers numerous benefits for the environment and communities, while also helping to reduce flood risks. Here’s why it matters:
Collecting rainwater slows the flow into our drainage networks, meaning that during heavy rain events water treatment facilities have more capacity to cope with and treat the wastewater and therefore lowering the risk of stormwater overflows being activated..
Sustainable rainwater solutions such as green roofs, planters, and rain gardens provide valuable habitats and safe havens for urban wildlife. Additionally to this, rainwater will help urban wildlife and gardens flourish as there are more minerals and less hardness when compared to treated water.
Harvesting rainwater for non-drinking purposes, such as garden irrigation, can lower reliance on mains water, which in turn helps businesses and households reduce their water bills (especially for those on water meters). This will also have the positive effect on the environment of less water having to be treated to make it potable which is energy intensive
Capturing rainwater helps prevent polluted runoff from entering natural waterways. By intercepting rainfall before it collects contaminants, rainwater systems help reduce harmful pollutants such as oil, heavy metals, and debris, improving the health of rivers, lakes, and streams.
This is just the beginning; we invite you to be part of this movement.
Take part today and play your part in rethinking water use across the nation.
You can also sign up to our newsletter at the end of the survey for water saving tips!
Let’s engage the nation, because every drop counts.
We understand the importance of trust. While we’re keen to learn more about household rainwater capture, we’re equally committed to respecting your privacy. Any information shared will be used thoughtfully, with the aim of supporting the community and improving water resilience across the country.
We’re working to ensure that data is anonymised where possible and only collected when it has a clear purpose. Together, we can create something meaningful without compromising transparency.
Our Rainwater Ltd,
128 City Road,
London,
EC1V 2NX
Our Rainwater © 2025