Design Is About Doing: Researching Rain:

Rain Fall in the UK:


COLLECTION OF INFORMATION:

 WHY RAIN IS GOOD LUCK

• Supposedly Rain is a symbol of good fortune coming your way.
• Walking in the rain is good luck because you are washing away bad things that you have done.
• In some cultures rain is good luck, and can represent cleansing or stronger unity in the marriage.It comes from several cultures mainly from the Hindu with the idea that a wet knot is harder to untie. Since marriage is often referred to as tying the knot. Rain was also a symbol of fertility to agricultural societies, since rain restored and maintained the wellness of crops. Crops were peoples main source of stability and income so it was thought to guarantee a long happy marriage.
• Farming - crops get watered producing much healthier crops this then leads to higher quality food for the public.
• To me rain is also alive. Many songs talk about dancing in the rain. Dancing in the rain is such a fun and alive feeling, a free feeling. Everybody thinks you are crazy, but you don't care. The feeling of raindrops on your head, you both getting soaking wet, and yet the aliveness is full throttle. The rain also makes me feel alive because it makes me think about things. For some reason rain makes me think about unfortunate things that have happened in my life. After thinking about those things I feel the need to live life to the fullest. Life is to short to waste it not always having fun and doing what you want to do.
  Rain also wakes you up, like when you go to a store when it is raining. You park your car and you know what happens next. You are now in a race; you must get to the front...

THE SMELL OF RAIN:

As it turns out, the smells people associate with rainstorms can be caused by a number of things. One of the more pleasant rain smells, the one we often notice in the woods, is actually caused by bacteria!Actinomycetes, a type of filamentous bacteria, grow in soil when conditions are damp and warm. When the soil dries out, the bacteria produces spores in the soil. The wetness and force of rainfall kick these tiny spores up into the air where the moisture after a rain acts as an aerosol (just like an aerosol air freshener). The moist air easily carries the spores to us so we breathe them in. These spores have a distinctive, earthy smell we often associate with rainfall. The bacteria is extremely common and can be found in areas all over the world, which accounts for the universality of this sweet "after-the-rain" smell. Since the bacteria thrives in moist soil but releases the spores once the soil dries out, the smell is most acute after a rain that follows a dry spell, although you'll notice it to some degree after most rainstorms.

WHAT DOES RAIN SYMBOLISE:

In dreams rain is a sign of cleaning: cleansing you from your troubles, it is also a representation of the start of all new life.

In film making it doesn't always have to represent something dark and gloomy, it can also be used to display a pivotal point for example a new beginning. 

As you can see kissing in the rain has been used as an image of perfect romance allover the world:

In poetry rain represents anywhere between, cleansing or even happiness:

an example 

extract from: 

The rain falling softly upon her face,
Takes her to a magical place.
The rain falling softly in her hair,
Lets her soul float upon the air.
The rain touching her lips,
Give her the breath of life in little sips.
The rain falling softly from the sky,
Lets her know that heaven,
Is where good souls fly.
This poem was written/submitted by Lamar

 Rain drops falling in my head,

and never knowing when it will end.
Should I run for cover,
or let another rain drop fall in my head again?
I would love to dance in the rain,
and knowing somehow it’ll help erase the pain.
Sometimes when I’m all alone,
and I see rain drops are falling outside again.
There’s happiness that I feel [...]

The uses of rainwater in the UK:

Harvesting rainwater for domestic uses:

We are the Environment Agency. It's our job to look after your environment and make it a better place - for you, and for future generations.

Your environment is the air you breathe, the water you drink and the ground you walk on. Working with business, Government and society as a whole, we are making your environment cleaner and healthier.

The Environment Agency. Out there, making your environment a better place.

What savings can be achieved?

Any RWH system will reduce the dependence on the mains water supply.

Potential savings need to be assessed on an individual basis before any system is implemented. Factors which will influence this are; the demand for non-potable water, the amount of rainwater that can be collected and supplied and whether the property is charged by volume of water used (is metered)

Savings, both financial and environmental, will be higher in commercial/industrial buildings and schools. This is because they generally have larger roof areas and a greater demand for non-potable water than private dwellings.

Only customers with water meters will benefit financially from using a RWH system. At the time of writing (2010) this applies to approximately 37% of domestic properties and almost all industrial and commercial customers. Therefore, in England and Wales, for the majority of domestic customers, there is no financial incentive to install a RWH system.

Financial savings are usually higher when a system is installed during construction as retrofitting can be expensive and disruptive.

What are the benefits?

RWH systems can reduce demand for mains water and relieve pressure on available supplies. For customers with meters, water bills will be reduced.

Reducing the volume of mains water supplied means less water is taken from lakes, rivers and aquifers and more is left to benefit ecosystems and help sustain the water environment.

RWH systems can also reduce the risk of flooding and pollution as less rainwater is discharged to drains and sewers and, ultimately, to rivers. They can contribute to slowing down the flow of water and reduce the pressure on drainage systems in times of high flow.

Sustainable drainage systems (SUDS) often incorporate rainwater harvesting. SUDS reduce the risk of flooding by increasing the retention and control of surface/storm-water. In England, Planning Policy Statement 25 ‘Development and Flood Risk’ (PPS25)2 requires flood risk to be considered at all stages of the planning process to reduce future loss of life and damage to property from flooding.

2 Water use in the home

This section looks at the way we use water in the home and examines which of those uses can be substituted by harvested rainwater.

Environment Agency Harvesting rainwater for domestic uses: an information guide 5On average, every person in England and Wales uses around 150 litres of water per day (l/p/d). Figure 13 shows the elements (micro components) of the average demand for water in measured households.

Figure 1: Measured total England and Wales microcomponent use 2009-10 (%)

3.1

• • • •

How much water can you collect; How much water you need to store; The costs; and Other/alternative water efficient measures to consider.

How much water can you collect?

Miscellaneous use, 11

Outdoor use & car washing, 7

Dishwashing, 9

Clothes washing, 12

Toilet flushing, 26

Personal washing, 35

Toilet flushing uses the second highest percentage of water per person per day. Substituting mains supply for rainwater when flushing the toilet could potentially reduce pressure on mains supply by approximately 39/l/p/d (26%), reducing the average daily use of mains water to 111l/p/d.

If rainwater was also used to supply the washing machine and water to the garden, then the demand on mains water could be reduced further. The volume will depend on a number of factors and the suitability of a RWH system to meet your needs.

Categorisation of information:

Uses of Rainwater in the UK:

Research into the collection and harvesting of rainfall in the uk - looking into the benefits it has and how it helps the environment and your bank balance:

Benefits obtained from Rainwater Recyling for Home and Business in the UK

• Rainwater Harvesting saves up to 50% of your mains water cost.
• A volume of rainwater is kept out of the storm-water management system, helping to reduce flooding risks.
• Rainwater Harvesting gains important Eco-homes water useage rating points for your property.
• Rainwater recycling is better for your garden and home as it has a balanced pH, does not produce limescale and is free of chemicals such as chlorine found in mains water.
• Rain can be used for watering all types of livestock, including horses and they prefer the taste of rainwater without the chemicals.
• You will use less detergents with soft rainwater. Using rainwater reduces the cost of your weekly shop.

Rainwater Harvesters - The Principle

Rainwater Harvesting is simple. Water from the roof is filtered and stored in the OASIS tank, from where it is pumped on demand to garden taps, washing machines and toilets.

Why Harvest the Rain?

Because rainwater harvesting makes sense. Rainwater can be used for so many domestic and commercial purposes. It is free, clean and harvesting helps to fight the effects of climate change for both drought and flooding.

Benefits of using rain instead of mains water

Rainwater is a free, natural, environmentally friendly resource. Rainwater Harvesting upholds all the ethics of Sustainablity - Reduce, Recyle and Reuse.
It acts as a cushion against future price increases by the Water Companies - future Hose Pipe Bans will not affect you. - Helps to reduce flash flooding - Easy to install.

Less energy and chemical use for rain used in the home and business compared to mains water

In the UK, every litre of water uses 280 watts of electricity to purify it. We then waste all this energy by using the water to flush our toilets and water our gardens when we could be water harvesting for free.
Many chemicals are also used in water purification and these are not required for rainwater.

Rain water harvesting saves you money and helps to save the environment

Rains link to Romance in the uk:

As you can see kissing in the rain has been used as an image of perfect romance allover the world:

In poetry rain represents anywhere between, cleansing or even happiness:

an example 

extract from: 

The rain falling softly upon her face,

Takes her to a magical place.

The rain falling softly in her hair,

Lets her soul float upon the air.

The rain touching her lips,

Give her the breath of life in little sips.

The rain falling softly from the sky,

Lets her know that heaven,

Is where good souls fly.

This poem was written/submitted by Lamar

Rain

Author: James Rowe

Rain fell last night...quiet, gentle rain, 
that tapped against my window pane, 
and called me back from troubled sleep, 
to soothe a heart too numb to weep.
  
My loneliness was too deep and real, 
and like a wound that would not heal, 
it throbbed within me, and I knew 
my arms were empty without you. 

But as I listened to the sound 
of soft rain falling on the ground,
I heard your voice, tender and clear, 
Call my name, and oh my dear, 

I threw my window open wide, 
to let the sweet rain rush inside.  
It kissed my lips, my eyes, my hair, 
and love, I knew that you were there. 

Tears that my heart could not release 
Fell down from Heaven, bringing peace.
Last night while gray clouds softly wept,
I held you in my arms and slept.

A kiss is just a kiss till you find the one you love. A hug is just a hug till you find the one you're always thinking of. A dream is just a dream till it comes true. Love was just a word till I heard it from you.
















Beautiful Rain:










How Beautiful is the Rain! : 

How beautiful is the rain!

After the dust and heat,

In the broad and fiery street,

In the narrow lane

How beautiful is the rain!

How it clatters along the roofs

Like the tramp of hoofs!

How it gushes and struggles out

From the throat of the overflowing spout










To me rain is also alive. Many songs talk about dancing in the rain. Dancing in the rain is such a fun and alive feeling, a free feeling. Everybody thinks you are crazy, but you don't care. The feeling of raindrops on your head, you both getting soaking wet, and yet the aliveness is full throttle. The rain also makes me feel alive because it makes me think about things. For some reason rain makes me think about unfortunate things that have happened in my life. After thinking about those things I feel the need to live life to the fullest. Life is to short to waste it not always having fun and doing what you want to do.

Rain also wakes you up, like when you go to a store when it is raining. You park your car and you know what happens next. You are now in a race; you must get to the front...













What I aim to comunicate: 







Uses of Rainfall: 

I aim to show how that rainfall in the uk is harvested to become more economically friendly and to help save money for the community 







Rain and Romance:

I have looked at how people associate rainfall with romance i found that kissing in the rain is a memory that sticks in peoples brain for life, this is the key to romance. Britain's heavy rainfall can be used as an attraction for romance in the rain 







Rain is Beautiful:

I have looked into the feelings that people feel when exposed to rain, I have then tried to communicate this message in a visual way that engages the viewer.












Erik Kessels: Existing work and background information to gain a greater understanding of the target audience: 

I have found that his work is very minimalist and is heavily in spired by attributes of modernist graphic design i will take this into consideration when creating my designs using a strict grid system making communication the key element of the design (the main feature of modernist graphic design)