Written by Rainwater Harvesting
Have you thought about putting all that rain pouring off your roof to use? Rainwater harvesting is one of those brilliantly simple moves that makes you wonder why everyone isn’t doing it.
Why Bother Harvesting Rainwater?
It saves water, cuts down on your water bill (if you pay for municipal water), and gives you a backup supply for dry spells. Plus, it’s surprisingly easy to get started.
For starters, all that rain coming off your roof is nature’s way of handing you a freebie, no strings attached. Instead of letting it run down the driveway and into a storm drain, why not put it to good use?
A few perks of collecting rainwater:
- Saves money.
- If you’re on a metered water system, every drop you collect is one less drop you have to pay for.
- Good for plants
- Rainwater is naturally soft and free of chlorine, making it better for your garden than tap water.
- Reduces runoff. Less water rushing off your property means less erosion and fewer pollutants washing into local waterways.
How Do You Actually Collect Rainwater?
The easiest way? A rain barrel. Stick one under a downspout, and you’re already harvesting rainwater.
But if you want to go bigger (or fancier), you can set up a full rainwater catchment system with storage tanks, filtration, and pumps.
Herés what you’ll need to start:
A roof. If you have a house, shed, or garage, you have a collection surface.
Gutters and downspouts. These direct the rainwater where you want it.
A storage container. This can be a simple rain barrel or a larger cistern if you’re serious about collecting.
A screen or filter keeps out leaves, bugs, and whatever else wants to sneak in.
What Can You Use Rainwater For?
- Watering plants and gardens
- Washing cars and outdoor furniture
- Flushing toilets (with a more advanced system).
- Laundry (again, if you go all-in with a filtration system)
- Drinking it. That’s a maybe. If you filter and purify it properly, yes. But if your system is just a basic rain barrel, keep it for non-drinking purposes.
Any Downsides?
Not really, but there are a few things to keep in mind:
Winter-proofing
In colder climates, you’ll need to drain or insulate your system so it doesn’t turn into a giant ice block and burst the piping
Local rules
Some places have regulations about collecting rainwater (weird, right?), so check your local bylaws.
Mosquitoes
Standing water can attract them, but a tight-fitting lid or a mesh screen will keep them out.
Do you want to calculate the amount of water you could collect from your roof? Read Treehugger’s beginner’s guide.