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How to get started rainwater harvesting to make it worth it

by Kara Carrero Leave a Comment

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Especially with so much of the world experiencing drought, it’s the perfect time to discuss rainwater harvesting and collection. Because anyone can collect rainwater in both large and small amount whether they have a garden or not.
While not legal in all areas of the world, collecting rain is a great idea for both urbanites and those that live in the country… as long as it’s lawful!
Not only that, it is a winning situation for all. It is not going to have all of the chemicals in it from going through a municipal water processing facility if you live in the city and it does not cost you any money (other than the initial materials to collect the water).
A beginner's guide to rainwater collection and how to begin a rain water harvest. #sustainableliving #rainwater #gardening
Rainwater is just the wonderful water that nature gives back to our Earth.

Calculate how much water you could be saving in a year by measuring your roof and! Click Here.

Harvesting this water is especially great for gardeners. It means that they can water their plants the way nature and God intended, without the pollution of man. Even if you are not prescribed to the “grow food, not lawns” approach, rain water is going to be just as refreshing for landscaping and lawn grass.

Whether you’re just placing some buckets on your porch, a large cup under a downspout, or have giant underground water tanks, every drop of water counts.

Why should you collect rainwater?

  • It’s free, clean water. (Even when we were on well water, we still had rain barrels. Now that we live in the Boston metro area, we started with just leaving out containers before installing rain barrels).
  • You will still replenish the groundwater as you use it. Plants in their nature help retain water, as well as use it.
  • It does not have added chemicals, fluoride, and other additives in it. Studies have shown more and more chemical from estrogen to arsenic and pesticides in city water. They have discovered in some instances that even after being cleaned, most municipal water facilities still cannot get out some of the remnants ofprescriptionn drugs.
  • When we lived through a Drought in Oklahoma, our 2,400 sq. ft. house could collect around 1,000 gallons of water in a year. 
  • You can connect a hose and spout for easy access to the water. 

The biggest thing to understand is that, yes, you can get contaminants in your water from your roof. This is why it’s good to either powerwash your roof or let the first big rain wash away the bird poop and other fun things that have collected.

Simply empty your barrels and wait for the next good rain or if it’s really heavy, dump your barrel then. We have moved them in a torrential downpour. It’s not impossible. They’re just heavy. (Water weighs approximately 8 pounds per gallon)

Get a 50-gallon rain barrel kit here in our referral link.

How to get started with rain harvesting

There are many ways to set up a collection system and it could be small or large collection systems. The key is that you do it and use the water appropriately.

Even if this is just an extra bucket from your house out in the yard on a rainy day.

It all helps.

For us, instead of tons of water pouring into one place from off the roof, it can be used to nourish the plants in our yard.

  • Place your collection mechanism under a downspout from your roof
    • Use regular, food-grade buckets. as to not leach BPA or other chemicals into your collected rainwater.
    • Use Metal Trashcans With a Locking lid and hole cut into the lid
    • Find or Purchase Food Grade Plastic Barrels in our Amazon partner link (They do not have to be specifically for rain)
      • These are best for larger rainwater collection operations
  • Connect multiple barrels with piping or spread barrels around to different down spouts
  • Use a screen on top of the intake hole to prevent big bugs, twigs, and debris from entering the barrels.
  • Hook up a locking spigot to ensure easy access to water.
  • Devise a plan to prevent mosquitoes from becomming a nuissance.
    • Any water that is not in motion is prone to mosquitoes and larvae. Therefore, planting this mosquito repellant variety pack from Seeds Now in our link to help naturally ameliorate this situation would be a great solution.

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 A version of this article first appeared on ALLterNATIVEliving.com on May 1, 2013. 

Filed Under: Lawn & Garden Tagged With: diy, Eco-friendly, Gardening, How to, Sustainable Living, Yard Work

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