Rain water harvesting

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Rainwater has been collected, stored and consumed for thousands of years with methods attracting renewed interest today. Modern systems range from rain barrels to elaborate green setups with pumps, piping and filtration elements. Complex installations are best left to professionals knowledgeable about restrictions and permit requirements, but if your goal is a free water source for lawn, garden and other activities, harvesting rainwater is fairly straightforward. Collecing rainwater for personal use is restricted and even illegal in some states. If you are unsure about restrictions in your state, contact your local cooperative extension office for information. Benefits of Harvesting Rainwater Rainwater is useful in a myriad of ways with advantages over water out of the tap from municipal systems. • Conservation: In many parts of the world, water is a limited resource with demand greater than supply. Using rainwater helps protect and conserve natural resources like rivers and streams and reduces demand on public utilities. • Cost: Rainwater is free. Complex and potable systems require some investment, but the bottom line for the average homeowner is a lower utility bill. • Neutral • Contaminant free: Man-made chemicals and pollutants are not present in rainwater, which is better for plants. Unlike municipal systems, it's free from disinfection by-products, salts, minerals, and contaminants. • Reduces stormwater runoff: Collection and storage mean less water funneled into st...

Navigation • Home • About • About Us • Contact Us • Download Our eGuide! • Water • Potable Water • Purification • Water Storage • Well Water Pumping • Resilient Living • Self-Sufficiency • Rainwater Harvesting • Aquaponics • Permaculture Gardening • Environment • Sustainable Solutions • Water Crisis • News/Reviews • the DROP Report • Product Reviews • Search • Home • About • About Us • Contact Us • Download Our eGuide! • Water • Potable Water • Purification • Water Storage • Well Water Pumping • Resilient Living • Self-Sufficiency • Rainwater Harvesting • Aquaponics • Permaculture Gardening • Environment • Sustainable Solutions • Water Crisis • News/Reviews • the DROP Report • Product Reviews • Search Rainwater harvesting is an excellent means of conserving water and reducing utility costs. By simply installing a system that collects a naturally occurring resource, one could utilize the earth’s hydrological cycle to their own benefit. With instances of individuals facing legal consequences for their But is it illegal to collect rainwater or have some of these stories been exaggerated? In this article, we’ll uncover the truth about the legality of rainwater harvesting and provide information on the specific laws for each state. US citizens who want to set up a rainwater harvesting system in their backyard can do so without the fear of legal consequences provided that they adhere to their state's guidelines. The Federal Government does not have any restrictions on rainwater ...

What is a Rain Barrel? A rain barrel is a container that collects and stores rainwater. There are many different styles of rain barrels and ways to install them. Oftentimes, the rainwater comes from the top of a roof or passes through gutters but there are various formats. “Rainwater can be directed into rain barrels using a rain chain or simple sheet flow from the roof if no gutters or downspouts are available,” says • • Ashly Tamayo is the Director of Education at Choosing a Rain Barrel Rain barrels are made with different types of materials, including metal and fiberglass but for most homeowners, opting for a plastic rain barrel will make the most sense. “The most popular choice is plastic for cost, quality, ease of use, and availability,” says Ashly Tamayo, Director of Education at When choosing a rain barrel, you want to make sure it has a few accessories and a way to access the water easily. According to Comeau, “Every rain barrel should also have a tightly secured lid, a screened inlet, an emergency overflow with a flexible pipe or hose to direct excess water away from structures, and a spigot that can turn on and off.” Depending on the size of your property and how much water you use for irrigation, it’s likely that one rain barrel won’t be sufficient for all your water related needs but it will help. “An individual rain barrel collects less than 100 gallons of water,” says Sturfup. “This amount of water may satisfy the irrigation requirements for container plants,...