what different systems can I use for rainwater harvesting?

Question

besides bioswales and roof top collection.thanks

Answer 1

Plastic barrels under your roofs downspouts are the easiest way. Just be sure you know what has been applied to your roof, before you do this. If you have had moss killer applied, the water is NOT safe to drink, and may kill some garden plants.

Of course anything that is on your roof, like bird droppings, will also end up in the water barrels, so better not to drink it anyway. PLEASE, be sure to COVER any BARRELS with strong wire mesh, so cats, dogs, wildlife, and children cannot fall in and drown!

Also check your local laws. Believe it or not, it's actually illegal in some areas to collect your rainwater, even the runoff from your roof! I lived in Washington state, along the coast...one of the wettest areas in the U.S., yet there was an area there, where it was illegal!

By the way, you can have multiple barrels by one downspout, that feed into each other, so you can collect the maximum amount of water.

~Garnet
Homesteading/Farming over 20 years

Answer 2

I recently saw a water expert on a garden show take the metal gutters off a clients home and install a small trench with drains/pipe in it around the house where drip line would be.. The idea is the water rolls down roof into trench is collected into drain and flows thru pipe to storage container in or above ground (can be directed thru soaker hose out onto garden as well) for later use. Storage tank had submersible pump in it. I believe the entire system was under 2000.

Answer 3

This is an old idea; collecting rain water. In the old days, they would put a wooden 55-gallon drum under the downspout to collect water. They also used cisterns, often brick with plaster over it to make it water proof. It was a big hole in the ground with the bricks/plaster. I use a garbage can under one spout and a small stock tank under another one (I live in a desert, so not often much more to collect). Downspouts can also be aimed at flower beds, bushes, trees, lawns...whereever a lot of water would be needed.
Of course, when you turn on the shower/bath and the water is cold and you want at least a warm shower/bath, you can place a bucket under the faucet to collect water. Even "gray" water can be collected and used to flush the toilet!

Answer 4

You can do anything from putting a large drum under a gutter down spout to building a small reservoir on your property. All depends on how big your plans are. It dont have to cost a fortune either. If your willing to scrounge up stuff.