10 September 2009
How do you collect rainwater?
Posted by Cecilia under: Environment; Home .
Collecting rainwater can be as easy as putting a rain-barrel under a roof gutter or as complex as installing underground cisterns with a water pumping system.
Here are some ideas of how to collect rainwater according to the Water Use and Conservation Bureau in New Mexico:
- Rain-barrels, tanks and cisterns: Virtually any large clean container can be used to collect rainwater. Rain-barrels themselves are commercially available. In order to store large quantities of rainwater you can install tanks and cisterns. Underground cisterns are more expensive because of excavation and constructions costs.
- Landscape contouring: Raised areas in the landscape such as crescent-shaped berms on the downhill side of trees, can catch and hold water for watering nearby trees and plants. Additionally channels and ditches can be used to divert water to plants with more need for irrigation.
- Swales and ponding areas: Depressed areas in the landscape, called swales, can collect water runoff. These shallow excavations can slow the flow of water which therefore can be absorbed by the soil. Swales also can direct water gently through a landscape in order to reach distant plants.
- Terraces: Soil terracing is a common way to turn a steep slope into a series of flat areas. We see this traditionally at rice farms. Instead of running off the slope rainwater can collect in each of the flat terraced levels where you can plant watering-intense plants or even trees.
Collecting rainwater has five great advantages:
- Each collected gallon of rainwater reduces the amount of potable municipal or well water you have to use.
- Rainwater is free.
- Collecting rainwater saves energy used to pump municipal water through the vast service area to your house.
- Rainwater is naturally low in salts, perfect for irrigating plants.
- Collecting rainwater can reduce flooding and erosion by reducing water runoff.
Collecting rainwater is an increasingly popular practice not only in arid climates but everywhere people are aware of the preciousness of water.
3 Comments so far...
Today in Sikantis – September 10, 2009 « Sikantis Says:
10 September 2009 at 1:27 am.
[...] Innovative News - How do you collect rainwater? [...]
JeanK Says:
11 September 2009 at 6:07 pm.
I agree 100% with Cecellia regarding the use of rain barrels at residents and businesses that have gutters to channel rainwater into them.
We have saved tons of money here in Florida, by investing in rain barrel! It saves on potable water for all those cleanups that can be done with water. It serves as drinking water for pets and cattle. Its serves as wonderful water for Victory and Rain Gardens, plants, flushing toilets, cleaning up yard tools, washing windows, cars, trucks, boats, etc. A thousand and one uses beside washing your hair with it. Rainwater is great! No chemicals!!!!
I want to urge everyone to become rainwater harvesters and begin to be aware that some states have already shut off water to farmers!!! This is becoming extremely serious. Rainwater is precious, priceless commodity that we all need.
Please come and visit me at http://www.gutterclutterbuster.com and see how you can save even more money by keeping your rain gutters squeaky clean in a safer, cleaner, faster, and easier method than any tool on the market today. Keeping rain gutters clean keeps diseases down from mosquitoes with West Nile Virus and roaches that carry 33 contagious diseases. Keeping rain gutters clean keeps the water flowing freely and cleaner into your rain barrels. Keeping rain gutters clean of pine needles and dry leaves lowers the possibility of a lightening strike that starts a fire in the gutters. Keeping rain gutters clean enhances the looks of your home and helps the environment as well.
The Gutter Clutter Buster is a newly invented, American Made, gutter cleaning attachment tool that fastens to any standard, round, 2-1/2″ wet/dry vac hose. It vacuums your gutters while you stand firmly on the ground. 2.1 million reported injuries from falling off ladders or the roof (even deaths) occurred between 1999-2004 and stats are rising 50% each year since. So there is a safety factor when cleaning gutters with a ladder or getting on the roof to use a blower only then to clean the debris up off the ground, bushes, or wherever they land.
So, stay well, stay safe, stay strong and God Bless America.
Rainwater Barrel, Catch And Store Rain Water Says:
21 September 2009 at 8:12 pm.
[...] How Do You Collect Rainwater? [...]
