How to Harvest Rain......

[calamaridog]

We just picked up a couple of these....
http://www.nerainbarrel.com/

I found this quote from the website interesting:

"Rain water diversion also helps decrease the burden on water treatment facilities and municipal drainage systems during storms. The storage of rain water is also recommended for general emergency preparedness, or for areas prone to disasters or drought."

 

[FLYFISHEXPERT]

Fly,
I like the sprinkler heads you described. something i need to look into. another thing i would like to try and do is install some type of drip system for the flower beds and vegetable gardens as well.

Yep, did that too. My vegetable garden is on a drip system. I just installed it and I can't be more happy. I also have most of my flower beds on a drip system. I like this idea, because I can target the amount of water a specific plant requires and only water that plant. I live on 1/3 of an acre and my water bills last summer were on average $100 less than my neighbor with 1/4 of an acre. It is all about smart planning and execution. I only wish I had a place I could bury one of those 1000gal tanks. I live on a slope, and my house is at the lower end with most of my yard actually above the roof line. If you guys have any questions regarding sprinkler heads and drip systems, shoot me a PM or email. I may start a thread on what I did.

 

[hrjaw]

I found this quote from the website interesting:

"Rain water diversion also helps decrease the burden on water treatment facilities and municipal drainage systems during storms. The storage of rain water is also recommended for general emergency preparedness, or for areas prone to disasters or drought."

funny,
they don't say it is for drinking water, but when you state "general emergency preparedness", most people would assume drinking water, but in their FAQ section:

Is rain water collected in a rain barrel suitable for drinking?
NO! No matter how thirsty you may get toiling away in your garden, don't even think about drinking water from our rain barrels -- or any rain barrel for that matter. If you're concerned about dehydration, bring some bottled water with you to your garden. While we're at it, do not use rain water for cooking or bathing, either.

 

[Scenic WonderRunner]

http://www.drought.gov/portal/server.pt

.

 

[calamaridog]

funny,
they don't say it is for drinking water, but when you state "general emergency preparedness", most people would assume drinking water, but in their FAQ section:

Is rain water collected in a rain barrel suitable for drinking?
NO! No matter how thirsty you may get toiling away in your garden, don't even think about drinking water from our rain barrels -- or any rain barrel for that matter. If you're concerned about dehydration, bring some bottled water with you to your garden. While we're at it, do not use rain water for cooking or bathing, either.

Well, you could certainly filter or treat the rainwater in an emerency or use it to flush toilets, etc. I suppose. In that sense, it would be useful if the tap water stopped flowing.

 

[hrjaw]

Well, you could certainly filter or treat the rainwater in an emerency or use it to flush toilets, etc. I suppose. In that sense, it would be useful if the tap water stopped flowing.

I absolutely agree, but let's be honest, how many people these days would know how to treat it other than boiling it. if they even see some sort of dirt or residue in the water, then off it goes down the drain. it seems most people will not even drink water unless it comes in a bottle.

I did order an additional barrell this week so i can have two attached to each other. It amazes me how much water we go through between the plants and such.

 

[calamaridog]

You are certainly correct that most folks wouldn't know what to do. Of course, most folks here would.

I like this idea for my parents house. I've already got my mom composting so this should be an easy one.

 

[hrjaw]

this is another option i would like to utilize at some point.

http://www.bergey.com/ not neccesarily this company, but this idea.

 

[77blazerchalet]

Musta missed this thread when it first came out - absolutely I scarf up rainwater. More than one apartment neighbor here has wondered why I was putting buckets out my front door under the roof gutter. My tap water tastes fine but it definitely causes brown edges on my plants and tree saplings after prolonged use. Top priority for my future house will be a 1000 gallon or so cistern system to water all my plants & trees and the politically incorrect (for Phoenix) lawn.

 

[slosurfer]

Beleive it or not it is technically illegal to harvest rain in CO. Rarely enforced, but if one of your lovely neighbors complains you have to dismantle. Just across the border in NM it is being strongly encouraged, amazing to think NM is actually more advanced in this area...

Which is odd considering I went on a "hut trip" this year in CO and it had a rain harvesting system which supplied the water for inside the hut. I believe it was the 10th Mtn Hut.

 

[Scenic WonderRunner]

Now you guys got me searching.

I just found this article.


Just an FYI.....everyone remain calm! ....hehe


Can you own the rain?...


http://www.denverpost.com/search/ci_9712027






(although the article is upsetting....let's please not turn this thread into a politcal thread.....please!)



.