How to harvest rain water

Water is one of the most amazing resources. It has been used for human consumption for so long that we take it for granted.

Even though water is easily accessible for most, it may be worth thinking about getting creative about how you can get water.

In the desert, the little water that can be accumulated is not widely available daily and yet people have been able to survive. How? The answer is by collecting rainwater. For this article, we will go into what you need to do and how best to collect rainwater in different environments.

How Water Collection Tanks Work

A water collection tank is good for long-term storage. It is best for a desert climate and in some cases is a good alternative to drilling for a well or an aquifer.

Some homes have tanks that can store water up to thousands of gallons. This can be hooked up to a roof gutter system or some other type of rain catchment that can gravity feed the tanks.

A water collection system that is small enough to fit under a gutter drain is one of the simplest ways to collect water.

It can be a good option for short-term collection but, if the capacity is under 100 gallons its use could be limited to watering a garden or just keeping it for outdoor uses.

Is Rainwater Safe to Drink?

Rainwater could be acidic but, it may not be as dangerous in certain locations as it is in others.

For safety reasons the water should be treated in some kind of way and this could include chlorinating the water or running it through a filter or even boiling it. If you are not 100% sure it is safe to drink, do not drink it. (This article is not medical advise on the safety of rain water).

Other Considerations

If you choose to start rainwater harvesting, check your local laws and regulations before doing so, because each state has specific requirements that would need to be met for it to be legal.

Overall, rainwater collecting is ideal for off-grid living where you may need multiple sources of water for a homestead or just as a backup to a well, and most importantly it would be free water that will beneficial to you for years to come.