Rain can be an annoyance, but it's also a vital, free water supply.
Turn on the faucet, and clean water comes out. This is the norm for millions of people, although there are many people in different parts of the world who are not so lucky. Water is a scarce resource in some parts of the world, and clean drinking water even more so. Even nations with sophisticated water processing plants are having to consider collect and use water more efficiently. Does this Spark an idea?
Rainwater Harvesting
According to the Texas Water Development Board, rainwater harvesting is growing in popularity (See Reference 2). One company claims its system, suitable for residential homes and office buildings, reduces nonpotable water use by 50 percent or more. The system involves a straightforward collection process from the roof, after which the water is filtered, stored and distributed throughout the building. You can use the water harvested to flush toilets, clean floors, do the laundry and wash your vehicles.
Rainwater for Greenhouses
Horticulturalist Dr. Dotty Woodson champions the use of greenhouse rainwater capture systems, both for commercial and smaller-scale greenhouses. Fort Worth Rolling Hills Tree Farm in Texas is just one commercial organization that has come to realize the benefits of collecting and reusing rainwater. Their system consists of a greenhouse gully collection gutter that overhangs the greenhouse footprint to extend to a down pipe connected to a large collection barrel.
Open Vessels
Any large open vessel, such as an old tin bathtub, a clean disused hopper or even an old boat left outside will collect a considerable amount of useful rainwater. This can be a quirky feature of a garden, or if you prefer, a hidden feature obscured by strategically placed plants. The water collected is perfectly suitable for watering your garden, although try to use up all the water you collect regularly so it doesn't stagnate.
Other
Some systems incorporate a large tank buried in the garden to which rain water is diverted from the gutters when it rains. These systems can collect large quantities of rainwater but are costly to install, according to the Texas Water Development Board. This is because you must pay the cost of excavation, plus the cost of the tank. You'll need a reinforced tank if you plan to bury it more than 2 feet deep.
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