According to Texas A&M University, elaborate rainwater collecting equipment discovered in the Negev Desert of Southern Israel and Palestine dates back some 4,000 years. Ancient Romans paved their home courtyards and captured rainwater in cisterns to supplement water from the public aqueducts. Today, several methods exist for capturing free rainwater to store for later use. Collected and saved rainwater is useful for watering lawns and gardens, washing cars, flushing toilets, and filling swimming pools. Does this Spark an idea?
Rainwater Collection from Gutter Downspouts
Rainwater roof runoff is collected from gutters and downspouts. Roof-based rainwater is collected in receptacles such as rain barrels, concrete cisterns, and water silos of various sizes. Rainwater stored in any of those containers can be used for watering plants during times when rainfall is scarce. Only food-quality rain barrels or barrels manufactured solely to collect rainwater runoff should be used to harvest water for vegetable gardens. Most rain barrels come with hose attachments and leaf and debris filtration covers. Optional equipment such as pumps and timers are available to control water flow.
Nylon mesh attached to the end of the downspout dumping water into a barrel provides a first measure of filtration to capture leaves and dirt. Some homes have high or ill-equipped gutter downspouts. A container placed beneath a length of chain or rope attached to a section of the roof slope or anywhere rainwater runoff is plentiful allows rainwater collection.
Land-based Pond Rainwater Collection
Land-based rainwater harvesting collects water in ponds from land runoff before it reaches rivers and streams. Rainwater ponds on farms are often used for fishing and serve as watering holes for cattle and wildlife.
Rain Garden Rainwater Collection
A rain garden is a depression dug in the ground then planted with strong vegetation. Run-off rain and snowmelt collects in the area and seeps slowly into the soil. The rain garden helps slow polluted runoff water from rushing into the sewers during a heavy rainstorm. Run-off water from yards and streets wash pesticides, fertilizers and petrochemicals into storm drains and end up in local water bodies. The shallow rain garden traps some of the runoff water. As it settles, the ground filters out pollutants. The plants use the nutrients from the water and microorganisms break down the pollutants.
Landscaped rain gardens add beauty to lawns as well draw birds, butterflies and beneficial insects to the area.
Tags: rain barrels, rain garden, Rainwater Collection, water from, rainwater runoff, runoff water