As people become more concerned about the environment and aware of how their actions affect natural resources, collecting rainwater has become a great way to save water and lower your monthly water bill. Setting up a rainwater collection system can be a useful and satisfying way to save water, whether you’re a homeowner who wants to use less water or someone who is just interested in environmentally friendly practices.
In this guide, we’ll talk about the most important parts of a rainwater collection system, explain why they’re useful, and show you how to put one together step by step. We’ll also talk about some mistakes people make and how to take care of your system so it stays in good shape. Let’s start right away!
What is Rainwater Harvesting?
One way to gather and store rainwater that would normally run off your roof and into storm drains is to rainwater harvest. Why let this water go to waste? You can collect it, filter it, and use it for many things, like farming, flushing toilets, and even drinking if you treat it properly. It might seem hard to understand how to collect rainwater, but it’s really not that hard once you get the hang of it.
Why Should You Consider Rainwater Harvesting?
It’s helpful to know why collecting rainwater is a good idea before you start:
- Environmental Impact: You can count less on groundwater and city sources when you collect rainwater. These sources are often used up and can lead to droughts.
- Saves Money: When you collect rainwater and use it for things other than drinking, like farming or flushing the toilet, you can save a lot of money on your water bill.
- Self-Sufficiency: A rainwater system lessens your need for public water sources, which can be especially helpful in places where water limits happen often.
- Improves Garden Health: Rainwater is naturally soft and doesn’t contain any chemicals, so it’s great for gardening and plants.
Types of Rainwater Harvesting Systems
You can pick from a few different types of systems based on how you want to use the water and how you like things to be set up:
- Simple Barrel System: A barrel connected to your gutters will collect water as it flows off the roof and is the easiest way to collect rainwater. It’s simple and doesn’t cost much, but it might only hold a little water.
- Dry System: A dry system directs water from your roof into a large storage tank and is called “dry” because the pipes empty out after each rain. This option works well for larger storage needs.
- Wet System: In a wet system, pipes stay full and carry water to a storage tank located further from the house. This setup is ideal for larger properties or when the storage tank isn’t directly next to the downspouts.
What You’ll Need to Get Started
Essential parts for a simple rainwater collecting system are listed here. Feel free to change this depending on the complexity of the system you wish to install.
- Catchment Area: Generally your roof is the catchment area for rainwater collecting.
- Gutters and Downspouts: These channel straight rainfall from your roof into the storage system.
- First-Flush Diverter: Usually the dirtiest since debris on the roof causes, first-flushing diverters direct the first few gallons of rainwater away from the storage tank.
- Storage Tank: Your need will determine whether this is a basic barrel, a tank, or a cistern. Verify its water storage capability.
- Filter System: While more sophisticated filtering systems can clean the water for drinking, a basic mesh filter can clear out significant trash.
- Pump (optional): If you plan to use the water in your home or for irrigation, you may need a pump to help move it from the tank.
Step-by-Step Guide to Setting Up Your Rainwater Harvesting System
Let’s look at how to actually set up a simple method for collecting rainwater. These steps can be used for more complex systems as well, but we’ll focus on a simple barrel-based system.
1. Choose the Right Location for Your Barrel or Tank
Place your holding tank or barrel near a downspout. Most of the time, picking a spot in the shade is best to keep the water cool and stop bacteria from growing in it. Make sure the ground is level and hard so the big tank can stand up to its weight.
2. Set Up Your Gutters and Downspouts
Put gutters along the edge of your roof if you haven’t already. They will collect rainwater and direct it to your drains. Make sure they are free of things like leaves and sticks that could block the flow of water. You might want to add drain guards or leaf screens to make repair work easier.
3. Install the First-Flush Diverter
Put a first-flush diverter on the end of your drain. This device helps guide the first flow of rainwater, which is often dirty and polluted, away from your storage tank. A simple diverter is easy to find and install. You can get one at most hardware shops.
4. Connect Your Downspout to the Storage Tank
Make sure the drain is securely attached to your barrel or tank so that water doesn’t leak out. For a barrel system, you might need to put in a “downspout diverter kit” that lets water flow into the barrel when it rains and back into the sink when the barrel is full.
5. Add a Filtration System
You can put a mesh filter on top of the barrel to keep out leaves, bugs, and other big objects when you’re not drinking it, like when you’re gardening. For drinking water, you’ll need a more modern filtration system with more than one stage, such as one that uses UV light or chemicals to clean the water.
6. Install a Spigot or Pump
Put a tap near the bottom of the barrel if you’re using one so you can easily get to the water. If your tank is bigger, you might need a pump to move the water to different parts of your yard or home. Pick a pump size based on what you want to do with the water.
Maintenance Tips for Your Rainwater Harvesting System
To keep your rainwater harvesting system running smoothly, regular maintenance is a must. Here’s a simple checklist to ensure everything stays in top shape:
- Clean Gutters Regularly: Every two months, clean out your gutters of leaves, sticks, and other junk. In the fall, when leaves can quickly clog the system, this is even more important. Make sure your gutters are always clear because clogged gutters can stop the flow of water and damage your system.
- Inspect the First-Flush Diverter: A lot of dirt gets stuck in the valve, so clean it every couple of months to keep it working. The diverter lowers the amount of dirt in your tank by taking the first, dirtier water from your roof. However, it needs to be maintained for it to work at its best.
- Check the Filter System: The mesh screens on top of the tank need to be cleaned often to get rid of bigger things like leaves and bugs. For systems that are meant to handle drinking water, more modern filters may need new cartridges or special cleaning. Should you forget to check these filters, germs can grow and make the water unsafe to use.
- Test for Algae: If your tank gets a lot of sun, algae will likely grow, so look for any signs of yellow buildup in the water. If you see algae, clean the inside of the tank and think about putting it somewhere shadier or covering it. Putting up a small mesh screen can help protect the water from too much sun.
- Flush the System: Every couple of months, empty the tank all the way to clean out the system and get rid of any sediment or contaminants that may have fallen to the bottom. Many systems have a “tank drain” option that helps with this. Flushing your system regularly will make it last longer, make the water better, and lower the risk of bad smells developing in the tank.
Typical Mistakes to Avoid
Although rainwater collection is a quite simple operation, beginners could run across a few typical errors. Avoiding these will save time, money, and aggravation:
- Underestimating Tank Size: Many start with a tiny barrel only to find it fills rapidly. If at all possible, get a larger tank; carefully estimate your water needs.
- Ignoring Local Regulations: Before building a system, find out from your local government whether water collecting is restricted in any of the regions.
- Ignoring Maintenance: It will cause a system to get polluted or choked. The most out of your system depends on regular maintenance.
- Placing the Tank in Direct Sunlight: Orienting the Tank toward Direct Sunlight Sunlight can cause algal development, rendering the water unfit for use. To stop this, pick a shaded spot or cover the tank.
Benefits of Rainwater Harvesting in the Long Run
Although initially requiring some work, installing a rainwater collecting system will pay off in the long run. You can expect the following:
- Eco-friendly living: For those who care about the environment, collecting rainwater lessens demand on natural resources and makes a great option.
- Lower Water Bills: Over time, your water savings will mount up and help you save household costs.
- Better Plant Growth: Perfect for plants as rainwater is naturally soft, pH-balanced, free of salts and chlorine.
- Emergency Backup: Having collected rainwater on hand will be quite helpful in case of a water scarcity or disaster.
It might seem hard to set up a rainwater collection system, but once you know the basic parts, all you have to do is gather the materials and follow the steps. A rainwater collection system can be a great job that pays off in the long run, whether you’re a homeowner trying to save money on utilities, an environmentalist, or someone who’s just interested in green living.
Have a great harvest!
