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The pump should be installed in close proximity to the storage tank. Whether it be a submersible or jet pump for outdoor or indoor use, the pump will create pressure so that the water supply can be used for a variety of other purposes. Tarp - A plastic or vinyl tarp can also be used as a catchment area for rainfall. These are typically laid out on the soil where a collection area has been dug and a pool of water can be formed as rain falls into it. A conveyance system such as PVC tubing can be used to transport the water from the collection tarp to the storage area. In residential setups, due to its large surface area and downslope, the rooftop of a home typically acts as the catchment area.
We’ve written a detailed article which lists rainwater harvesting laws for each state in the US along with links to their respective government websites. Be sure to read our article on rain barrel pumps to learn more about how to choose the best fit. We've written an article that features reviews of the best types of rain barrels available as well as how to select the right one for your system. A public water system is defined as any system that serves at least 25 people per day for at least 60 days each year or that serves at least 15 service connections. Allowing the rainwater to infiltrate into the soil in this way is also great for the health of our environment. It allows the precipitation to infiltrate back down into our groundwater basins while filtering out the pollutants that have accumulated on your roof.
What are the best ways to collect rainwater?
If you want to connect a hose to the spigot, raising the barrel up a bit will also give you more water pressure. Drill a hole near the bottom of a large plastic garbage can. Use a hand drill to carefully drill a hole on the side of your garbage can, about 5 inches from the bottom.
Jennifer is an avid canner who provides almost all food for her family needs. She enjoys working on DIY remodeling projects to bring beauty to her homestead in her spare times. However, if you’re looking to make a proper series, the best models have specific overflow pipes that easily funnel the water from one barrel to the next.
Reduces Demand On Groundwater
The mesh-covered inlet helps to keep debris from entering the barrel and possibly blocking the spigots. The design allows homeowners to grow a small plant in the top compartment while collecting water through a mesh-covered hole in the back. A well-made brass spigot is placed higher on the barrel than other designs, making filling watering cans far easier.
All you need is one or more clean 50-gallon barrels to place under your roof’s drainpipes. You can place some crude filters between the drainpipe and the barrel’s opening, as well as some debris filters on the upper end of the pipe on the roof. After that, just put a spigot near the bottom of the barrel and voilà – you have a nice water supply for your garden.
Uses of Rainwater
Before we move to the main part of this article, here’s a nice infographic by CustomMade explaining why you should collect rainwater at home and how to do it properly. Here’s a handy little calculator to help you estimate how much rainwater can you harvest from your roof. To use this calculator, input the dimensions of your roof and the amount of rainfall in inches.
This creates a border of berm edges that will help hold the water. Make sure that the area slopes just slightly towards the corner that’s closest to the downward slope. Choose a relatively flat area that’s elevated slightly above your storage area. You also want the collection area itself to slope just a bit towards the corner closest to the storage area, which ensures that the water won’t sit and stagnate as it collects. It should run towards this lower corner, then down the piping towards your storage area.
It is also advisable to adopt passive systems that collect and conserve water in your soil. You can also use a regular rain barrel or even make your own from a trash can. Collecting your rainwater also prevents flooding and erosion. That’s because there’s less stormwater to manage as a good rainwater roof harvesting system will usually manage to collect ~80% of the annual water that falls.
Either way, the idea is that you can catch the rain that flows through your downspouts in a holding tank of some sort and then water your plants with it. This is what we call an Active Rainwater Catchment System. Some regions would filter the rainwater and use it as drinking water. If you live in regions that has moderate rainfall and plenty of water, you could use all the rainwater for gardening, cleaning, and washing your car.
In the US, nearly all states allow water collection and some even encourage it. However, in states like Nevada, rain water harvesting with rain barrels is illegal without a water right. There are many different rainwater harvesting systems to choose from depending on your budget, needs, and your property’s characteristics. Some such systems will rely entirely on gravity to collect and distribute the rainwater, while others will need to utilize multiple pumps to do so.
You can set up a filter on top of the can to ensure the rainwater you collect is pure. It’s best to use this water for plants or for outdoor chores, rather than drinking. Garbage cans are big and are just right to store rainwater and for gardening purposes.
That’s about it, these systems can range from very simple to quite complicated depending on your needs and budget. The catchment tanks come in all shapes and sizes so there are plenty of ways to customize it for your situation. These active systems are a great way to save a ton of water when it comes to irrigating your landscape plants. This can range anywhere from 50 to thousands of gallons in holding capacity.
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