5 Great Techniques for Harvesting Rainwater at Home.

We might sound dramatic, but water is the most precious source of all, and that’s the bare truth! Because of our busy lifestyles, we often take water for granted without even acknowledging it. Do you remember those “annoying” rainy days you don’t appreciate at all? Well, instead of staring through the window, you could consider making the best out of the rain.

The simple answer to this is rain harvesting which has become a very popular energy efficient technique in the past years. In the following sections, we are going to present five best ways for collecting rainwater by yourself so that you could implement one in your everyday life and contribute to saving our beautiful planet.

 
1. Rain Barrel
 

Harvesting rain using a rain barrel is probably the easiest way. The barrel should be linked to a specific pipe that collects water from the rooftop. You can simply place the barrel under the downspout if it is possible, you can reroute your downspout, or insert a pipe into the side of a downspout, which will then divert the water into the barrel.

Just remember to put a filter system on top of the barrel, the most basic one should be enough to keep the debris, branches, leaves and similar stuff out. This can also become an ideal place for annoying mosquitos to breed, so to prevent it, place a tight-fitting top on the barrel. You can also add a bit of vegetable oil into the barrel. Maybe it sounds strange, but it will layer water and prevent insects from breeding.

To spend less money during this small rainwater harvesting project, make a barrel of your own by using a big trash can and plastic DIY pipes. If you live in a high cold area, be sure to protect the barrel in the winter to prevent cracking.

 
2. Rain Garden
 

Another simple and good looking way of collecting rainwater is a rain garden. It is a sunken place in landscape powered by native plants and mulch that remove dirt and pollutants from fresh rainwater. A rain garden is perfect if you want to collect and use rain throughout the whole year. It is a great way to boost your landscape, and it is very easy to create.

In my experience, a great way to make the most of the rain and the garden is to add your roof and the downspouts into the picture. You can pipe the downspouts of one section of the roof, those closest to your garden, underground, all the way to your garden so that the end comes out right into it. As it rains, the water collected on your roof will flow down into the garden, fill it, pool up, and soak into the soil.

 
3. Rain Chains
 

If you wouldn’t like to spend much money on building a rainwater collector, you can make a rain chain. Rain chains are a perfect solution for those who are just starting to get into rain harvesting techniques. They are installed in the corners of your roof, they replace your downspouts and collect water more efficiently, and in a visually more pleasing way.

It is a quick and easy DIY project, I’ve successfully tried it myself. All you need to do is attach it to the top of your downspout, and place a barrel, or any other catchment device below it. It also works when installed directly above your garden, as a part of your rain garden system, where the garden will be fed with the best, healthiest and unpolluted water – rainwater.

They will be a great fit for the aesthetics of your property. Also, they can prevent runoff while transporting water from collecting pipe to the storing unit (for instance, a barrel which you can also make by yourself). If you’d like to establish a more creative way of channeling water than a regular pipe, you should consider this one. Rain chains are also a great way to avoid using toxic PVC on your property and, instead of that, using copper, metal, aluminum or even glass.

 
4. Green Roof
 

Instead of harvesting rainwater and directing it to your garden, you can use it right away.  Green roof, an innovative way of roofing, is not only an ideal roofing option but also a fantastic way of using rainwater. However, this is a more costly method than others because it requires more through construction.

It consists of several different layers: a soil layer, protective fabric, and drainage system for preventing leaking to the interior of the house. Best installation option would be finding a trustworthy roofing contractor who knows how to handle green roofs. Building a green roof means an extra space on your property as well as the automatic use of rainwater. It is also important to mention that green roofs are highly-effective in insulating your home and saving money on expensive utility bills.

 
5. Dry System
 

If you live in areas where storms are inevitable, the dry system would be the best rainwater harvesting option. It is an improved version of the barrel rain harvesting method. The dry system features a water container much bigger than a barrel, but because of that, it is used for collecting massive amounts of water.

The gutter pipe is placed to lead the water directly into the tank where it can stay for a long time until it is used. The system is called “dry” because the water doesn’t stay in the pipes and the collecting ducts – they dry up after the rain. And it is a good thing because when water sits idle in the pipes it can become stagnant and attract mosquitos. This system is simple to install, affordable, and easy to maintain.

 
Conclusion
 

Water is precious in any way, and we have to take care of its usage. Everyone should learn to appreciate the rainwater and find some way to use it to its maximum. If you are a beginner in rainwater harvesting, don’t preoccupy yourself with expensive rainwater harvesting devices. Affordable solutions such as rain barrels or dry systems can do enough for a start until the need for an upgrade. Collecting rainwater is an ideal energy-efficient method because it is beneficial both for your bank account and the environment.

Short bio:

Mattea Jacobs is a freelance writer who mostly writes about both interior and exterior home design, and environmentally-friendly ways to improve homes. She is also a green activist and a mother of two beautiful sons. You can reach her on Facebook and Instagram.

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