Survival Blog - Harvesting Rainwater

Survival Blog Harvesting Rainwater

Lots of people don’t know that you can collect rainwater to use as an independent water supply. It can prevent flooding, replenish the ground water table, and even support small plot farming or sustainable gardens. China and Brazil often use rainwater for drinking water and in Bermuda it is law that all new construction enables the use of rainwater.

Property that experiences rainfall often, but does not utilize rainwater recycling, drains rainwater and runoff away to lower, downslope areas that can contaminate surface water with sediment. Leaf mulch is drained away with it, which deplete the fertility of the land. However, by using rainwater recycling, the area with hydrate itself by using runoff and greywater, which will stop downslope flooding. A good rainwater system will capture, divert, and store water for later use.

If you wish to set up a rainwater recycling system, you first must know where a good collection site would be. Anywhere that the rain does not fall to the ground is a sufficient place. The most common site to collect rainwater if your roof/rain gutter. A 25 foot by 40 foot home sheds about 600 gallons of water in an hour of moderate rainfall (about 1 inch).

Second, you need a transportation system. Gutters and downspouts that are on the edges of the roof are usually the best bet. The size of your gutter is important. The gutter must be large enough to carry the water that’s running off the roof. If your roof has roughly 1000 square feet, a 5 inch gutter and 3 inch downspout will be sufficient. A bigger roof will require bigger gutters and downspouts. You also need to apply a filter so you can keep debris from getting into your water supply. You should use a fine-mesh, aluminum window screen, especially if mosquitos populate your area.

Next, you need to know what to store the water in. Barrels are usually the best and are available at many gardening stores. The barrel should be underneath the downspout, but should also be near the part of your garden that needs the most water. You need to dig a 4 inch deep area that the cinderblock base of the barrel will fit comfortably in. Fill the 4 inch deep area with gravel, so you can level the cinder blocks and drain away water in order to keep the area as dry as possible. Remember that the higher you place the barrels, the better the water pressure will be. Be aware of where the spigot is placed, because if it is too short you won’t be able to fit a container underneath to fill with water. The barrels may overflow, but don’t worry, the gravel underneath will drain away the extra water.

It should be noted that if you want to use the water for drinking water, or to be used for hygienic purposes, it must be treated to avoid the growth of bacteria, which can cause illness. A bleas solutin or filter can also be used for this purpose.