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Collecting water may not have been something that has ever crossed your mind but once you begin thinking about it, you will become more aware as to why it is so important.
In uncertain times, having water gives you the basics of survival and through its use, we are able to tend to a variety of tasks from basic drinking through to growing food and bathing. By using a rainwater catchment method, you can be sure that you have water for an emergency as well as a continual day to day supply.
If you are new to rainwater catchment or even for those who simply want a little more information, this detailed guide will provide you will all the information you will need to get started.
OK, so before we get started, it is important to know exactly what we are talking about when we refer to rainwater catchment. The term simply refers to the collection of natural rainwater as a main water supply or back up in case of an emergency situation.
In traditional methods, the rainwater is collected as it runs off the tops of physical structures such as the roof of your home, making it a pretty easy way of catching the water. The rainwater can be collected through a variety of different channels, but we will take a closer look at this later on.
At first thought, you might think that there is little reason to go to the effort of collecting water when it flows directly out of a faucet. However, if there were ever to be an emergency situation, you would be very grateful for any water you had collected.
Aside from this, you might decide to supplement your current water supply with water which you have collected from a natural source such as the rain. It is not surprising to learn that human beings are getting through water supplies a lot more quickly than we should be, with many third world countries having extremely limited access to clean water. In some cases, no clean water is available at all. Water is a precious resource and by finding it naturally, you will be contributing to the environment, which is never a bad thing.
On top of being at an advantage in an emergency and helping to conserve precious water reserves, there are plenty more benefits that can be gained from installing some form of rainwater catchment in your outdoor space. Tap water is an extremely beneficial resource but natural rainwater certainly has the upper hand.
Of course, if we were all to collect all the rainwater, all of the time, there wouldn't be enough for the land to thrive. So, with this in mind, it is essential that you make yourself aware of any restrictions in your local area.
While state governments will be extremely keen for residents to harvest water, they also must be sure that sourcing it is done responsibly and your local, state, or federal government will be able to provide you with details of any local restrictions.
There is a wealth of uses for the rainwater that you collect, and whether you decide to conserve it for use in an emergency or use it alongside your regular water supply, you will find that it is extremely versatile.
In the simplest terms, there are three main uses for rainwater, these are indoor, outdoor, and for irrigation. Many people opt to simply use their main water supply for drinking and supplement this by using rainwater for other purposes. Let us take a more in-depth look at some of the excellent uses for collected rainwater.
If you are looking to gain an additional water supply for the garden, there are many things that it do for you. You might consider using the water for any of the following reasons.
Bringing your collected rainwater into the home can provide many benefits, as we mentioned before supplementing your drinking water is an excellent way of making use of any water you collect, here are some of the things you might use it for inside the home.
No matter whether you want an advanced rainwater collection system or something a little more simple, there are a wide range of options to consider. What you will use depends on a variety of factors such as:
• Size of the property
• Size of the outdoor space
• Budget
• Aesthetic preference
We are now going to take a closer look at some of the best ways to harvest your rainwater. All of these are effective and will provide you with a good supply of fresh, clean water on a regular basis.
A rain barrel is the most easily recognizable form of rainwater catchment since this is the one that many people opt for. Whether you choose to purchase specifically made rainwater barrel or simply use one which you already have lying around is completely up to you, both are fine.
This method is quite easy to use and allows you to simply place your barrel below a downspout on your property.
This is the perfect method for those who are just starting out as it gives you an easy introduction into rainwater catchment. The only real downside to this method is that the barrels tend to have a smaller capacity, however, there is the option to place more than one barrel.
This more complicated method may require some extra work to install but it will supply you with a much more plentiful harvest. Underground pipes must be located for this method and this will allow you to connect many downspouts and gutters to the system. Pipes that carry the water to the tank are put out of sight underground. Once the pipes reach the tank, they come back above ground and connect to a riser, which allows the water to flow into the tank. The pressure of the water pushes it up into the tank.
The downside to this method does come in with a higher startup cost but once it is in place, it will serve you for many years. On top of this, the system is usually located away from the home itself, meaning that there won't be any eyesores in views.
The final type of common rainwater catchment is the dry system which works by installing a larger version of the traditional rain barrel, however, in this instance, the barrel is filled from the top, allowing the pipes to dry out, hence the name.
For those who do not wish to ruin the aesthetic of their home, a large barrel placed right next to it might not be the ideal solution. That being said, there are more advantages to this system and so it is worth considering. For example, the dry system is able to hold much larger amounts of water than the rain barrel and is cheap to install and easy to maintain.
While rainwater is ideal for cleaning, gardening, and irrigation there are some people who may want to go all the way and replace their drinking water with rainwater. However, it is important to be aware of whether this is safe to do so or not.
While most rainwater is probably exceptionally clean and OK to drink, since it has been stored in a container for an indefinite period of time, it is vital that you take precautions before drinking any of your collected rainwater. This can be done in a variety of ways.
Using a method of rainwater catchment is not only easy to install and maintain but will also provide you with an alternative water supply that can be used for a wealth of things. You might choose to supplement your regular water supply using rainwater catchment or you might opt to save it so that you have water for an emergency.
Having water is essential to our survival and in an emergency situation it is the first thing we should ensure that we have access to. The choices for rainwater catchment are excellent from a basic barrel to a more complex underground system and each of the choices will be highly effective in your rainwater catchment venture.
Check out these articles about resourceful living:
Composting--Emergency Water Storage
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An EDC bag is a bag that you carry with you and has the essential items that will provide for your survival needs for a day. EDC stands for "Every Day Carry" bag.