Rainwater harvesting can be more than a drop in the bucket

Sonoma Valley did get some early rainfall recently, but it came on the heels of the driest California spring in the state’s 114 years of record-keeping, according to the National Climatic Data Center. It’s time to look at ways to plump up your water supply without buying more of it. It isn’t feasible for most homeowners, let alone renters, to dig a well on their property. (And we don’t recommend tapping a line and rustling a few gallons from your neighbors; we have seen that done and it did not end well.)
After listening for years to the drumbeat about water conservation, a lot of people are weary of hearing about all the things they should do to reduce consumption. There is, however, another approach. Rather than decreasing use, get ahead of the game: Think about how you can increase your available supply of water in the first place.
By the time the rainy season begins in earnest – often around late November – it will probably be too late to do more than rue the fact you have nothing to catch water in other than a few buckets. Smart solutions start with rain barrels and run the gamut to cistern systems.
When conventional conservation methods aren’t enough, there are always extreme methods to consider. Earthship, a Taos, N.M.-based company, designs earth-friendly homes that allow their owners to live entirely off the grid. Among their features are a rooftop catchment system that channels rainwater into a cistern and then through a system that cleans and recycles water for use throughout the house and grounds.
That may seem farfetched for the average homeowner, but the day is fast approaching when we will no more allow rainfall to drip off our roofs into our yards and gutters any more than we now condone turning on a faucet and letting water disappear down the drain while waiting for it to heat up.
Environmental advantages of collecting rainwater
Harvesting rainfall does more than lower your water bill. Rain is a naturally soft water that does not contain chlorine or fluoride, both of which can be harmful to plants and vegetation. Catching and storing water can also reduce runoff into nearby sewer systems and streams.
Collected rainwater can be used directly for landscaping, laundering, car-washing, bathing and the like. Once treated, it can even be used for drinking.
If you’re not planning to depend entirely on rainfall for 100 percent of your water needs, however, you won’t need the most elaborate, costly systems.
The most basic collector is a rain barrel; placed at the base of down spouts, it collects runoff that can be stored and used later to water lawns and gardens.

How much “extra” water do you want?
Friedman Brothers carries Rain Catcher Water Barrels designed to fit snugly against a house wall, patio or deck. These receptacles have a 54-gallon capacity that can be doubled or tripled when linked to additional barrels. Child-safe, they come with a snug filter and lid, as well as an overflow tube and a built-in outlet house with a shut-off valve. The Rain Catcher 4000, which weighs only 36 pounds when empty, costs $99 at Friedman’s (cheaper than you can find them online) and are built to withstand years of use.
The Web is a good source for lighter, larger and more complex contraptions.
Garden Super Mart sells environmentally friendly, plastic 50- and 65-gallon containers that are light enough to hang from a hook. These have the look of ceramic and come with a shut-off nozzle, a four- or six-foot garden hose and a corrosion-proof screen guard to keep mosquitoes out. (Price: about $100 and $200, respectively.)
Some systems, such as the Watersaver™ downspout rainwater diverter, are made to accommodate multiple reservoirs. When one container is filled, it can be linked to a second one, or even moved to another location so that another one can be set up in its place. The manufacturer claims that using this system, you can fill a 55-gallon barrel in two to three hours during a moderate rainfall. (Price for basic system: about $1,600.)
While the Watersaver and similar set-ups are not going to win any beauty contests, most of them can be spray-painted to match the siding of a home.
RainHarvest Systems, of Cumming, Ga., sells barrels in various configurations for about $160 to $180, including some that look like wine barrels.
Whatever type of barrel or tank you consider, be sure it comes with UV protection, which will reduce the likelihood that algae will form.
Accessories such as a downspout filter (which keeps leaves from entering the container) and what is called a first flush filter (which keeps out contaminants such as dust and pollen from the roof that are dumped into the system during the first few rainfalls) allow subsequent collections to consist of pure H2O.
On the other hand, almost anyone with the right tools can make his or her own barrel in a couple of hours for very little money. Local hardware stores probably carry everything you need, except perhaps a UV filter.

Making collected rainwater fit for drinking
As it falls from the sky, rainwater is usually safe to drink. It becomes unsafe only when contaminated by gunk (from bird droppings, mosquitoes, larvae, etc.) as the water travels down the roof and through the gutters, downspouts and pipes – components of the “conveyance” system.
There are several ways to render collected rainwater potable. Disinfection can usually be accomplished with ultraviolet (UV) chlorine, which kills bacteria. Passing the water through a series of filters is a way to remove debris, but not microscopic bacteria. Specialized filters can also remove off colors as well as toxic chemicals. To improve the overall quality of the water, so that it looks and tastes acceptable, carbon filtration is the way to go.

Want more? Think: tanks
Cisterns – storage tanks for rainfall that has been collected from a roof or some other catchment area – are usually located underground, but may also be located at ground level or on elevated stands, either indoors or outdoors. They are available in various sizes, with prices starting at $400. Preferred materials are non-reactive – concrete, galvanized steel or plastic; concrete blocks or wood may also be used but are hard to keep watertight.

Sources:

Information on cisterns:
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ae029
(a University of Florida
Web site)