45 replies to this topic

[zararina]

Its been raining here all day and I am collecting some rain water to use for household cleaning like for cleaning the bathroom and the floor. I find it very practical to use rain water or some used water in the household for cleaning purposes just like for just flushing the toilet.

It could be also used to bath pets such as dogs and planting the indoor plants.

Do you collect rain water and use it? On what certain activities do you find rain water useful?

[godarna]

Surely we collect rainwater and use it for watering indoor and terrace plants. But we can use it for cleaning floors and bathroom as well.
Good tip: wash your car with it, if you have one.

[jasserEnv]

If you have a lawn, a big rain barrel on the downspout can mean having lots of water for irrigation purposes. The key thing to keep in mind is that asphalt shingles tend to leach so you don't want to use the water for your garden directly. The plants won't appreciate it and some plants will actually absorb the leachate to deposit in the parts of the plant that you eat. The other thing to keep in mind is that standing water can breed mosquitoes so keep a lid on the barrels where possible

[Jkility]

Well we collect rainwater that comes through down from the gutter, when the water comes down to the gutter goes into the water buts which we have in the graden whcih we use the water to use to water the garden.

[zararina]

jasserEnv, on 27 September 2011 - 12:20 PM, said:

If you have a lawn, a big rain barrel on the downspout can mean having lots of water for irrigation purposes. The key thing to keep in mind is that asphalt shingles tend to leach so you don't want to use the water for your garden directly. The plants won't appreciate it and some plants will actually absorb the leachate to deposit in the parts of the plant that you eat. The other thing to keep in mind is that standing water can breed mosquitoes so keep a lid on the barrels where possible

So right that when storing water, it is necessary to have it cover specially if it will be on that container for days. It could be a breeding done for mosquitoes that might carry some illnesses/diseases.

Also good idea that it could be also used in cleaning vehicles and bathroom that does not requires a very clean water.

[kathie_san]

I can't collect rain water since I stay in an apartment, but back home we used to do collect for washing vehicles and watering the plants.
In some remote places I've seen in documentaries that they collect rain water for consumption because they have no water supply close to their homes and they have to walk several kilometers just to get water which is even not that clean. I feel so blessed that I have a clean supply of water available 24/7 so I feel the need to conserve it.

[artistry]

All great ideas for using rain water and definitely helping the conservation of water. With reports of less water being available, especially in the United States, these things help. In the state of Texas, water shortages have caused the use of sewage water, which has been treated three times, for consumption as drinking water. Those who have tasted the treated water say it does taste good. Using rain water that has been collected, to clean, wash pets or wash your car means less water needed for those things  Also, if you pay a water bill as I do, it saves money, so it's all good.

[Bababooey]

Wow, that is a phenomenal idea! I live in Vancouver, where it's raining more often than not, and it would be so easy for me to start collecting rain water for a variety of purposes. I'm going to begin collecting rain water and using it to clean with this weekend. I'll let you know how it goes.

[Don]

I wish I had some rain to fill up my rain barrel. We've been stuck in what might as well be called a drought for so long now, that my barrel's got nothing but spiders in it! When we had a little rain, it was ok, because the water from the roof all ran straight into the barrel, and then I could water my tomatoes with impunity. No more, it seems.

I found it helpful, though, to use a drip hose when the barrel was full. All I had to do was gang a couple of holy hoses together off the spigot I drilled at the base of the barrel, then let 'em go when the weather got a bit dry. It conserved the water in the barrel and usually gave nature plenty of time before a good, hard rainfall.

[sammilynn]

I don't personally collect rain water, but my grandparents do, and they use theirs for flushing the toilet, they don't have a lot of water so they have to conserve it where possible. I think it's a great idea, as long as you do it in a clean way, don't collect the water running off of things that are not good for you and/or pets. You could set up a system to collect it, and use clean wood or metal... if you have the space that's a good idea.

[trusylver]

I collect rainwater for all household uses, I don't have a connection to the town water supply. As a family of 5 we have become very well practices in water conservation because If we run out of rainwater then there is no endless supply to call on like those connected to the water grid have and it can take a long time to get a tanker delivery. It has been over 2 years since the last time we have needed to buy water.

[JBMedia]

jasserEnv, on 27 September 2011 - 12:20 PM, said:

If you have a lawn, a big rain barrel on the downspout can mean having lots of water for irrigation purposes. The key thing to keep in mind is that asphalt shingles tend to leach so you don't want to use the water for your garden directly. The plants won't appreciate it and some plants will actually absorb the leachate to deposit in the parts of the plant that you eat. The other thing to keep in mind is that standing water can breed mosquitoes so keep a lid on the barrels where possible

That's a very interesting fact you pointed out. To be honest, I probably would've never thought of it if I didn't just read it.

I've personally never collected rain water for other uses. However, it's not a bad idea by any means. I have a few bird baths and other things that collect minuscule amounts of water when it rains. I'm tempted to put some buckets outside and re-use it for other purposes. Nice thread.

[mariaandrea]

I live in an apartment so no rainwater collecting, but if I lived in a house I'd have a rain barrel or two to collect water because an awful lot of it falls from the sky here in Seattle.

I have to add, I would collect rainwater even if it was illegal. Sounds weird and outrageous to make collecting rainwater illegal, right? Check out this article that explains where and why it's against the law.

http://green.blogs.n...ter-harvesting/

[mommymumbles]

My husband has put out a big tub before to collect rain water. We used all of it on various things like watering the lawn, washing our car and even flushing the toilet too. I think it is a great use of water that more people should do. We do not seem to get enough rain where we live - but last season we had more than normal somehow, and so we were able to get a lot of water. We will probably do do again this season. .

[wneely]

This is something we want to start doing.  After reading about the roof tiles though, I'd want to design a system to filter the water as it's collected.

Maybe a tall barrel with a sieve containing charcoal, and a funnel shaped top to reduce the risk of mosquitoes finding any standing water?

But then I would have to dispose of the used charcoal safely, so that's something I'll need to work on.  Any ideas?

[Monkey Doctor]

mariaandrea, on 17 October 2011 - 01:11 PM, said:

I live in an apartment so no rainwater collecting, but if I lived in a house I'd have a rain barrel or two to collect water because an awful lot of it falls from the sky here in Seattle.

I have to add, I would collect rainwater even if it was illegal. Sounds weird and outrageous to make collecting rainwater illegal, right? Check out this article that explains where and why it's against the law.

http://green.blogs.n...ter-harvesting/

When I first read your post I thought you were joking but after reading the article I was shocked. You don't necessarily own the water that falls on your land! I think this quote sums up the whole affair quite nicely...

�The rain barrel is the bong of the Colorado garden,� wrote a columnist in the The Gazette of Colorado Springs. �It�s legal to sell one. It�s legal to own one. It�s just not legal to use it for its intended purpose.�

[mariaandrea]

I loved that quote too! I just think it's absolutely insane to regulate the rain. You can't own the rain. You just can't. And the arguments they make for passing these insane regulations is that the rain needs to flow into the groundwater, but the vast majority of people who collect rainwater in the first place use it in ways that do exactly that, such as watering a garden or lawn.

[Germs]

I have never thought of doing this before, can't believe I've looked past such a simple idea.

And of course living in England, there is certainly no shortage of rain.

[Shortpoet-GTD]

Some info and some links.

http://rainharvesting.com.au/
http://articles.lati...ted-rainwater18
http://www.groovygre.../groove/?p=3850
http://superwall.com.au/

[Neighborsboy]

My father-in-law had downspouts on every roof in all directions! He collected enough water to see him through the dry months in the southern United States. He would typically have a one acre or so garden, plus several grape vines that he kept watered all spring and summer long. I truly never thought of washing my animals or my car with rain collected water, but in the future I am definitely giving it a try. Just goes to show you, that we are never to old to learn something new! Hmmm, I guess you can teach an old dog new tricks after all.