45 replies to this topic

[sbjc]

What we usually do to the collected rain water, is we use it to water the plants, and use it to clean the car, and even use the water in mopping the floor. It is a clever way of conserving water.

[dugluss]

It is not something I have done personally but I know that utilising rainwater can be useful in many ways. My father in law owns and allotment, where he grows a wide range of fruits and vegetables. He collects rainwater in to a water butt and then uses that water to keep his crops alive. There is no shortage of water as we live in South Wales in the UK. The mountains surrounding us provide us with many hours of rain! You get used to it! Another great use for rain water is to wash the car. I am an avid car washer and would love a device that I can hook the hose pipe up to and use the water collected from the rain to wash the car!

[Shortpoet-GTD]

High and dry places/ countries are using dew collectors/ fog collectors.
Some are coming up with ingenious materials to collect it quicker.
http://www.rexresear...tiq/qinetiq.htm
http://www.google.co...9QEwDw&dur=2531

[kat74]

Where I come from we have been harvesting rain water for ages. To some its the only source of water so they collect enough to last them until the next season. I myself like the taste of rain water so I make sure that I have collected some for my drinking purpose since where I live there is no much pollution. I think God provides us with all the resources we need like rain for water, sun for energy , wind for energy too. If we can use the free God given things, our world would be more healthier and friendly.

[wneely]

kat74, on 21 November 2011 - 10:39 PM, said:

Where I come from we have been harvesting rain water for ages. To some its the only source of water so they collect enough to last them until the next season. I myself like the taste of rain water so I make sure that I have collected some for my drinking purpose since where I live there is no much pollution. I think God provides us with all the resources we need like rain for water, sun for energy , wind for energy too. If we can use the free God given things, our world would be more healthier and friendly.

If there's a lot of pollution in your area how do you make sure the water you collect is safe to drink?

[eds]

Every time a relative or close friend dies,
. . . we plant a bush, tree or small group of flowers,
. . . at different locations around our property,
. . . to remember them by.

Affordable barrels(with covers) are placed,
. . . lined up in a row, along the back of the house,
. . . to catch the rain, coming off the steel roof.

We use the rain water, to nourish these plantings and
. . . remember(visit) our old friends.

Our barrels are stored away for the Winter now,
. . . to be used again next Spring.
. . . (we have already been hit with one snow storm
. . . that knocked out power for 4 days)

[karmaman]

I want to develop some kind of rainwater capturing system for our home before the next spring so we can use it to water our garden. I don't want to spend a lot of money, so I've been looking at ideas using recycled materials. Our new rental house has gutters and downspouts so it should be easier now.

[DizeeDee]

I love washing my hair in rainwater.....my hair is very long & shampoos & conditioners can be expensive (for the good stuff) so at a time I was homeless I collected rainwater just to have a good supply. I found that heated rainwater was an awesome treat for washing my hair & body. I think that nature adds lots of ingredients that soften the water, it may just be in my head, but I do think my hair is softer when washed with rainwater.

[DizeeDee]

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

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/

I read the article & would like to say my piece.....I'd like to know how such a law can be enforced..........

I am now going to use some quotes from the above article;

"In Colorado, for example, it is illegal for residents to divert rainwater that falls upon land they own unless they have explicit permission to do so. Even collecting rainfall in a backyard barrel can technically violate the law."

..........explicit permission from who? How does one go about getting permission to collect a bucket of rain? I often put out a small collector designed to measure the amount of rainfall, just out of curiosity, is this illegal?

"Washington State is also looking for incremental ways to allow rainwater capture without affecting existing water rights."

It rains ALL the time in Washington, west of the Cascades, that is. I the water collected is used outdoors, to water gardens or wash cars, it is basically ending up in the same place, so what's the big deal?

[DizeeDee]

Please excuse the typos in some of my posts as I was cleaning the keyboard on my laptop, a lil too vigorously, & knocked a couple keys loose & I haven't gotten them fixed yet.

[kasheba]

This is actually a pretty good idea i would have never thought of it on my own may be i will try this.

[Promo]

I always collect rainwater in large buckets, since I can use it to water the garden out in the back. It helps save me money on my water bill and quite friendly to the environment. But I don't use it for household cleaning, perhaps one day I'll try it out, it does seem practical in its usage in that area.

[Shortpoet-GTD]

Found this via Twitter.
http://www.rainbarre..._medium=twitter

[Chris S]

Honestly, it never crossed my mind to use rain water to collect, and then use for other means. Thanks for the tip, next time it rains I'm going to put a bucket under my drainspout!

[Green Thumb]

We may use rain water to water our plants and for cleaning of vehicle, yard or garage.

[Ecodisaster]

Chris S, on 04 December 2011 - 07:48 PM, said:

Honestly, it never crossed my mind to use rain water to collect, and then use for other means. Thanks for the tip, next time it rains I'm going to put a bucket under my drainspout!

Yeah! It's been done since the beginning of times. In many Native American reservations it is still done this way. Of course, if you live in the city, water shouldn't be drank...it contains tons of pollution particles. You can use it to water your plants or other stuff.

[Pushhyarag2000]

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/

Coming from India, it amuses & baffles me because here in many of our water stressed areas [areas which have no proximity to fresh water resources or are able to get but limited amounts] laws are now made to mandate rainwater harvesting units as part of new buildings if permissions had to be granted. That many people have reservations and do not heed because it means additional money & also because they believe that it primarily the duty of the local municipal government to make water available notwithstanding, households as well commercial properties are gradually reconciling due to finite supply of water.

[Wallie0912]

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

The other thing to keep in mind is that standing water can breed mosquitoes so keep a lid on the barrels where possible

You can also put Mosquito Dunks in the water.  Mosquito Dunks contain a bacteria that is harmless to vertebrates, but will kill some invertebrates, particularly mosquito larvae.

[jasserEnv]

I had not heard of this means of preventing mosquitoes from reproducing. How long do these thing last and are they safe for plants such as melons that can absorb bacteria directly?