Rainwater Collection?

[Lifesgreat]

Please know I wasn't getting after anyone who wants to use rainwater it's just the article was something that never occurred to me.

Like I said, no good deed goes unpunished

Next they are going to tell me I can't flush my toilet as often. . . but wait, that eventually goes back into the water system, so never mind

[Aggie_Ama]

Oh I know what you meant, no offense to my plans. It is really stupid IMO what Utah is doing. I am sure in Utah like here in dry Texas you have water restrictions and are encouraged to conserve. I don't see the issue with either of the two people in the article.

Heck in Austin they have been applauding our new Dell Children's Hospital for 1. using recycled materials from the old airport they leveled to build it 2. rain water collection system 3. solar powered areas 4. lots of natural light from atriums further reducing electricity 5. native and drought tolerant landscaping. So the idea presented by a reader in our local paper that rainwater collection is stealing the water meant for our aquifer is just funny! This person is obviously out of touch with the current political/social environment they live in.

My house is on a big ol' huge chunk of limestone, it will be years before the rain water I would "steal" would ever make it to the aquifer. I consider it proactive to harvest the water and cut down the consumption.

[GLC1968]

Amanda - check your local craigslist for rain barrels and supplies. I often see them here (where rainwater collection is HUGE) but I also used to see them in NC...so it might be an option for you, too.

We don't have a system set up yet, but we do have a shallow well/cistern with a pump that waters our property (garden, orchard and lawn). We still need to build a bigger shelter for our goats before the winter rains start, so we plan to use a metal or fiberglass roof and put a rain barrel out there. Then we can use that water for the goats and chickens to drink (as well as for the garden). Eventually, we want to use rainwater for the toilets too - but that's a future project for us...

Our challenge is storage. There is no shortage of rain between October and May, but July through most of September is bone dry here (as in NO rain). We need to figure out how to make the water we collect all winter last (safely) for use all summer!

[carpaltunnel]

Amanda, best of luck with your rainwater system. Please post your progress from time to time...I'd like to hear how it goes!

[Aggie_Ama]

Amanda, best of luck with your rainwater system. Please post your progress from time to time...I'd like to hear how it goes!

I think we will be holding off until the spring but definitely have this on our house project list, which is very long. We don't want to have to worry about the system for the few freezes of the winter, plus we will be pretty broke when the landscaping we hope to do is done. That is if DH has stock of our plants before the optimum planting time is done!

The barrells are pretty reasonable but the whole pump system won't be rocking and rolling for a bit. I found one site that said the pumps are about $400 but I will need to see what some of the plumbers might be able to get it for through their wholesalers.