Why harvest rainwater?

Rainwater harvesting reduces consumer’s utility bills, the water is free, and so the only cost is for the collection and use. Rainwater Harvesting reduces demand on the public water supply, reduces the flow to storm drains thereby reducing run-off, erosion, and contamination of surface water. Rainwater is superior for lawn and landscape irrigation, and allows the water to soak into the ground. For Potable applications rainwater’s zero hardness prevents scale on appliances, it is sodium free for persons on a low sodium diet, there is no need for a water softener, or added salts. Rainwater harvesting promotes self sufficiency and appreciation for water as a resource.

 

Is rainwater safe for use on plants?

Yes, rainwater is perfectly safe to use on all lawns and plants, it often has a nitrogen content which provides a slight fertilizing effect.

 

Is rainwater safe to drink?

Rainwater by itself is perfectly safe to drink, but once the rainwater comes in contact with the collection surface (usually your roof) it can pick up contaminates that are deposited on the roof and carry them to the collection tank. So when rainwater harvesting is to be used in potable applications the water needs to be filtered. There are about a half dozen methods of filtering and cleaning the water to make it safe for drinking, and often some combination of several of these methods will be utilized to provide safe drinking water. Rainwater is widely utilized in dry states such as Texas as the only source of water for residences, so there are many products commercially available to make rainwater perfectly safe to drink.

 

Can I use rainwater for flushing toilets?

Yes, toilet flushing is a non-potable application and you can use rainwater for this. We recommend some filtering of the water for this application and some states and counties do still treat this water as a potable application which would require full filtering for potable use. 

 

Are white plastic drums/barrels ok for use as rain barrels?

No, any container to be used for rainwater storage should be opaque. When light can penetrate, you have the potential for algae to grow. So any white or translucent barrels should be painted a dark color so they are opaque, to prevent algae from growing in the barrel.

 

Are there any federal or national standards for rainwater harvesting systems?

No, there are no rules or codes that govern rainwater harvesting systems; the EPA has no requirements for private water testing. However ARCSA has developed a book of installation standards for rainwater catchment. And if the water is to be used for potable uses this would fall under similar rules to private drinking wells and should follow all EPA or local requirements for the water quality and testing.

 

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