Harvesting Rainwater

August 03, 2012

Collecting and storing rainwater is not a new idea. For almost 4,000 years, cultures throughout the world have used captured rainwater for future use. Since last spring, I’ve been harvesting rainwater from the downspout gutter of my roof. I’ve been storing rainwater in 50 gallon barrels. I can store up to 150 gallons of rainwater, and I’m planning to increase it by 100 more gallons.

This method is very inexpensive but very effective. I’ve been using the rainwater to water my garden and lawn. It’s best to use rainwater for the garden without all the chemicals that are included from tap water. Not only do I save money on my water bill, but I also help the environment.

MCPL has several books on storing rainwater: Design for Water by Heather Kinkade-Levario and The Complete Guide to Water Storage by Julie Fryer. You can also check our website on DIY and Hobbies  from our Research Databases. There’s a vast amount of information on harvesting rainwater.

Denise B.
Raytown Branch