How To Harvest Rainwater

Rainwater is especially great for your garden because it’s naturally soft and free of chlorine and other chemicals. You can save money on your water bill, and practice conservation as well. All you need to start harvesting your own rainwater is a rain barrel and a few accessories. Use this handy rainfall calculator to determine how much water you can harvest.

Different rain barrel systems may operate differently, but in general you can expect to include these components:

Gutters and a downspout. Water needs to be channeled in from somewhere, so if you don’t already have gutters, this may be your most expensive investment.
Storage Tank. Rainwater cisterns can be found at most garden supply stores these days. They are usually made from plastic, wood, or stone. If you have the space, you can set up several rain barrels to store a larger volume of water.
Mosquito Screen and Lid. Water that enters your storage tank may harbor leaves, twigs, and other debris. You also want to keep mosquitos from coming in to make more mosquitos. Attaching a screen to the top of your rainwater barrel helps prevent these dirty things from getting in.
Spigot or Hosepipe. Depending on what you’ll use your rainwater for, you can attach a spigot or hosepipe to the lower opening of your rain barrel.

That’s it! You’re on your way to chlorine-free water.

[CC Image by roger_mommaerts via Flickr]