Rainwater Harvesting: 6 Things You Need To Know

Rainwater harvesting — the collection and storage of rain to use as a primary water supply — is one of the simplest and oldest methods of self-water supply.

And it’s still a great one.

Rainwater is the cleanest form of water on the planet.

While you’ll still need to filter it before use, learning how to harvest rainwater has numerous benefits.

In this video, we’ll tell you the top things you need to know about this cheap and sustainable system.

Disclaimer: we are not lawyers, accountants or financial advisors and the information in this video is for informational purposes only. This video is based on our own research and experience and, while we do our best to keep it accurate and up-to-date, but it may contain errors. Please be sure to consult a legal or financial professional before making any investment or purchasing decisions.
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Video Transcript:
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Hi guys this is Erika from Gokce Capital. Now before I begin, be sure to click subscribe and turn on the notification bell. One Sunny afternoon Brand Lancaster took a handsaw to the curb in front of his house.

Why was Brad defacing public property? Well find out at the end of this video but first do you capture rainwater on your property? If not you should and in today's video we have the top things you need to know about rainwater harvesting.

Number one what is rainwater harvesting? Rainwater harvesting is the collection and storage of rain for use. Rainwater is often collected for irrigation purposes but it may also be used to supply indoor household water needs as well.

Number two, is rainwater clean? Rainwater is typically very safe for irrigation as long as you are not a chemical plant or an area of high pollution. However, if you plan to drink rainwater yourself you should filter it first.

Number three, is rainwater legal? The short answer is yes. There are no Federal laws that restrict rainwater harvesting and most States will allow their residents to collect rainwater freely.

Having said this some States do have regulations about the amount of rainwater you can collect. So be sure to check with your local jurisdiction before proceeding with your project. Number four, what are the benefits of rainwater harvesting?

Well, rainwater is relatively clean and of course free. Its environmentally responsible and promotes self-sufficiency. Rainwater harvesting conserves water and can be better for landscape irrigation and gardens because it isn't chlorinated.

Finally, rainwater harvesting can reduce stormwater runoff and in turn, solve drainage issues. Number five, what are the downsides of rainwater harvesting? Well, rainwater is not always reliable, especially in arid climates.

A rainwater harvesting system will require some maintenance and can be expensive to set up if you plan to drink your water and depending on the surfaces over which the water runs. It can become contaminated which is why it is again generally recommended that you filter rainwater before you drink it. Number six, what are the components of a rainwater harvesting system?

Most systems collect rainwater from your roof and the components of a roof collection system include the roof itself along with its gutters, gutter screen, a rainwater tank or barrel, a tank screen, a water level indicator, a pump, and a filtration system. Having said this not all rainwater collection systems involve a roof which brings us back to Brad Lancaster. In 1998 Brad bought a handsaw and used it to curve six illegal curb cuts into the sidewalk in front of his Tucson home.

Why? Well by Brad's estimate, his one-mile stretch of residential road drained enough water to annually irrigate 400 desert fruit trees including mesquite, palo verde, and hackberry. Did he have permission to hack into the City sidewalk? No, but his efforts went unpunished long enough for his trees to transform his small stretch of sterile streetscape into an inviting green passageway.

Though the City may not have taken note of Brad's guerrilla gardening.  His neighbors did and it wasn't long before they too wanted trees in front of their homes and so Brad began a crusade to legalize the practice. It took him three years to get his curb cuts legalized for when the City engineers first heard about them they were not pleased.

The streets were for draining water, not gardening and that was that.

[mariasaha]

Super interesting! Brad is hero. Why would it be illegal to collect rainwater in some places?

[SK-meby]

Regulating yet another thing God almighty has given freely to mankind and people just go a long to get a long with unlawful laws.