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Rainwater Collection System

Before the advent of today's municipal water treatment facilities, many people relied solely on the collection
of rainwater for household, landscape, and agricultural uses.

In some parts of the world, such as Bermuda, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and even parts of Australia, people still
depend upon rainwater collection systems to meet most of their water needs. Even in those communities where
many residents are supplied with public water for drinking, homeowners and businesses are turning to rainwater
collection systems to meet non-potable water needs, such as landscape watering, especially in dry regions of the U.S.

Introduction to Rainwater Collection

Rainwater collection systems were widely used before well drilling equipment and treated municipal water supplies
became available. In many parts of the world, rainwater still provides the majority of the water needed to meet
agricultural requirements and, in some cases, potable water as well.

Most rainwater collection systems are designed to capture rainwater from the roofs of buildings. The water is then
transported through gutters and other pipes into cisterns or tanks, where it is stored until needed. The water collected
can be used for irrigation, laundry, hygiene, or even potable water, depending upon the materials used and the treatment
undertaken by the homeowner.

A typical rainwater collection system consists of the following:

• A collection area (usually the roof)
• A method of conveying the water (gutters, downspouts, and piping)
• A filtering device
• A storage tank or cistern
• A system to distribute the water as needed

Provided the rainwater is for non-drinking water purposes, virtually any materials can be used in the collection system.
However, if the rainwater will also be used to meet the potable water needs of a home's residents, it is important that
the homeowner use care in selecting materials and coatings which will come into contact with the water as it is collected,
since some impurities can be picked up by the rainwater as it travels through the collection system.

Some materials, such as the asbestos roof materials used in older homes, should not be part of any system used to provide
drinking water. In addition, products such as asphalt shingles can contribute particulate matter into the water, requiring
additional filtration before the water reaches the storage tank or cistern. In addition, lead materials in any form, such as lead
flashing, should not be used in a rainwater collection system.

There are several options when it comes to selecting a storage container for the water. Most storage tanks or cisterns are constructed from concrete or fiberglass and can be located either above ground or below. If you do plan to use the collected
rainwater for drinking, make sure the materials and/or coatings used in the construction of the storage reservoir have been
tested to ensure they do not leach harmful contaminants into the water being stored.

Regular microbiological testing should be performed on all non-municipal drinking water supplies to ensure the water does
not contain any harmful forms of bacteria. The U.S. EPA recommends that consumers have their private water supplies
checked at least annually for bacterial contamination by the local health department. In some situations, it may be necessary
to install a home water treatment system to disinfect the water or to filter other impurities from the rainwater supply.