A worldwide increase in Severe droughtUnderlines the importance of reducing water use, even in unexpected places like Hawaii and the Southeast. However, drought is not the only natural disaster that can leave a household or entire community without safe water for bathing and drinking. After flooding from Hurricane Helen in 2024, residents of western North Carolina had to wait for their private wells and city systems to be tested for contamination before they could have safe drinking water. Some areas went without drinking water for more than 50 days.
As states relax regulations on rainwater harvesting and more communities develop systems to collect rainwater, individual homeowners can do their part. The market for residential rainwater harvesting systems, estimated at $1.5 billion in 2024, is projected to more than double by 2033. While drought-prone regions lead the nation in new rain barrel installations, almost anyone can prepare for a natural disaster or community water shortage by keeping stored rainwater on hand. Collecting water in rain barrels helps reduce runoff and allows for reuse of this resource in many ways around the home and yard.
Is it safe to drink the water you collected from the roof and diverted into a rain barrel? Can you use it to water food plants? We put these and other questions to a water conservation expert. Here’s what she had to say about using rainwater for garden irrigation, safe drinking water — even for fire protection.
What is the difference between active and passive rainwater harvesting methods?
When we think of rainwater harvesting at home, we often picture a downspout emptying into a rain barrel, but that’s not the only way to use rainwater. “Rainwater harvesting is either active or passive,” says Lauren Forbes, founder and designer of Cactus Rain, LLC in northern New Mexico. “Active rainwater harvesting involves the use of gutters, the cisternand related equipment,” she says.
In passive rainwater harvesting, there is rainwater directed away from the base of the house Towards facilities such as swales and basins, watering plants along its path and naturally filtering water before storing it in the ground. Forbes calls this “plantation of the vine”.
Why is it a good idea to have backup water?
“Many homeowners keep water in their tanks as a backup to their primary water supply,” says Forbes. Disruptions to primary supplies can be caused by power outages, broken or malfunctioning well pumps, or problems with community water distribution. In cases like this, “it’s great to have water available onsite.” Additionally, she says, having a water tank available allows you to access and store pumped water in an emergency. “Another common application for tanks is fire protection,” says Forbes. “Where hydrants are not available, regulations or property insurance may require onsite water storage for fire protection.”
Is rainwater good for plants?
“Rainwater is good for your plants, which naturally prefer the soft, chlorine-free rainwater source they evolved with,” says Forbes. After all, before we came up with our garden hoses, native plants survived on rain. According to Forbes, rainwater beats city water for plants due to its near-neutral pH, relative softness and presence of the valuable nutrient nitrogen.
One inch of rain can produce 600 gallons of water from a 1,000 square foot roof. Considering that 1 pound of tomatoes requires 22 gallons of water to get from seed to your salad, you can do a lot with even a little rain.
Is rain barrel water safe for vegetable irrigation?
Rain barrel water generally does not require treatment when used for irrigation, Forbes says. However, unfiltered or untreated water can pick up contaminants you can’t see or smell, such as lead or zinc, mostly from roofing materials. Pathogens such as coliform bacteria or E. CollieThat comes from debris on the roof (for example, birds and squirrels), may also be present in collected rainwater. However, it will take longer than the amount normally found in stored rainwater to damage edible leaves and fruits.
Can you use rainwater for other tasks around the house?
“Rainwater is a good source of water for many applications. If you can capture and store it, you can use it for anything,” says Forbes. Non-potable uses, such as washing cars or cleaning outdoor decks, require no additional treatment, she adds. In fact, clean rainwater is not as hard as tap water, so it can be a great option for car washing. However, indoor applications such as laundry or toilet flushing probably require basic filtration. Forbes says it prefers to use recycled greywater for purposes such as toilet flushing.
One caveat: A normal rain barrel has no water pressure. When using collected rainwater for purposes such as irrigation, raise the barrel so that gravity causes flow through the hose. If you want to spray water from a rain barrel or other collector, you’ll need a pressure tank or a pressure-sensitive pump. Otherwise, you will need to fill pails or buckets and haul water for work.
Can you drink rainwater?
Forbes says, “Rainwater is beautiful to drink. There is no problem opening your mouth and taking it in as it falls. But the general consensus is that rain barrel water should only be used for non-potable purposes. The problem comes not from the sky, but from its contact with roofs and storage in containers. Contaminants can include:
- Pathogens such as bacteria, viruses and parasites that originate from animal droppings or decaying organic matter, including E. Collie.
- Roofing materials such as lead, zinc or asbestos emit chemicals.
- Inside the barrel, sediment and debris accumulate, which can settle and build up contaminants.
Filtering water helps, but only a system designed for drinking water can make it safe to drink. You should not drink water directly from the rain barrel. To use harvested rainwater for drinking, you need expert help to ensure safe collection and storage. Forbes’ company, Cactus Rain, installs whole-home potable rainwater systems around New Mexico, and she has one in her home. “I live happily in my rain tanks and enjoy the water quality very much,” she says..
How much does it cost to make rainwater potable?
According to Forbes, systems range in size and complexity. “At a minimum, a tank, pump, filters and disinfection are needed. Features like a smart water monitor to track usage and detect leaks can greatly increase the efficiency of your system.” Although the cost can vary from $12,000 to $65,000-plus, Forbes says potable rainwater harvesting systems are a reasonable alternative to a well.
“Most of the whole-home potable rainwater systems we install in New Mexico are alternatives to well drilling,” says Forbes. Keep in mind that property owners may drill for water but find that the well is not productive, or that the well may dry up—a common problem in some places. “Rainwater harvesting is a reasonable option,” says Forbes.
Tips for harvesting and using rainwater
Collected rainwater is safe and easy to use for watering ornamental plants and other outdoor tasks. However, you will need to maintain the rain barrel regularly, and you may need to add components to your storage and storage system for some household uses, especially for drinking.
- Remember that there is more to a roof than a shingle; It has flashing and fasteners as well sewer and downspouts that carry water. Due to the variety of materials and systems, collected rainwater can vary in quality, but filtering as you collect it can help make rainwater safe for general uses.
- Making harvested rainwater potable requires a more complex filtration and disinfection setup.
- When using harvested rainwater, ensure food safety by using drip irrigation (which is best for plants anyway). To do this, attach a soaker hose or drip lines to the rain barrel. The barrel should sit higher than the watered area.
- If water bottles or watering cans are used to irrigate crops, set them down and pour water under the leaves or fruit. Water in the morning or immediately after harvest.
- Although adding bleach may seem counterintuitive, just add ⅛ tsp 5 percent Bleach A gallon of water once a month can help reduce the risk of pathogen exposure in a common garden rain barrel. That’s less than an ounce for a 55-gallon rain barrel. Wait 24 hours after adding bleach before using water on plants.
- This The best rain barrel Come up with a leaf screen; Place it over your rain barrel to cut debris.
- Consider diverting the first flush of water from the roof after each spring or dry spell, as the first flush carries the most debris and contaminants. To do this, close the barrel only after the first rain or add a first flush diverter.
- Each fall, at the end of the rainy season, disconnect the rain barrel from the downspout and drain the barrel completely, attaching a hose to use the drained water. Remove debris and scrub the inside of the barrel with water and detergent using a spray nozzle to rinse the sediment thoroughly.
- Open the spigot before storing an empty barrel. Barrels can be covered indoors or outdoors. This is especially important if you live in an area that freezes in the winter. Water inside a rain barrel can freeze, causing the barrel to expand and crack.
Although many communities have adopted residential rainwater harvesting, check with local authorities for any. Ban on rainwater harvesting Before starting. Some states and localities also offer incentives to install stormwater systems, Forbes says.
All you need to do is take care of your lawn and garden
