By Michael, on December 7th, 2012 
Guest Post- Heather Legg
In an emergency situation, water can be the most important thing to have. You can’t always depend on your local water supply, so to make sure you’re covered, try harvesting water from your home’s gutters before emergency strikes. Even without an emergency, it’s nice to reuse rain water; it’s no cost and doesn’t waste the community supply.
Is it easy?
Yes! Fortunately, harvesting water from your gutters is one of the easiest, most efficient ways to do it. If your home already has gutters that are in good condition, you’re already a big part of the way there. Gutters will divert the water to a specific location, and you just need to collect it.
The best way to collect the water is with a large rain barrel, approximately a 55-gallon size, under the gutter. Not only will this capture the water, but you can also use it for storage.
More on Containers
It is imperative to make sure that your barrel is clean and of a size that you can handle. Water is very heavy, so don’t go much over 55 gallons. It’s best to have a hose connection to the barrel so you can get the water without having to move the barrel.
Ideally, you should buy a tank that is ready for this specific purpose. If you use a found container, you risk the chance that it previously held toxic material or was not cleaned properly, regardless of what has been in it. Rain barrels are generally easy to find at any home improvement store these days.
To prevent algae growth, the barrel should be dark or opaque so light can’t get in. Again, if you purchase one for this purpose, it will be the right color and material. You’ll also need to cover or screen the tank to prevent mosquito growth and keep animals out of it.
You can install first flush and screening devices so that the water will stay as clean as possible. Also, keep the tank in a spot where you can get to it for cleaning.
Picture Credit – RTS Home Accents 50-Gallon Rain Water Collection Barrel with Brass Spigot– Only $99 on Amazon with Free Shipping
Uses
Harvested rainwater has so many household uses that you’ll be surprised how much you’ll appreciate it when you have a good accessible barrel in front of you. You can use it for inside and outside uses, including cleaning, laundry, and toilet flushing, plus gardening and any type of yard watering. Some people like the comfort that a large barrel of water affords them in case of fire emergencies.
If you think you’d want to conserve some of your collected water for drinking or cooking in case of emergency, contact your local health department to find out what kind of treatment you need to perform. Though rainwater is quite clean, you don’t want to ingest it without treating it correctly with the proper chemicals.
Harvesting rainwater from your home’s gutters is becoming more and more mainstream and making more and more sense. You see rain barrels in front of schools and in front of homes. It’s an easy way to save some money and help the environment all in one.
Heather Legg is a blogger who writes about healthy lifestyles, clean eating, and money-saving family tips.
