Collecting and storing new rainfall for future use is called rainwater harvesting. If it is properly purified, then it can be used for drinking water. Otherwise it can be used for bathing and cleaning, or it can be used for irrigation purposes, especially in areas where the yearly rainfall average is low. A rooftop system for catching those rainfall inches is the most common form of rainwater catchment system; where rainfall runoff is directed into rainwater collection containers or tanks.
New rainfall is typically collected through a gutter system which acts as a receptor, thus receiving the rainfall inches flowing down off the rooftops and guiding it into the rain barrels. Precautions should be taken to ensure the roof is as free as possible of any type of oils, asphalt particles, rust or debris. Those types of wastes may clog up the flow and can be detrimental to plants. Don’t forget that with a rain water collection system, you will also need to set up a way to transfer the rain water to the garden in as efficient a way as possible.
A closely related process to rainwater harvesting is groundwater recycling. These systems also recycle new rainfall, but in a way that it is concentrated in a single area, like where crops and plants are to be grown. This is also referred to as groundwater harvesting and is common where wells only provide enough water for people and animals, but are generally strained to meet the needs of crops or gardens. Groundwater recharging is the term used for changing groundwater into a drinkable form, and it is very common in areas that receive daily water in rainy seasons.
It is true that rainwater harvested from roofs can contain impurities directly related to the roof itself. Additionally, there are instances where collected rain water contains pesticides and other contaminants. Since this is the case, many times the water in rainwater containers or tanks must be purified before it can be used as drinking water. This can be done through filtering, boiling or through the use of additives like chlorine. The purification of rainwater can also be done even earlier in the process by placing filters in the tubing that directs the water into the storage tanks.
Hoses, gravity, dripping or watering cans are a few of the ways by which those rainfall inches can get to your plants, depending on the area that needs to be irrigated. Trenches dug up to and around your garden area can provide an excellent route for the water to flow and percolate. With a minimal expenditure of time and money, an irrigation system based on rainwater collection can be set up that is not only environmentally sound, but also effective and easy to use.
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