Collecting your own rainwater is an excellent way to conserve this precious resource. This year, Monroe County is considered to be in a moderate drought. The last time Monroe county was in a moderate drought was in 2018. Before that, the county experienced one of the worst droughts within the state’s recent history in 2016. One way to save water and hopefully reduce the likelihood of a similar situation is to collect and reuse rainwater.
A basic rainwater collection system catches rainwater from your roof or other surface and channels it into a container for storage. The simplest way to collect rainwater is simply to leave buckets out before it rains. You can use anything from a standard water pail to a trash can.
Rainwater itself is generally clean, but it can pick up microorganisms, pollutants and debris when it hits your roof. So, if you intend to use the water inside your home, it is important to have a filtration system or other treatments for safety.
Outdoor rainwater collection systems don’t need as much treatment because the water is typically used outside. There are many different uses for collected rainwater no matter what type of rainwater harvesting system you have. A few examples include: drinking water, laundry, mopping, and water for plants, gardens, and lawns.
Collecting rainwater can also increase your savings on your water bill. Since you won’t have to turn on the hose or tap as long as you used to, your bill may be cheaper. More importantly, your actions can help protect the environment from more negative impacts.
Written by Emily Su, Class of 2022
Photo Credits: https://www.myneworleans.com/rain-rain-go-away-2/