| Catchment Systems |
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A water catchment system (aka, surface-water containment system, rain-harvesting storage system, runoff catchment system) is an attractive alternative where groundwater is contaminated, wells can't be dug, springs can't be found, or where rainwater is low. These types of systems have been in use for thousands of years in countries with poor groundwater resources. Even in the desert, a short rain can deliver enough water to keep the household going until the next storm. The most common form of storm harvesting is a simple rain barrel, fed by the downspout of the rain gutters or eaves of the building. There's a huge inventory of commercial rain barrels to choose from, some with their own roof-cleaner diverters (they divert the roof water until the roof has been rinsed off). By the way, metal or clay-tile roofs seem to be cleaner than shingled roofs. If you have a shingled roof, you'll want a roof-cleaner diverter and perhaps a pre-filter in the system before the water enters the storage device. The water from a barrel is not pressurized, but can be used to water a garden via a hose from the barrel drain. Elevating the barrel (commonly on cinder blocks) a bit increases the pressure, but it won't support a plumbing system of any kind without a pump. Storm-harvesting systems that are intended to provide water for drinking, cooking, and bathing will need pumping, filtration, and disinfection systems. The harvesting system may also drain into larger above-ground tanks, into below-ground cisterns, or into dammed reservoirs, some commercial versions of which also have roof cleaners. Aside from roofs, melt- and rainwater can be captured from gullies and washes, but the obvious problem is sediment (mud) buildup and the control of raging floodwaters. Large systems like this can become hazards to anything downstream. A cistern is basically just a tank, made of concrete, steel, fiberglass, or plastic, that sits above or below ground. If your cistern or water tank is above ground and higher than your building's internal plumbing, you can use the weight of the water in the cistern for water pressure. Otherwise, a pump is needed to send water from the catchment to the house. Again, filtering and disinfection will be needed before using the water for drinking, cooking, or bathing. If you're using a rain barrel or any other above-ground storage device, remember to take steps to keep it from freezing. |
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