[The Reaper]

Originally Posted by FlagDayNCO

Bryan,

A couple of years ago, I was grabbing every orange bucket and trash can I could find, and placing them under the downspouts. Just as Sandy was coming, my wife and I filled as many water storage containers as we could. The thought of requiring water to clean, flush toilets and cooking was beyond what any of our neighbors considered.

Since then, a neighbor installed a rain water collection system next to her home. She actually sells the items as part of her home gardening business, but everything can be done with parts.

Here is a great tutorial on how to set one up; complete with drawings.

http://www.wikihow.com/Build-a-Rainw...lection-System

Problem by me is the local water authority found out and filed a complaint. Even though we have our own wells, the water authority was able to use an EPA regulation and PA Act 167 that stipulates no one can alter the surface water run off pattern to a local creek. The water authority is busy negotiating with our association to purchase our wells.

Two sentences here: The public water utilities that service the area are local or county municipal authorities that rely on both groundwater and purchased surface water for supply. This reduction in base flow negatively impacts aquatic life and reduces the ability for streams to filter and assimilate pollutants and treated municipal waste.

I believe the local water authority sees this as a potential revenue loss. If enough homes collect rain water, then their water meters will slow down to a trickle.

So, my collection system is completely masked and out of site from neighbors. Placement of some bushes, fencing and even sections of camo net. I can run a hose from the tap into a basement window, so we don't even have to go outside.

Here we are in 2014 and water as a precious resource is real.

You cannot safely use roof run-off to cook or clean without purification. The garbage that floats around in the air and lands on near horizontal surfaces can make you very ill, to say nothing of the bird droppings.

I would use a filter or sock in the downspout or across the opening to the storage. I would also mechanically filter (like the Berkey carbon and ceramic elements) or chemically purify (chlorinate) the water before drinking or cooking with it.

I have the Big Berkey and it is marginally adequate for a family of four. I would recommend upsizing to the next larger size model and can now verify that the current carbon filters are preferred. You will be surprised at how much better even your local tap water will taste.

If you cannot afford the Berkey, you can build a much less attractive and much less expensive model from two five gallon buckets, a spigot, and a couple of the same filters the Berkeys use. Probably less than $100, and the majority of that will be for the filter elements.

Glad to assist.

TR