Rainwater Collection

I collect rainwater from the gutter for those long spells between rain showers. I have a leaf guard on the gutter and my collected water stays very clear. I drain into a blue 55 G drum which has the top cutout. Then I use the top off another drum for a cover. The first drum is cut holding the saw vertical so that you just cut inside the top. The top from the second drum is cut holding the saw horizontal. I then pipe the water in through one the bung holes leaving the other hole closed. The water will fill the drum and overflow down the sides freely. The reason for the blue drum instead of white is to keep sunlight from the water so algae wont grow. Ocassionly mosquitos will manage to find their way in and this can be taken care off with a little bleach. One quarter to one half cup is enough to take care of any larvae and not be a danger to plants. Just a side note-- don't use this water for emergency drinking since it washes off the roof(asphalt shigle), and most drums are not recommended for potable water. Hope I have helped....
 

I can't find the article now, but I was reading one a couple of years ago about how it was illegal to collect rainwater here in the mountains, as pretty much all the water you see in Colorado belongs to somebody. Technically I couldn't set a bucket out and collect rain to water my flowers, but I reckon they'd have to catch me, and I don't reckon enforcement would be that stringent on that level. We don't get any of the water out of Dillon Reservoir here; it all goes to Denver 75 miles away.
 

I think I read somewhere that it was illegal in New Mexico. Thank heaven I have artisan spring water. It shoots up out of the ground into a big concrete tub and drains back to the ground to form a small stream. Here's a small tidbit I read, the majority of the Earth's water is not in the sea, it is in the air. Frank
 

chefman, nice set up. never thought of the gutter guard...good idea


yea you have to be sure it is allowed. some states obviously water is precious--but a small setup shouldn't be seen I would think.
 

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