- 1). Assess your needs. Before you decide on any system for collecting and purifying rainwater, you will need to guess at your consumption requirements and their specifics. If you're looking for water to feed the garden and household plants, you can stop at step one. There's no need to create pure water if you're only putting it back into the soil. If, on the other hand, you intend to drink your harvest, you'll need some scrubbing, bleaching and filtering. If you're looking for a mix of both, you'll probably be looking at a mixed system as well: one filtered and one unfiltered.
- 2). Choose your catchment. Across the world there are millions who use their roofs as natural catchment surfaces for rainwater. The first rains wash debris, dirt and bird droppings from the roofs and are flushed away. When the flushing system is disengaged, the continued rain waters are diverted to storage tanks and cisterns. The size you choose for your catchment will depends upon your individual needs.
- 3
Full Rainwater Harvest System
Consider rainwater harvesting products. There are hundreds of products on market to catch and clean rainwater. While the most sophisticated are quite expensive, they are nonetheless tested and FDA approved. There are even wireless rainwater alerts that allow you to monitor your rainwater catch from inside your home. If you're looking for a permanent solution to alter your carbon footprint you may want to consider a roof-size catchment and manufactured filtration system. However, if you're looking for a do-it-yourself option for a few gallons of fresh, clean rainwater, continue to step 4. - 4). Build your own system. Start with two clean, plastic buckets. Cut out the bottom of what will be your top bucket --this is your catchment basin. The second bucket needs to serve as secure base to the first. Drill a hole in its bottom to securely fit a hose to it. Fit the top over the bottom and seal with silicone.
- 5). Layer your collection system first with the polyester, then with a carbon filter. You can purchase filters from aquarium stores; the same filters that pull poisons to protect your fish can protect you. You now have a bucket with a filtration system, under a bucket serving as catchment. Attach a hose to the bottom and seal.
- 6). Drill a hole in the center of your table. Place your collection system on top, feeding the hose through it and into the mouth of a spring water bottle.
- 7). Collect the water. Add ten drops of bleach to each gallon of water to kill bacteria.
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