Safe Rainwater Harvesting Catchments
Any catchment area will pick up some contamination from leaves, bird droppings, dust, and other natural causes. This water is fine for watering your garden, but it will need a good filtering system before you can be sure it is safe to drink. Some roofs, such as old tar and gravel or old asbestos shingle roofs create too much contamination for rainwater harvesting. Treated cedar shakes are also not recommended for water harvesting.
The type of gutter system you have is also important, as many may have lead soldering or lead-based paints. Additionally, if you live in an area that produces heavy industrial pollution, your rainwater itself may contain some undesirable contaminants. Talk to your local municipal government about the issue of environmental contaminants in your area that may affect rainwater quality.
{ 5 comments… read them below or add one }
How do you keep Mosquito’s from breeding in the rain barrel?
Paul,
There are several options. First you could buy some screen and cover the whole where the water enters the barrel. The same screen you use for a screen door or window will work and can be found at your local hardware store.
You can also buy a product called Mosquito dunks or Non Toxic Mosquito Control Bits. They kill the larva but will not harm the water.
I have link to them below:
http://www.cleanairgardening.com/mosquito1.html
http://www.cleanairgardening.com/mosquitodunks.html
I need an answer on possible problem of water in barrel becoming badly odorous. Our system, even with a screen, still ends up with small debris getting through due to our heavy tree cover. Someone told me that smelly water was no problem to water plants; but right now due to good rains I have a full pretty smelly barrel. Any suggestions?
@J.Burgen,
Stagnant water can be smelly; however not knowing what the barrels may have been used for before you used them as rain barrels puts me at a disadvantage. Try emptying them and using vinegar to clean them out. Then make sure they are a dark color and kept in the shade to help reduce the amount of algae growing inside.
If you do not plan on using the water for drinking THE BEST way is to put a couple of cheap feeder goldfish in each barrel! I use several open barrels and they do a good job of eating the larve! They work for free and are always on the job! They are better than screens as those DAMN bugs always find a way in. I can’t imagine why anyone would want to use anything else. If the fish can live in the water you know it is fit to give to your plants!