Uses of Stored Rainwater

Big improvements

Modern rain barrels, cisterns, and modular collection systems provide innovative ways to harvest one of nature's most fundamental elements. Many people have discovered an equally innovative list of uses for their collected water. Below are some of the great ways in which your aqueous harvest can be used to improve your own immediate environment as well as that of the world.

• Lawns and gardens - The absence of minerals in rainwater enables gardens, lawns, and houseplants to absorb moisture more efficiently, and as a result, require less water to maintain healthy growth.
• Secondary water supply - Because the salts and minerals commonly found in tap water are absent, soft harvest water makes a great secondary water supply for washing cars, boats, windows, and even clothes.
• Vegetable and leaf protection - By using biodegradable soaps, many gardeners have found that grey water (recycled dish, bath, or laundry water) provides not only moisture for a thirsty root system, but when sprayed on the leaves of cabbage, turnips, and other pot herbs, grey water repels moths and other leaf-chewing pests.
• Saves money - It's still as true today as it was when Benjamin Franklin first said it: "A penny saved is a penny earned". Lawn and garden watering make up nearly 40% of total household water use during the summer. Consider that a 1000-square-foot catchment area yields 600 gallons per inch of rainfall. At that rate, pennies quickly turn into dollars.
• Relieves environmental stress - Helps reduce the burden on fresh-water sources such as rivers, streams, and aquifers by reducing fresh water demand.