Cisterns and Rain Barrels

A Rainwater-Collection System Saves Water for Dry Spells

Using a free resource and saving it for later

Cisterns and rain barrels collect water from the roof and store it for later use. A barrel may be enough for just a small garden, but more elaborate filter and storage systems can provide all the water a family uses. Cisterns can be anything from an old whiskey barrel to an underground concrete tank big enough to store thousands of gallons of water.
In drought-prone regions, a rainwater-collection system can help stretch scarce water supplies. At its most elaborate, rainwater collection can provide ...