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Letter Re: A Practical Tip on Using Roof Catchment Rainwater
Jim
There are simple old time solutions to the possible problem of collecting and
using "polluted" roof gathered rain water.
Add a splitter, (an upside down Y shaped piece of pipe), to the downspout before
the pipe runs into your cistern or rain barrel. One side of the "Y" goes
to your catchment, the other to the ground or drain. Add a simple flip value
to the inside of the splitter. During the first 5 minutes of any rain, turn
or flip the valve to run the water out onto the ground or into the usual drain.
Once the roof and gutters, (and air), have been washed clean of any dirt, debris
or pollution, flip the value over to fill the rain barrel or cistern. Keep
the barrel or cistern tightly covered so animals or mosquitoes can't get in.
At least once a year completely drain the barrel or cistern and scrub clean
with bleach and water. Rinse well and drain. Then refill. This ensures a clean
supply of "soft" water that should be safe to drink, (and incidentally
is especially good for using in steam irons and washing hair ). - Jim Fry,
Curator, Museum of
Western Reserve Farms & Equipment, Ohio
