Rainwater Harvesting: Ancient Wisdom Meets Modern Need

Picture free water falling from the sky, ready to use. That's rainwater harvesting in its simplest form. While the idea stretches back thousands of years, today's water shortages make this old practice more relevant than ever (1).

Nature's Free Resource

Think about your roof in a good rain: Hundreds of gallons cascade off, usually into storm drains. But what if you could catch and keep that water? Modern harvesting systems do just that, turning rooftops into water collection zones.

How It Works

Rain falls on a collection surface, then flows to a storage tank via the gutter. Simple filters screen out leaves and other debris. Some systems have added purification steps so that the water can be consumed; others do little more than redirect the water from the downspouts.