A Rainwater collection system begins at the roof and ends at point of entry or use.
A well designed rainwater collection system considers what type of roofing material is to be used as the collection surface and what environmental hazards may be present in the surrounding area.
For instance, collecting rainwater for potable usage from a roof adjacent to a stockyard would not be a good idea, for airborne particulate from fecal matter can land on the roof. Additionally, collecting from a roof near an interstate could have petroleum deposits. Cedar is poisonous, therefore should not be considered for collection for a potable system. Check with the manufacturer of any asphalt shingle type roofing for possible contaminants used in manufacturing.
It is recommended that a “raw water” sample be taken from the downspout and tested for contaminants before construction of a potable system.
Metal is the best choice of roofing material for collecting rainwater for potable usage, however clay, ceramic tile, fiberglass, and plastics are all compatible with collecting rainwater for potable use. Other materials can be considered if not used for potable usage or if carefully evaluated for safety.
“Gabled Houses” courtesy of duron123 / www.freedigitalphotos.net
Do you have more questions about your rainwater collection system? Contact us!
Ken is a United States Navy veteran, having served on active duty during the Vietnam War era.
A career entrepreneur, Ken created a new business focus with a commercial dive company in Hawaii in the mid 1980′s to respond to and clean up oil spills, oil spill equipment training, service and maintenance for the oil co-op service industry. Ken is passionate about having a positive impact on the environment and is also a founding director of BANK-ON-RAIN (2011-2014), whose mission is to create grassroots solutions for rainwater collection for consumption and agriculture in developing areas of the planet.