A harvesting sytems begins with the catchment area. This is typically the roof of the house. The water then flows into the gutters, these ideally should be covered with a screen to prevent debris buildup and clogging. The gutters then direct the water towards the storage tanks. Filters can be added to the line between gutter and tank to prevent debris and roof contaminants from entering the tank. A pump can also be added from the tank to send water into the home for a variety of end uses.
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Material | Fiberglass | Concrete | Metal | Polypropylene | Wood | Polyethylene | Welded Steel | Rain Barrel |
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Cost | $0.62-$2.48/gallon | $0.37-$1.55/gallon | $0.62-$1.86/gallon | $0.43-$1.24/gallon | $2.48/gallon | $0.92-$2.07/gallon | $0.99-$4.95/gallon | $100 |
Sizing | 500-20,000 gallons | Typically 10,000 gallons or more | 150-2,500 gallons | 300-10,000 gallons | 700-50,000 gallons | 300-5,000 gallons | 30,000-1 million gallons | 55-100 gallons |
Comments | Very durable and long lasting; easy to repair; can be painted | Risk of cracks and leaks but can be easily repaired; permanent; can affect the smell and taste of the water but a plastic liner may solve that | Lightweight and mobile; rusting and leaching of zinc could occur but a potable-approved liner would help deter that | Lightweight and Durable; black tanks may have warmer water if tank is exposed to sunlight; clear/translucent tanks may have algae growth | Aesthetically pleasing; typically seen in public areas and residential neighborhoods | Solely used in commercial operations | Mostly for home use; often used in DIY projects |
Type | Vinyl | Plastic | Aluminum | Galvalume |
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Cost | $.37/ft | $.37/ft | $4.33-7.74/ft | $9-12/ft |
Comments | Easy to install and connect to PVC trunk lines |
Common problems are leaking, warping, and breaking |
Professional installation a necessity |
Type | Box Washer | Post Filtering w/ Sand filter |
Smart-Valve Rainwater Diverter kit |
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Cost | $495-990 | $185-619 | $50 for the kit |
Maintenance | Filter needs to be cleaned after every heavy rain |
Occasional backwash of the filter |
Needs occasional cleaning |
Comments | Failure to clean filter may result in restriction or blocking of the flow of water which can cause contamination |
May be susceptible to freezing depending on location; the larger the filter the better |
Type | Grundfos MQ Water Supply System | Shallow Well Jet Pump or Multi-stage Centrifugal Pump |
Pressure Tank |
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Cost | $477-743 | $371-742.64 | $247-619 |
Comments | Doesn't require a separate pressure tank | Requires a separate pressure tank |