Rainwater Harvesting

So you want to be environmentally friendly and do the right thing. So you've decided to collect rainwater for you or your animals or livestock. To do so you figured you would set up a little system to collect rainwater off of your roof. Hold on that environmentally friendly Ed. What type of roof do you have ? If it's asphalt shingles then NOT. Do you know all of the harmful chemicals in asphalt shingles that can leech out into the collected rainwater harvested ? OK asphalt is out. What about a tin roof ? NOT . If it's a galvanized tin roof then dangerous levels of zinc can be present in the harvested rainwater. Man this is getting difficult .

Also what about all of the droppings from other critters on your roof like birds, raccoons, squirrels ? Do you know all of the diseases and viruses these animals can transfer through their droppings and transmit these diseases ? Like I said not as easy as you might think.

Also what about all of the droppings from other critters on your roof like birds, raccoons, squirrels ? Do you know all of the diseases and viruses these animals can transfer through their droppings and transmit these diseases ? Like I said not as easy as you might think.

So what about just putting a funnel on a barrel ? Same diseases issue. Droppings from animals that go directly into the collection barrel.

So you are just going to use the collected water on your plants . Do you know the number of chemicals and diseases that can transpire the plant system and be consumed by humans and animals ?

So I think now you have a better understanding of the issues you maybe haven't considered. Before just throwing a barrel out there be sure and research your design and plan well. It's not a point and click quick decision.