The practice of rainwater collection (also known as rainwater harvesting) has been around for thousands of years and continues to be popular today. It has such great staying power because rainwater collection offers many benefits to those who put it to use. Collecting rainwater allows you to distribute it for a variety of applications of both large and small. Indoors, harvested rainwater can be used to take showers, flush toilets, and wash clothing. Outdoors, rainwater can be used to water the garden or wash the cars. In terms of larger applications, harvested water can be used with a number of benefits on farms. Not only does rainwater harvesting allow crops to be irrigated for free at any time, but it also reduces runoff and erosion on the land. This is especially useful in times of drought when the land is more susceptible to erosion from a sudden storm or flash flood. In this case, the use of harvested rainwater not only keeps crops healthy but also keeps land healthy as well.

Another benefit of rainwater collection is its emphasis on sustainability. Sustainability initiatives have become increasingly popular in recent years, but surprisingly, rainwater harvesting hasn’t received as much press as other practices. Nevertheless, it is one of the more easily implemented sustainable practices and is readily available to consumers. As concerns over the world’s water supply grow, rainwater collection plays an important role in improving the situation in communities both large and small. Aging city infrastructures that can’t keep up with the demand for water are seeing more and more water main failures. Urban rainwater collection initiatives are helping to alleviate the strain on these systems. On a more individual level, rainwater collection is helping people everywhere reduce their own household water demands and save money in the process.