Rainwater harvesting is a practice used by humans for centuries across the globe. It is an eco-friendly and cost-effective method that helps conserve water resources. Collecting and filtering rainwater can be done in numerous ways, but one of the oldest ways to filter rainwater is by using a barrel. This method has been used for over 100 years, and it’s still effective even today.
History of rainwater harvesting
Rainwater harvesting dates back to ancient civilizations such as the Greeks, Romans, and Egyptians. These cultures would collect rainwater in large vessels for storage and later use. The first recorded system of collecting rainwater was found in India over 4000 years ago.
Benefits of rainwater harvesting
Rainwater harvesting offers numerous benefits both to the environment and individuals. The main advantage of this practice is that it conserves water resources as it reduces demand for municipal water supplies which are prone to droughts and other natural disasters like floods which can wash away all soil nutrients hence making farming very difficult.
100 Year Old Method To Filter Rainwater In a Barrel
The traditional way of filtering rainwater using barrels involves using several layers of materials to remove impurities from collected water before use. First, place a coarse layer at the barrel’s bottom before adding smaller stones and gravel on top, followed by sand layer, activated charcoal layer or biochar( charcoal made from organic matter), then another layer of sand or small pebbles at the top.
Coarse items such as stones help remove larger particles like leaves or debris from entering into the barrel while smaller items filter out any micro contaminants present in the collected water.
Once all layers have been added correctly, pour collected water gently onto this mixed media filtration bed and let gravity do its work. Water will eventually emerge crystal clear on the other side after percolating through different layers inside your filtration bed.
Why Use Barrels To Collect Rain Water?
There are many reasons one might choose to use barrels as water receptacles when collecting rainwater. One of the main benefits is that it’s cheaper than buying commercial rainwater tanks. Barrels are also readily available and can be found at any hardware store or recycling center.
When placed strategically under downspouts, the barrels can collect water from the roof.
Conclusion
The 100-year-old method of filtering rainwater using a barrel is still an effective way to filter and collect rainwater today. It’s a cost-effective, environmentally-friendly method that can be used anywhere around the globe. With climate change causing more extreme weather patterns such as droughts in certain regions, it’s important for everyone to learn how to conserve water resources, and this method accomplishes that goal.