Drinking Water from Small Rain Water Catchment System
in Forested Northwest US
Subject: Small scale rainwater catchment for drinking water only in forested
Northwest
Date: Fri, 01 Sep 2000
From: Art Ludwig <Oasis Design>
To: Mike <bugone©gte.net>
[Mike from Tacoma, WA, writes regarding rainwater catchment for drinking. The
environment is heavily wooded and rainfall is very high.]
> Probably way off base here for you guys, but have been searching forever
on the web
> and am getting tired? Eventually I want to roof catch our rain for household
use.
> But in the meantime, I am looking for a miniature"picnic table"
collection device to
> use for drinking water only. The few attempts I have tried to make something
were
> useless! Know any place that sells something of this sort, or has plans
to build one?
> Thanks in advance! Mike Senn
Hi, Mike...
I know of no such plans or kit. I have seen functional do-it-yourself systems,
however.
Your first hurdle is to get out from under those trees into a clearing, otherwise
you'll
be collecting tree tea instead of rain. The simplest systems I've seen featured
a
movable collection surface; it's kept clean by only putting it out when conditions
are
optimal, filling the containers, then stowing it. I've seen plastic sheets and
corrugated
roofing panels used this way.
Good luck!
Art