8 Supplies for Collecting and Storing Rainwater at Home

Catching rain off a homestead roof transforms summer dry spells from a crop-threatening headache into a manageable routine. A single good downpour can yield hundreds of gallons of clean, chlorine-free water if the right collection setup is in place. Equipping a backyard operation with durable, well-matched harvesting gear ensures every drop is safely captured, filtered, and ready for garden use.

Planning Your Home Rainwater Harvesting System

A standard 1,000-square-foot roof section yields roughly 600 gallons of water from just one inch of rainfall. Before buying a single tank, calculate roof footprint, local rainfall patterns, and total garden bed square footage. Matching storage capacity to actual water demand prevents overflow waste and keeps dry-season irrigation consistent.

Gravity feeds simple setups, but longer runs or elevated beds require planned pressure management. Contaminants like bird droppings, pollen, and roof grit will enter downspouts, making mechanical filtration non-negotiable from day one. Mapping out barrel placement, overflow pathways, and utility connections early saves hours of re-plumbing down the line.

Small homesteads usually start with a single downspout barrel before expanding to linked bulk storage tanks. Ensure the ground beneath collection points is level, compacted, and capable of holding 8.34 pounds per gallon of stored water. Skimping on foundation prep leads to tilted barrels, cracked fittings, and ruined downspouts.

Rain Barrel – RTS Home Accents 50-Gallon Barrel

The rain barrel serves as the primary collection node for localized watering stations around a home or shed. It captures immediate runoff right at the downspout, providing quick bucket fills or gravity-drip irrigation for nearby beds. Positioning small barrels near high-demand crop areas reduces the need to drag heavy hoses across the yard.

The RTS Home Accents 50-Gallon Barrel stands out because of its rotomolded polyethylene body, which resists fading, cracking, and winter thermal expansion. Its flat-back design fits flush against exterior walls, keeping tight walkways clear around greenhouse side walls or house foundations. The built-in brass spigot sits elevated off the bottom, making it easy to slide a standard 5-gallon bucket directly underneath.

• Capacity: 50 gallons (ideal for small roof sections)
• Material: UV-inhibited, wood-grain textured plastic
• Key Feature: Front overflow valve to daisy-chain multiple barrels

This barrel is ideal for backyard growers who want localized, low-profile storage near raised beds. However, it is insufficient as a standalone storage solution for larger market gardens requiring hundreds of gallons per week.

Downspout Diverter – EarthMinded FlexiFit Diverter

Standard downspouts pour water uncontrollably once a barrel fills, leading to flooded foundations and soil erosion. A downspout diverter channels rainwater directly into the collection vessel until full, then automatically redirects excess water back down the main drop pipe. This hands-off overflow management protects both your building foundations and garden soil.

The EarthMinded FlexiFit Diverter installs directly into existing standard 2×3-inch or 3×4-inch downspouts without requiring full gutter pipe disassembly. The included hole saw and flexible rubber boot create a tight seal that flexes with seasonal temperature shifts. Its internal collection cup captures water off the interior downspout walls while allowing heavy debris to fall straight through the center drop.

• Downspout Compatibility: Standard 2×3" and 3×4" rectangular downspouts
• Installation: Requires a power drill; hole saw bit is included in the kit
• Maintenance: Easy seasonal removal for cleaning out fine pine needles

It is perfect for growers adding barrels to finished home guttering without heavy demolition. Growers with custom round downspouts will need to look for alternative adapter hardware instead.

Gutter Screen – Rain Harvesting Leaf Eater Ultra

Pre-filtration is crucial for keeping organic sludge out of storage tanks where it turns septic. A gutter-mounted screen acts as the first line of defense, intercepting leaves, twigs, and large pests before water ever enters the downspout pipe. Stopping debris at the roof level prevents stubborn pipe clogs further down the system.

The Rain Harvesting Leaf Eater Ultra utilizes a two-stage screening process featuring a coarse outer mesh combined with a fine 0.955mm stainless steel Clean Rain Screen. Its angled mesh design uses kinetic rain energy to shed debris off the face while dropping clean water straight through. The molded cover fits snugly onto mid-downspout setups, preventing mosquito entry and minimizing manual cleaning.

• Mesh Size: 0.955mm stainless steel mosquito-proof screen
• Positioning: Mounts directly on vertical downspout drop lines
• Maintenance: Quick-release screen slides out for seasonal rinsing

This screen is indispensable for homesteads surrounded by mature deciduous trees or pine stands. Those in ultra-windy desert regions might find the fine mesh requires frequent clearing of blown dust.

First Flush Diverter – Rain Harvesting 3-Inch Kit

The initial minutes of any rainstorm wash concentrated bird droppings, roof grit, and atmospheric dust off the shingles. A first flush diverter isolates this dirty initial wash into a dedicated pipe chamber before opening the line to clean storage tanks. Keeping this "first flush" out of your main supply drastically improves water clarity and reduces tank sludge.

The Rain Harvesting 3-Inch First Flush Kit uses a simple, reliable floating ball mechanism that requires no electrical power. As rain fills the vertical divert pipe, the internal ball floats upward until it seals the chamber inlet, forcing all subsequent clean water into your storage barrel. Its slow-release drain valve continuously drips the dirty water out, automatically resetting the system for the next storm.

• Pipe Diameter: Fits standard 3-inch PVC Schedule 40 pipe (pipe sold separately)
• Diverter Ratio: Diverts roughly 1–2 gallons per 100 sq. ft. of roof area
• Reset Mechanism: Variable drip emitter with internal filter screen

This unit is essential for anyone intending to store water long-term or feed drip lines that clog easily. It does require purchasing local 3-inch PVC pipe to complete the installation height.

Water Storage Tank – Norwesco 550 Gallon Tank

Small barrels drain quickly during summer dry spells, leaving crops stranded between rain events. Bulk water storage tanks anchor a homestead’s water resilience by holding hundreds of gallons captured during peak spring storms. Having reserve bulk storage ensures your vegetable beds stay irrigated through multi-week droughts.

The Norwesco 550 Gallon Above Ground Tank is manufactured from seamless, heavy-duty polyethylene that will not rust, rot, or impart chemical tastes into stored water. Its dark green or black resin formulations completely block sunlight penetration, preventing internal algae blooms from fouling supply lines. With pre-molded female NPT outlets and a heavy-duty threaded top inspection cap, hooking up supply lines requires minimal custom fabrication.

• Dimensions: 67-inch diameter by 44-inch overall height
• Material: Food-grade, UV-stabilized virgin polyethylene resin
• Dry Weight: Approximately 105 lbs empty

This tank is built for serious growers running high-demand vegetable plots or small orchards. Buyers must prepare a perfectly level, reinforced gravel or concrete pad prior to delivery due to the immense final weight.

Utility Pump – Wayne WaterBUG Submersible Pump

Gravity-fed water pressure off a tank bottom rarely exceeds a few pounds per square inch, which is far too low for running garden sprinklers or long hose lines. A dedicated utility pump pressurizes stored rainwater to deliver strong flow wherever it is needed across the property. Pumping water elevates head pressure, allowing you to move water uphill to elevated field beds.

The Wayne WaterBUG Submersible Pump uses dual-action technology to pump water down to an astonishing 1/16th of an inch from the bottom of a container. Featuring both top and side discharge ports, it connects directly to standard 3/4-inch garden hoses without needing expensive pipe adapters. Its reliable multi-ring suction strainer resists clogging from minor sediment while pushing up to 1,350 gallons per hour.

• Max Flow Rate: 1,350 GPH at 0 feet of head height
• Discharge Thread: Standard 3/4" male garden hose thread
• Power: 1/6 HP oil-free motor (requires 120V electrical outlet)

This pump is ideal for growers who need to transfer bulk water quickly or pressurized drop-line irrigation. It must be monitored during operation, as it lacks an automatic float switch to turn off when dry.

Brass Spigot – Rain Wizard Heavy Duty Hose Bibb

Cheap plastic spigots bundled with basic rain barrels quickly leak, strip, or snap under the weight of a heavy garden hose. Upgrading to a solid brass spigot secures the high-stress connection point where water exits the collection vessel. A durable valve prevents catastrophic tank drains caused by cracked plastic fittings.

The Rain Wizard Heavy Duty Hose Bibb features a forged brass body designed specifically to resist harsh outdoor UV exposure and mechanical stress. Its quarter-turn ball valve operation allows precise control over water flow, even when wearing thick work gloves in early spring. The standard 3/4-inch male garden hose outlet connects cleanly without binding or leaking under gravity-fed static head pressure.

• Material: Heavy-duty forged solid brass
• Threads: 3/4" MPT inlet by 3/4" standard hose outlet
• Valve Type: Solid brass quarter-turn ball valve

It is a necessary replacement upgrade for any grower tired of cheap plastic barrel taps that fail mid-season. Proper Teflon tape wrapping is required during installation to ensure a watertight seal against tank bulkheads.

Inline Filter – Rusco Spin-Down Water Filter

Even with top screens, microscopic roof grit and pollen settle in storage water and quickly plug delicate drip irrigation emitters and spray nozzles. An inline filter traps these fine particulates downstream of the pump before water reaches distribution lines. Clean delivery lines keep drip systems running uniformly across all garden rows.

The Rusco Spin-Down Water Filter uses centrifugal action to throw heavy dirt and debris outward into a clear polycarbonate cover sleeve. Its cleanable 100-mesh polyester screen traps fine particulates without instantly restricting line pressure or water flow volume. Flushing the filter takes seconds—simply open the bottom manual purge valve to blow out accumulated sediment without disassembling the plumbing.

• Mesh Rating: 100 mesh (152 micron rating)
• Casing: Clear polycarbonate cover for easy visual inspection
• Purge Port: 1/2" manual ball valve outlet for flushing

This filter is a must-have safeguard for homesteaders running pressurized drip lines or micro-sprinklers. High-pressure pump setups must keep operating pressures below its 150 PSI maximum rating.

Essential Maintenance for Clean Rainwater Storage

Rainwater systems require a routine maintenance schedule to remain clean, efficient, and pest-free throughout the growing season. Monthly inspections should focus on clearing organic debris from leaf screens, checking diverter seals, and rinsing first flush drip emitters. Sediment left to rot in storage tanks breeds anaerobic bacteria, souring stored water and causing foul odors.

Mosquito control is a non-negotiable priority for open or vented collection vessels. Ensure all intake screens remain taut with no tears larger than 1 millimeter. Adding organic mosquito dunks containing Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis (BTI) safely kills larvae in non-potable storage tanks without harming soil organisms or garden crops.

Winterizing Your Rainwater Collection Equipment

Freezing water expands with immense force, easily cracking plastic barrels, bursting brass valves, and destroying expensive pump housings. Before the first hard frost, fully drain all rain barrels, bulk storage tanks, and above-ground plumbing runs. Disconnect downspout diverters and install seasonal bypass caps to send winter snowmelt safely away from foundations.

Store submersed utility pumps, inline filters, and unanchored plastic components inside a frost-free barn, shed, or basement. Leave tank spigots open during winter months so any stray condensation or meltwater drains out rather than pooling and freezing inside valve bodies.

Safely Using Stored Rainwater on Your Garden

Roof runoff collected off shingles or metal panels is strictly non-potable and should never be used for drinking, cooking, or washing produce without advanced purification. However, it is fantastic for crop irrigation because it lacks municipal chlorine and fluorides while maintaining a slightly acidic pH that plants prefer.

Apply stored rainwater directly to the root zones of garden crops using drip irrigation, soaker hoses, or low-standing watering cans rather than overhead spraying. Avoid direct leaf contact on harvestable leafy greens or root crops close to harvest time to minimize bacterial cross-contamination.

Setting up a reliable rainwater harvesting system protects your crops from dry spells while lowering your municipal water dependence season after season. With the right mix of screening, diverters, durable tanks, and maintenance tools, you turn every passing rainstorm into long-term drought insurance. Put these proven tools to work on your homestead and watch your garden thrive on clean, free water.