Collection and use of rainwater.
Well, that we do not have to pay for the use of rain! During the year, a huge amount of water falls from the sky. It is therefore worth making every effort, to collect it, especially since the rainwater is clean, does not contain mineral salts and chlorine. It is perfect for watering potted plants and garden plants. To make the most of the rainwater, we supply the roofs of all buildings in the garden with gutters, and we put barrels under the downpipes. The latter can be combined with other tanks, which significantly increases the volume of accumulated water. At least once a year, the barrels are emptied and thoroughly cleaned.
It is also possible to obtain water from the produced wastewater. A fully ecological solution is home hydrobotanic wastewater treatment plants, in which the ability of marsh plants to break down protein-fat substances is used. The most popular are reed treatment plants. The reeds reduce nitrogen compounds most effectively and they provide excellent aeration of sewage. The water obtained in hydrobotanic treatment plants is perfect for watering the garden. A description of the implementation of such a treatment plant would go far beyond the scope of this guide. We are therefore left with two solutions: or we use the services of a specialized company, or we'll stockpile more barrels for rainwater.
We can store rainwater in barrels or other containers made of plastic or metal. Cisterns buried in the ground are used less frequently. Barrels filled with water become very heavy. That is why we place them on a solid surface. Each of these containers should be equipped with a lid and a tap. The tap should be slightly above the bottom of the barrel, over the layer of possible sediments, and high enough above ground level, so that we can put a watering can under it. The container should also be equipped with an overflow pipe, thanks to which the excess water will not run down the barrel wall. The running off water could soften the substrate, on which the tank stands, and ultimately lead to its overturning. Best, if the excess water is drained from the overflow pipe to another barrel.
If we choose nice containers for tanks, which are additionally planted with interesting vegetation, they can become a very attractive element of the garden. Open stone gutters look great in rural gardens, covered with slabs only on road sections. We can carry water with them to places, where the demand for it is greatest.
