For a great many of us the closest and easiest way to get water is from our roof. The higher one taps and stores the downspout system, the more pressure will be available without a pump. If you poke a hole in a downspout and insert a tube pointed up into the downspout, you will get at least some water when it rains, if you adjust it well. It doesn't require much else to make it work except something to store the water in, and something to support the storage tank, which be elevated somewhat above the garden. Eschew corporate merchandise.

@John: I like the downspout idea. Sounds like something to look into.

I've heard most of Atlanta is using rain storage now it's a great idea. The main issue I see is that around my area it would be full of mosquito larvae by spring. We keep fish in our ponds to keep the mosquitoes down but I'd hate to water my garden with fish.

The storage tank should be covered with something so mosquitoes cannot lay eggs in or, nor the hatched larva escape. Even a piece of window screen would work for that purpose, and might be easy to fit.

Most rain barrels that you can purchase come with netting built right in the top. This prevents mosquitoes and other bugs from getting to the water to lay their eggs. If this system doesn't come with something similar I'm sure it would be trivial to add it.

For the fashion conscious their is always oversized planters used to scoop water or the rainwater HOG designed

In some western states, namely Colorado, gathering rain water is actually illegal because it, "interferes with downstream flow". I wonder if we can ever get laws like that changed.

"In some western states, namely Colorado, gathering rain water is actually illegal because it, "interferes with downstream flow". I wonder if we can ever get laws like that changed." matt

I guess they would rather you pay for treated drinking water to water your plants, and if the system allowed, to flush toilets. I think the use of a grey water system would go along way in conserving water. Certainly water that has been treated and pumped should be used more sparingly because of the energy involved.

It’s nice to have some feedback on this project !

As environmental consciousness rises, I thought people may want to show their convictions and green practices with a highly visible object such as the Rainpod.

I also took into consideration that city water has the great advantage to be delivered under pressure, which makes watering easy. If we want more people to use rain water, it has to be just as convenient to use.

I am thinking of a lighter Rainpod in which the tank solid part will be made of soft fabric to reduce shipping and production impacts - Advices on waterproof and strong green fabrics are welcome. The tank would then appear withered or swollen according to the quantity of collected water available.

I’ll keep TreeHuggers updated on this idea : )

DavidL'Hôte, Your design is really neat. A fabric design seems great, too. Either would be overkill for my situation, though, as I have 6,000 sq. ft. of roof. Maybe I could use a fabric hanging bag for storage, though. I'll have to think about that. Thanks for the idea.

I like this setup!
It looks large though, and would be hard to implement in area's with small yards.
A fabric one would be a bit better, but would still need a place to live!

I was able to get a large olive barrel (plastic) and have taken a large piece of screen and bungied it around the top opening. The downspout goes right on to the screen and it filters lots of things.
Two problems I have....if the water level gets high enough, it will touch the screen. I'm assuming skeeter's are able to dip their behinds in to the water and lay their eggs, which fall down in to the barrel....so it still is a breeding ground. My fix would be to add an overflow port.
The 2nd problem is the scum that can build up over a summer. I have a cordless pump that I can drop in to the barrel (runs on rechargeable batteries...not perfect but it is getting there). The pump will eventually get fouled. My first inkling is to drop a capfull of bleach in there, but am unsure how "eco-friendly" that really is. (2fl.ounces over 30liters....quite water-down)
Anyhow, I want to eventually connect a water hose for the barrel...if I put a spigot on the bottom, I hope to not need a pump to get water to the garden. Will see!

Cheers and Happy Monday!

To keep the mosquitoes and their larvae from "growing" in your rain barrels, just spray a small amount of "pan spray" into the water.
DO NOT USE SPRAY WHERE THERE ARE FISH.
I use used trash cans and dip the water out to water the plants. I can then use the trash cans for compost or cut the bottoms out to use as tree guards.

Where can I buy a Rainpod? such a great idea.
Jennifer

This is a great idea!

I have a question for whomever might be able to answer it - in some rural parts of New York state, I've seen many abandoned *big* satellite dishes (some of which have a solid metal dish). I'm not sure how much these might weigh, but could they be altered in such a way as to act as the collection dish for a rainwater receptacle?

Seems like that would be another way to reuse materials that are pretty much just cluttering up the environment.