Ever wished you could make excess rainwater work for you? One Instagram creator, Kevin (who goes by the username @epicgardening), took matters into his own hands by making a solution that works for his space.
The scoop
In this video, Kevin explains how he captures 5,750 gallons of rainwater at his "Epic Homestead." The first step is to install gutters to capture the rainwater trickling off his roof.
He says his area of the country gets around 10 inches of rain every year, so there are plenty of natural resources to tap into.
"On a 1,000-square-foot roof, an inch of rain gives you 600 gallons of water," Kevin adds.
He also had to install two filters — a leaf filter and a first flush filter — to clear out debris and other unwanted elements. From there, the water flows through an underground pipe to a tank, ready to be put to good use.
It's important to be aware that some states restrict rainwater harvesting. For example, Colorado only permits 110 gallons per home and it must be used to irrigate outdoor landscapes. So wise up on your local laws before committing to a new system to make sure you're doing everything by the book.
How it's helping
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates that the average home wastes 90 gallons of water per day. With more and more extreme weather conditions like droughts and wildfires plaguing the U.S. and other countries around the world, water has become an even more precious resource than ever.
Being able to use excess rainwater for outdoor irrigation or even sanitizing it for other uses (where it's allowed legally, that is) is one way to reduce your own water bills and put valuable natural resources to good use, rather than letting it run away into the ground.
What's everyone saying?
Instagram commenters were quick to share in the creator's joy in his new system, calling for it to be legal in every state (which it is currently not.)
"This should be the norm and the furthest thing from illegal. So awesome to see you showcasing this! It's a game changer to be able to collect and store water," wrote one user.
Another shared the differences in other countries, writing: "In Belgium, all new houses must be equipped with a rainwater collection system. And a lot of houses in smaller villages have just one tap for drinking water, all the other taps are connected to the rainwater collector."
"This is so normal for Australia we catch as much rainwater as we can!" agreed someone else. "My entire house is run on rainwater with filters. It's crazy to hear that in some places there are limitations on how much water you can collect from your own roofs!"
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