It's time to start harvesting rainwater. But first, what is it, and why do it?

Here is the SF Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC) take on rainwater harvesting. "Rainwater harvesting is the practice of collecting and using rainwater from hard surfaces such as roofs. It is an age-old technology that is growing in popularity as people look for ways to use water resources more wisely. Communities in ancient Rome were designed with individual cisterns and paved courtyards, which captured rainwater to augment supply from the city’s aqueducts. Until recently, urban areas served by municipal water have tended to overlook rainwater as a water resource. San Francisco would like to change that by raising awareness about rainwater harvesting and promoting its use."Click here for the SFPUC's entire site on rainwater harvesting.

Here are a few more of the SFPUC's links:

Click here to view/download our rainwater harvesting FAQ
Click here to view our video "Making Your Own Closed-Top Rain Barrel System"

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Here are a few other sites that have interesting information:

This site has a kit they can ship you, or a full service system they can install for you.

Want a more elaborate rain harvesting system, check this out.

Chicago is having fun with their rain barrels, check this link: