Utilize your roof and gutter as a catchment system.Now that we have received a few drops of rain lately, let’s consider how we might save it. Rainwater captured by your roof and gutters can be stored in a tank and, with a simple filtering system and pump, be ready for use on your lawn and shrubbery. Of course, people in rural areas of Maui use similar catchment systems for household uses, but extra precautions should be taken to ensure the purity of the water if it’s going to be used for drinking and cooking.
For instance, you’ll want to use materials suitable for a potable water system, screens to keep the gutters clear, diverters to exclude the initial, pollution-filled catchment runoff from collection, and effective filtration or sterilization. The University of Hawai‘i Cooperative Extension Service booklet “Guidelines on Rainwater Catchment Systems for Hawaii” by Patricia Macomber may be helpful.
Instead of paying for irrigation water to keep your landscaping green, harvest it yourself from the rain.
In partnership with the state’s energy office, the Maui Weekly provides this feature to help Valley Isle homeowners conserve and protect water resources.