My ancestors practiced sustainability in harvesting rain water in West Texas in the late 1800s and early 1900s.
Rainwater from the roof was collected in a tank they optimistically called a cistern. They would screen the water with cheesecloth to filter out bugs and larvae and boil it for drinking. Baths were reserved for Saturday night either before a social engagement or later to be ready for church services on Sunday. This water was not thrown out. It was saved for doing the wash on Monday. The last items to be washed were the whites, and bluing was added to the now much recycled water for that.
Different times, and times to which I believe the "environmentalists" want us to return.
My grand aunt Ruby. The house had city water and indoor plumbing by then, but the now unused cistern can still be seen.
There are sophisticated systems that do all the water filtration for you these days. Collecting rainwater is pretty cool and I like that it connects us back to the land. I am an architect and a client just put in a rain water collection system. It seems like a good investment especially where they live and don't have city water and wells are not reliable.
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