Rainwater Collection for the Mechanically Challenged

by Suzy Banks

This handbook is cute, funny and smart - smart enough to teach almost anyone how to install a personal rainwater collection system. It covers the entire works, from determining how much rainwater you'll need, to troubleshooting a problem pump, hanging gutters, the importance of check valves, how big a micron is, and how to disinfect your rainwater without the use of chemicals. Beautifully produced, it is packed with drawings and photographs to make rainwater harvesting a snap for the do-it-yourselfer. Suzy Banks writes for Texas Monthly Magazine and other publications. Richard Heinichen owns and operates Tank Town, which specializes in installing rainwater catchment systems.

Genres: Sustainability

Paperback

First published March 15, 2006

Reviews

[Elizabeth Simons · Rating 4 out of 5]

Surprisingly well written in a humorous lighthearted style. It covered the basics of off grid water collection for residential use.

[Carl Wade · Rating 2 out of 5]

Pg 65: Resource, "The Home Water Supply" by Stu Campbell. His name seems familiar. Maybe I have read this book.
Pg 19: A good idea; rainbarns basically carports with leaf guard to collect water.
Pg 7: Where is Dripping Springs TX.
Pg 11: She is right we Americans are spoiled. We want to do it the easy way. Just turn on the tap. There may be room for a rain water service company. Will need a sanitation engineer, maintenance mechanic and trouble shooting technician.
Pg 14: Rainwater is better than ground or surface water. Some water is created by chemical reaction. What are the products that have a by product of water? What ever it is we need them to locate where we can use the byproduct.
Pg 21 Xeriscaping uses local tolerant plants. Rainwater is local and avoids leaks of the large metropolitan systems. Gray water for irrigation but what about the garden?
Pg 48: The key is to keep your roof clean. It would be better to have a porch all around the house. So you can wash and clean the gutters without a ladder. Or what about stilts?
Pg 96: "Alternative Energy Source-book" 7th ed. John Schaeffer.
Pg 97: "Sustainable Building Source book".

[Kristen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interested in harvesting your rainwater? If you live in Central Texas, you can make the pilgrimage to Tank Town in Dripping Springs to meet Richard Heinichen, the rainwater guru. He's behind the cute bottles of Rainwater that you pick up at your neighborhood farmer's market and has an amazing collection system out at Tank Town. What's more, he is E-N-T-H-U-S-I-A-S-T-I-C about spreading the rainwater collection gospel, and an incredible character to boot. While the systems at Tank Town are probably bigger and more complex than the average homeowner needs, it's an adventure.

Oh yeah, this review is supposed to be about the book. Richard will give you a copy of "Rainwater Collection for the Mechanically Challenged," which is really instructive. The book is full of clear illustrations and answers all of the questions you never even thought of. But it's best coupled with journey to Tank Town.

[Cheryl Devine · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a great & simple read. I really enjoyed it.