Greening Your Home - Rain Water

I am buying a house with composite shingles on the roof. Can I save the rain water for plant use? Pine311

I am buying a house with composite shingles on the roof. Can I save the rain water for plant use? Pine311

I believe you can, however, water that has come into contact with composite shingles is not potable because of toxins that may leech from the petrolium products they contain. A cursory net search reveals some controversy: organic gardeners don't like the idea of using it on edible veggies, but it's most likely OK for lawn and decorative plants around the yard.

The water can be used for plants but do not use it for personal consumption. We have had five rainbarrels for over 12 years and no harm has come to our gardens. I believe I saw rainbarrels being used on a This Old house segment too.

Yes, of cause, I think so. It is good thing.

We are using rain water even for our consumption. We add some lime stone on your terrace and from their I stored, its pure and safe.

We are using it from past 5 years

Stored water can present some problems for maintaining its safety.

http://www.oasisdesign.net is a good site for information on this topic.

How are you guys trapping the rain water, and then how are you dispensing it for lawn/garden usage?

I use used oak wiskey barrels. here in kentucky they are cheap at 30.00 each and look alot better than plastic.

My wife and i have been using a plastic rain barrel for two years now to water the plants and garden. I set it under a cut off downspout off of our carport. Its been working out great and we have a biodegradible mosquito dunk in there just for those little pests.