Collecting rainwater is an excellent way to reduce your daily water consumption. Here are just a few ways in which you can reduce the amount of tap water you use with captured rainwater.

The simplest way to collect rainwater is to use an old bin or other large container. Place an old bin or container under your guttering downspout, or use smaller containers which are lighter and easier to move. These can be swapped on a regular basis for tasks such as watering your plants.

You can reduce the amount of tap water you use with captured rainwater in a number of ways: Wash the car, clean and wash down the driveway, rinse handwash-only or delicate garments, water the lawn and plants, indoors and out, top up the garden pond in hot weather, flush the toilet, wash your windows, the walls of your house and the garden furniture.
Saving your rainwater also means your children can have fun without you worrying about the cost involved. Use it to fill up their water guns and small plastic containers for the best water fights.

Research has shown that plants actually respond better to rainwater than tap water because rainwater is naturally filtered and doesn’t contain the minerals or chemicals that you find in tap water. Attach a piece of cheesecloth or gauze to the end of your guttering pipes, to prevent dirt and leaves collecting in your water.

For another effective way of watering your plants without using litres of water check out the Iriso Water Dripper in the Soy-Eco Water Saving section.

Image credit: Ben (Falcifer) @FlickR