Peak Oil Task Force Report - City of Bloomington - State of Indiana

4. Collect rainwater
In addition to measures of conservation and efficiency at the
household level, it is possible to increase water supply
available for outdoor and non‐potable indoor water use by
collecting rainwater from roofs and other runoff. The use of
rain barrels is becoming widespread, while in some areas
where water supply is already critical (such as Austin, Texas),
the construction and use of household cisterns is
commonplace today as it was a century ago in southern
Indiana. An expected increase in urban gardening and farming
with a consequent need for more irrigation water in summer gives focus and purpose to a
community‐wide program of rainwater catchment.
Source: U.S. EPA. A rain barrel used
to collect rooftop runoff using a
gutter/downspout system.
Report of the Bloomington Peak Oil Task Force 202