Rain Barrels versus Cisterns

If you’re planning to harvest rainwater, you might consider whether you want to use a rain barrel, or a cistern, depending on how much water you want to collect.

For the average homeowner, one or two 50 gallon rain barrels is probably going to be all that you’ll want to do. It’s not that the extra water wouldn’t come in handy — it’s just that it becomes more of an issue of where you’d put all of those rain barrels, and how you’d deal with the water.

If you want to collect thousands of gallons of rainwater instead of just hundreds, then you’ll probably want to consider a cistern instead of a rain barrel. Cisterns can be above ground, or underground.

Most cities are going to have laws that might apply when you are collecting this much rainwater. A cistern is large, and there also might be rules against having something that big in your yard in a city. (Although the one pictured here is a cistern that I photographed in Austin, Texas, only about a mile from downtown.)

Outside the city limits, or in situations where you want to collect enough rainwater to meet all of your water needs and not just a small supplemental source, a cistern might be your better option. Cisterns often cost thousands of dollars though, and may require professional installation. Especially if you plan to bury one and store your water underground.

Any cistern owners out there want to share their experiences? Leave a comment!