Re: Collecting rain off of the roof - My 2 cents - or maybe 1 cent...

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Sandy,
   I agree, your sentiments match mine. After years of snow and rain washing away any initial surface pollutants, I have a had time believing that during hard rapid rains,the water spends enough time on the roof to pick up anything that isn't already in the atmosphere.  Maybe with a new roof, and a slow drizzle there could be a problem. But my gardens are far from my house, so I don't collect roof water to lug.  I do prefer to use warmed water when I can, since our well-water is icy cold, even in the summer. But there are many times that when all my gardens need water, I don't have the container capacity to pre-warm for everyone, and my crops do just fine. In fact, I grow lettuce all summer and always water that with cold water -- I think it actually helps keep it from bolting.

Dee from MN


I'm coming out of lurk-mode to ask a question or two of those who object to
using runoff from one's roof. 

First, doesn't this water go out into your yard and garden anyway?

Second, is there any reason to think that a substantial amount of toxic
material is picked up from an old roof that has been "washed off" with every
passing rain, in the 5 or so seconds that the water is running down from top
to gutter?
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