Harvesting Rainwater In An Apartment

​It is always better to water plants grown indoors using rainwater if at all possible. Tap water can contain high levels of chlorine and other impurities, and in any case, it is more sustainable and ethical to use the renewable source of water wherever possible. Harvesting rainwater is easy if you own your own house – you can simply attach a barrel or butt to your guttering in order to collect the rain that falls on your roof. If you live in a flat or apartment, however, you may think that harvesting rainwater is not something that you can do. On the contrary – harvesting rainwater in an apartment is often easier than you may imagine. Here are a few tips on how to do just that:

​Communal Rainwater Harvesting
 
The easiest way to collect rainwater for those living in apartments is to collaborate with your neighbours to collect the water from the guttering system for communal roof. If your apartment block as a flat roof, by communal agreement you may also be able to place water storage containers up there. Talk with others in your building to find a rainwater harvesting solution that could work for you all.

Harvesting Rainwater On A Balcony
 
If your neighbours are not amenable or you cannot reach an agreement for communal rainwater harvesting for some other reason, you may still be able to harvest rainwater acting entirely on your own. If you have a balcony, this could allow you to harvest rainwater simply by placing a few containers where they can catch the rainfall, or drips from the balcony above.
 
Harvesting Rainwater Outside Your Windows
 
If neither of the above is an option for you – if you cannot get agreement for communal rainwater harvesting and don't have a balcony, you may still be able to harvest a little rainwater to water your indoors plants. You may be allowed to affix window boxes outside your windows. If you are, you can not only grow edible plants in them, but can also place containers in them to catch the rain. Failing that, you may still be able to simply place small containers outside your window whenever it rains, either placed on the outside sill, or suspended on a support attached to an inside sill.
 
Living in an apartment with no outside space makes growing your own food a little more difficult. But with a little effort and ingenuity, you too can create a productive indoors garden and make use of nature's resources.