The Permaculture Podcast Rob Avis - Essentials of Rainwater Harvesting
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Feb 10, 2019 
Rob Avis, a mechanical engineer turned permaculture designer and co-founder of Verge Permaculture, explains practical rainwater harvesting. He covers roof-to-tap system design and the anatomy of a rain tank. He discusses roofing choices, gutters and rain heads for cleaner collection. He also explores tank sizing, biofilms, and integrating storage with landscape-scale water strategies.
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Design Rainwater Systems Roof To Faucet For Drinking Water
- Design rainwater systems with the end goal of high-quality drinking water from roof to faucet, not relying solely on end-of-pipe treatment.
- Focus on each component (roof, gutters, filters, tank, outlets) because poor upstream design defeats downstream filters like UV or carbon.
Specify These Core Components For Reliable Harvesting
- Prioritize smooth, low-toxin metal roofs, positive-draining metal gutters, rain heads, quiet inlet, and proper overflow to protect water quality and system function.
- Include manway, air vent, isolation valves, and a solid foundation to enable inspection and winterization.
Prefer Uncoated Metal Roofs And Trust Tank Bioremediation
- Choose Galvalume or uncoated metal roofs to minimize coatings and heavy-metal leaching; rely on tank bioremediation (biofilms/sludge) to trap contaminants.
- Research shows biofilms can concentrate lead thousands of times in sludge versus center water column.
