What is Rainwater Harvesting? Rainwater harvesting is an ancient
practice of catching and holding rain for later use. In a
rainwater harvesting system, rain is gathered from a building
rooftop or other source and is held in large containers for
future use, such as watering gardens or washing cars. This
practice reduces the demand on water resources and is excellent
during times of drought. Why is it Important? In addition to
reducing the demand on our water sources (especially important
during drought), rainwater harvesting also helps prevent water
pollution. Surprised? Here’s why: the success of the 1972 Clean
Water Act has meant that the greatest threat to New York’s
waterbodies comes not from industrial sources, but rather
through the small actions we all make in our daily lives. For
example, in a rain storm, the oil, pesticides, animal waste, and
litter from our lawns, sidewalks, driveways, and streets are
washed down into our sewers. This is called non-point source
(NPS) pollution because the pollutants