>We have just put up a new house for my mother where the only potable water >is skywater. We have all downpipes sealed, glued and all pipes lead to a >large tank near the house. Water is then pumped to sevice the house and >garden needs. Depending on the quality of water that falls on your roof and >how dusty the roof gets before the rain falls will dictate whether you need >a filter or what grade of filter. >Best wishes, >Peter.
I believe Mollison's Permaculture Design book shows a collection arrangment that allows the first x-number of gallons of rain to wash the roof before collection begins. That doesn't solve the whole problem, of course, but, as I remember, it's an elegant attempt at a solution. -Allan
