Cistern

I was thinking about a large funnel shaped container of several feet wide to catch the rain and direct the water through a series of pipes indoors where the poluted water falls into a container serving as boiler. So first of all the funnel shaped container must be placed on a higher level than the eventual boiler in which the water will end up. The water running through the pipes can be blocked in case the boiler is filled up. When in the boiler a source of heat will change the water into steam. This steam will rise up and will be directed through again a series of pipes, ending up condensed back as clean water in a clean container. The water possibly won't be absolutely unpoluted, so letting the steam end up in another boiler before the water is used might be the best thing to do.

Offered by Michel.

At the turn of the century, it was a common practice to use a cistern to catch rainwater coming from the eves. My grandparent’s home used a system where the rain coming off the roof, into the gutters, went into a cistern, a big tank, and then there was a hand pump in the kitchen to bring this rain water up into pails or buckets. This water was SOFT, meaning not full of well-water minerals which clog pumping, especially plumbing where water is heated and evaporates, leaving the minerals behind.

Offered by Nancy.