100-Year-Old Way to Filter #Rainwater in a Barrel

by Linda Holliday
February 25, 2015

"During our boiling, broiling, blistering summer of 2012 here in the Missouri Ozarks, water was a topic of conversation wherever we went. Creeks and ponds dried up (some never recovered) and the water table dropped, forcing a few neighbors to have their well pumps lowered or to even have deeper wells drilled.

"Many folks shared memories of rain barrels, cisterns, hand pumps and drawing water with a well bucket as a child, usually on grandpa and grandma’s farm. Some said they’d never want to rely again on those old-time methods of getting water. But, at least they knew how it was done.

"It seems we have lost much practical knowledge in the last 50 or so years because we thought we’d never need it again. Now we are scrambling to relearn those simple know-hows.

"A tattered, 4-inch thick, 1909 book I happily secured for $8 in a thrift store reveals, among umpteen-thousand other every-day skills, how to make homemade water filters. The instructions in 'Household Discoveries and Mrs. Curtis’s Cookbook' are quite basic as everyone had a rain barrel back then and presumably knew how to clean the water. Now, 104 years later, I am thankful the authors had the foresight to preserve their knowledge for us, and pointed out that rainwater collected in barrels from a roof is a necessity in some locations, but also is best for laundry and 'often more wholesome for drinking purposes than hard water.' "

Learn more:
https://www.askaprepper.com/way-filter-rainwater-barrel/

#SolarPunkSunday #WaterFiltration #Rainwater #RainwaterCollection #WaterIsLife #WaterSystems #OldSchoolTechnology #NeoLuddite #OldWays

US #EPA - #SoakUpTheRain Program for #NewEngland: #RainBarrels

Last updated on January 13, 2026

"Rain barrels capture water from a roof and hold it for later use such as on lawns, gardens or indoor plants. Collecting roof runoff in rain barrels reduces the amount of water that flows from your property. It's a great way to conserve water and it's free water for use in your landscape.

Many cities and towns distribute rain barrels to residents through annual sales. Other sources include online retailers, local home and garden supply stores. Cisterns are also used to 'harvest' rain water. With a greater storage capacity they may be located above or below ground.

#RainwaterHarvesting, U.S. EPA Green Infrastructure

Note: Remember that as rain water flows over a roof surface it can pick up pollutants such as bacteria from birds and other animals, and chemicals from roof materials - factors to consider when thinking about using rain barrel water on edible plantings. Some links with information and suggestions are included below:

- Rain Barrels Part IV: Testing and Applying #HarvestedWater to Irrigate a Vegetable Garden, Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, 2013
- The Importance of Operation and Maintenance for the Long-Term Success of Green Infrastructure, U.S. EPA, 2013
- Appendix A includes information about rain barrels and #cisterns.

Information About Rain Barrels

Local resources for:

#Connecticut
#Maine
#Massachusetts
#NewHampshire
#RhodeIsland
#Vermont "

Read more:
https://www.epa.gov/soakuptherain/soak-rain-rain-barrels

#SolarPunkSunday #RainwaterCollection #RainwaterCollection #RainWaterHarvesting #WaterIsLife #WaterSystems

#Cistern #WaterSystems: How They Work and Why They’re Useful

By Robert Maxwell
Updated on Sep. 26, 2025

"Has your interest in alternative water systems made you ask, what is a cistern? Read on to learn about this ancient way to store and supply water.

The basic idea of a cistern water system, which collects and stores water in or near a home, goes back centuries. In some parts of #WesternAsia, archeologists discovered lime plaster cisterns in the floors of houses that were at least 5,000 years old. Ancient #Romans also used cisterns beneath their houses to catch, filter and store #rainwater.

A cistern is a closed tank, somewhat like a septic tank, but the similarities end there. Instead of sewage, it collects rainwater for household use or irrigation. A home with a well might have a large tank to store water to prevent the well pump from having to work all the time. In some cases, you could consider that tank a cistern, but according to longtime plumber Danny Pen, most cisterns are buried."

Read more:
https://www.familyhandyman.com/article/what-is-a-cistern-water-system/

#SolarPunkSunday #AncientTechnology #ModernAdaptations #Cistern #WaterIsLife #RainwaterCollection #RainwaterCisterns

Cyber risk exposure within water and wastewater systems continues to evolve.

Operational technology environments, aging infrastructure, and fragmented utility ownership increase the challenge of implementing consistent cybersecurity controls. Recent advisories have highlighted common weaknesses such as exposed interfaces and limited access controls.

Even without mandatory regulation, foundational practices - patching, access management, incident response planning, and OT segmentation - remain effective risk reducers.

What practical cybersecurity measures have you seen work in resource-constrained environments?

Engage in the discussion and follow @technadu for objective infosec reporting.

Source: https://www.fticonsulting.com/insights/articles/understanding-cyber-risks-flooding-water-wastewater-systems-sector

#InfoSec #OTSecurity #CriticalInfrastructure #CyberRisk #WaterSystems #CyberResilience #TechNadu

#israel #palestine : #war / #gaza / #water / #report / #warcrimes

„In the #WestBank there were numerous reports of Israeli #settlers destroying water pipelines and tanks and attacking Palestinian farmers.
In Gaza the Israeli military destroyed more than 30 wells in (…) Rafah and Khan Yunis.
Gleick noted that when the #InternationalCriminalCourt issued arrest warrants for Israeli and Hamas leaders (…) the charges mentioned Israeli military attacks on Gaza #watersystems.“
https://www.latimes.com/environment/story/2025-11-26/la-enviro-violence-over-water

"NoName057(16) has claimed responsibility for unauthorized access to the water supply infrastructure in the Valencian Community of Spain. The threat actor published these claims on their Telegram channel and included a video related to their alleged cyber attack.

The Telegram post, written in both Russian and English, contained nationalistic rhetoric and references to Russia. The group also included #OpSpain tag, implying that the announcement was part of a broader campaign.

The threat actor forwarded the message from another Telegram channel called “Z-Pentest Alliance”, implying a possible cooperation among different threat actor groups."—Daily Darkweb

NoName057(16)Targets Water Supply System in Spain >

https://dailydarkweb.net/noname05716targets-water-supply-system-in-spain/

#criticalinfrastructure #NoName057(16) #Valencia #Spain ZPentestAlliance #Telegram #watersystems #CyberAttack