I’ve had both systems running for a few years now, and honestly, the “set it and forget it” idea is just wishful thinking. Rain barrels are great, but if you don’t keep up with cleaning, yo...
Not sure I’d call rain barrels high-maintenance, at least compared to greywater. I’ve had a basic barrel setup for years and just toss in a mosquito dunk every month or so—never had much of an issue. Greywater, though, that’s where I ran into headaches. Filters clog, pipes get gunky, and the cost adds up fast if you want it done right. For me, rainwater’s way less hassle and cheaper to keep going. Maybe it depends on your setup, but I’ll take cleaning a barrel over fiddling with greywater lines any day.
For me, rainwater’s way less hassle and cheaper to keep going.
I get where you’re coming from, but I’ve actually had the opposite experience. My greywater setup (just laundry-to-landscape, nothing fancy) has been pretty hands-off once I got it dialed in. Maybe I just lucked out with the right filter? Rain barrels, though—between the gunk from my old roof and all the pine needles, I’m cleaning them out more than I expected. Like you said, “Maybe it depends on your setup,” but for me, greywater’s been less of a hassle overall. Guess it’s really a case-by-case thing.
Honestly, I’m with you on the rain barrel hassle. People always talk about how “simple” it is, but nobody mentions the sludge and leaf soup you end up scooping out every few weeks. I swear, my gutters are like a pine needle magnet. I tried those mesh guards, but then the water just overshoots the barrel half the time.
Greywater’s not perfect either, but once I figured out the right filter and stopped using the super sudsy detergent, it’s been pretty chill. I just check the lines every now and then, and that’s about it. Plus, I don’t have to worry about running out if it doesn’t rain for a while.
Guess it really does come down to your setup and what you’re willing to deal with. For me, I’d rather mess with a filter than dig out soggy roof gunk. But hey, if rainwater works for you, more power to you. Just don’t ask me to clean your barrels...
I swear, my gutters are like a pine needle magnet.
Rain barrels definitely have their quirks, but I think a lot of the gunk issues can be managed if you tweak the setup a bit. I know you mentioned mesh guards not working out, but have you tried a first flush diverter? It’s a simple add-on that dumps the initial dirty water and debris before it hits your barrel. Cuts down on sludge big time. I get the appeal of greywater—less weather-dependent—but rainwater can be pretty low-maintenance if you dial in the right pre-filters. I’ve set up a few for folks who barely touch their barrels all season except to use the water. Just my two cents.
First flush diverters help, but honestly, pine needles still sneak through and clog things up over time. In my experience, rainwater setups need more hands-on cleaning than people expect, especially if you’ve got a lot of trees overhead. Greywater’s got its own headaches, but at least you’re not fighting gutter debris every season.
