Rain collection systems; SE Alaska (Haines, Hope: real estate, homes, invest)

[Truesdale]

I'm curious about the rain collection systems that I have seen in SE Alaska. Are they usually the only source of fresh water, or do they usually supplement a well? I'm wondering about the availability of drinking water as opposed to washing/flushing water.
Is freezing a problem for above ground tanks in the winter or is the average temperature generally high enough to keep the water in a liquid state?

[Xa'at]

You know, that is an excellent question. I'm not exactly sure, because I don't know personally anyone who has one, but based on common sense I would say...
1) it should not be your only source of freshwater because even though it is always raining it's really just drizzling and it would take a while for it to accumulate to anything substantial.
2) it would be drinkable- we don't have acid rain.


Hopefully someone with more experience will fill in my blanks.

[RAMFEB31]

When I was looking at properties in Haines, one seller, who was out of the city limits, was rather proud of his rain collection system which was underground with insulated pipes coming up so it is safe to assume an above ground tank would freeze. He also had a well with a pump but he said he rarely use it. It was probably because his electricity was a generator. There were no city electricity to his place yet. Haines, being on the coast have lots of rain. I imagine, if you have large enough tank and w/a little conservation, a family can survive year around on rain water only. But you would need to be in an area where there is lots of rain year around. That usually mean coastal regions.

[Truesdale]

Thanks for the responses. I have seen many above ground tanks on Mitkof Island, and see some references to them in real estate ads for homes on POW. Many of the advertised homes do have electricity, but I don't know if they have wells or not. I'm curious to know how far an average well on an ocean front property has to be drilled to find good water I know of one locally that had to be drilled 800' to get away from sulfur water and the well is only 100' away from a pristine lake. I need to do more investigating.