Water Filtration Straws

More than one billion people – one sixth of the world’s population - are without access to safe water supply. So one sixth of the world's population is suffering from waterborne diseases, of which over 6,000 – mainly children – die each day by consuming unsafe drinking water.

A product called "LifeStraw" was developed as a practical response to the billions of people who are still without access to a clean water supply. A LifeStraw is a personal, low-cost water purification tool with a life time of 700 litres – approximately one year of water consumption for one person. At less than 10 inches long, the device can filter up to 185 gallons (700 liters) of water at a low cost of no more than a couple of dollars. The device will kill 100% of bacteria and 99% of viruses in water that passes through it. The device filters water teeming with typhoid-, cholera- and diarrhea-causing microorganisms drinkable, but the device does not filter heavy metals such as iron or fluoride nor does it remove parasites like cryptosporidium or giardia.

The "LifeStraw" device is made of halogenated resin, one-micron filtration wool, and a charcoal filter to reduce odor, chlorine, asbestos, herbicides, and other undesirable properties.

Collecting Rainwater

I find it necessary to harness the surface water for use at a later stage.
Why not use the natural resource that is given to us?!?
Many governments are willing to fund the installation of rain water collection systems.
The systems that are being marketed can vary from customizable barrels, cisterns and tanks. These systems may need dedicated piping that include filtration of debris and pumping to fixtures that you may choose to operate using stored water.
The start up cost are relatively inexpensive, and you conserve water used from a municipality. I view the only downside to a dual system is the uncertainty of the rainfall, at times there may not be enough water to use in your system. This is also why a "dual" system (still linked to a municipality) would be a good idea.
But why not save a little precious resource and green cash!?!

Dry Swales or Wet Swales

Wet Swales:

Wet swales are grassed or vegetated open channel capable of temporarily storing water. These swales are usually constructed directly within existing soils and should be designed to store water approximately twenty-four hours. Wet swales have water quality treatment similar to wetlands, which are primarily focused on settling suspended solids, groundwater recharge, and microbial breakdown of pollutants through their use of vegetation. Wet swales may also reduce the velocity of storm water runoff and promote infiltration.

Dry Swales:

Dry swales are a type of open vegetated channel used to treat water quality and storm water runoff. Water runoff from a storm is temporarily held in a pool or series of pools by checkdams or a ditchblock. With dry swales, an underdrain system is installed with permeable gravel incasing a perforated pipe that filters runoff before sending it back into the stormdrain system or a retention pond. Dry swales are a good option in that they discourage long-standing water and make it possible to mow the area even shortly after rainfall.