Rainwater Harvesting: Worth the Effort for Preppers?

[AquaFern1028]

Has anyone tracked how much rainwater they're actually able to collect and store long-term? Wondering if the setup and maintenance is worth it compared to stored tap water, especially with unpredictable rainfall. Insights or regrets from folks who've committed to rain harvesting systems?

 

[AquaFern1028]

For me, the rain barrels fill up fast in spring but run dry by late summer—maintenance is easy enough, but it’s not reliable as the only water source. Anyone tried larger cisterns?