I’ve always leaned on rain barrels too, especially for the garden, but I just don’t trust them as my sole source in a real emergency. Years back, we put in a hand pump on the old well out back. It was a bit of an investment, but knowing I can draw water even if the power’s out gives me a lot of peace of mind. The pump takes some elbow grease, but it’s pretty straightforward and durable—just needs a good cover so debris doesn’t fall in.
Cisterns are solid too, but they do need a bit more upkeep, especially with cleaning and making sure critters can’t get in. I helped a neighbor set up a large underground cistern last year, and the biggest challenge was keeping the water safe for drinking—sometimes folks forget how fast algae or bacteria can move in!
Curious if anyone has a system for purifying bigger batches at once? I just keep iodine tablets and a gravity filter on hand, but I wonder if there’s a really reliable bulk option
