Rainwater is one of the most accessible resources in a survival or off-grid situation, and YouTube is full of people showing exactly how they capture and store it. We’ve pulled together the ten most-viewed videos on the topic and ranked them by actual view count, so you know you’re watching what millions of others have already found useful.
Across the list you’ll find a mix of short tutorials, long-form deep-dives, historical walkthroughs, and real homesteaders showing the systems they live on every day. Whether you want a quick six-minute overview or a half-hour build-along, there’s something here for you.
1. How to HARVEST RAINWATER from your roof
Andrew Millison · 1.1M views · 7:49 · 2021
Permaculture instructor Andrew Millison presents this polished, classroom-style breakdown of roof-based rainwater harvesting, which has racked up well over a million views. At just under eight minutes it's a tight, professional overview suited to someone who wants the big picture from a credentialed teacher without a big time commitment.
2. How Amish Store Rain Water Without Tanks
Frugal Solutions · 702.5K views · 38:27 · 2025
This nearly 39-minute video from Frugal Solutions looks at how Amish households store rainwater using cisterns and simple catchment systems instead of modern tanks. It's a long, slow-paced deep-dive best for viewers who want an alternative approach explained thoroughly rather than a quick answer.
This one can only be played on YouTube – the channel has embedding turned off. Open it on YouTube.
3. Rain Water Harvesting System Top Mistakes! Don't Make These!
Country Living Experience: A Homesteading Journey · 690.1K views · 11:08 · 2024
A homesteading channel walks through the most common mistakes people make with rainwater systems, framed as a 'don't do this' guide. At eleven minutes it's a practical mid-length watch that pairs well with any build video on this list, especially for first-timers worried about getting something wrong.
4. 3 Way To Make Rainwater Drinkable
Homesteadin' Hawai'i · 347.9K views · 8:29 · 2022
Homesteadin' Hawai'i demonstrates three different filtration approaches for making collected rainwater drinkable, including UV and Berkey-style filters. This sub-nine-minute demo suits anyone whose main concern is the drinking-water side of rainwater rather than the collection itself.
5. Best Ways to Collect Rainwater
GrowVeg · 281.1K views · 6:35 · 2021
GrowVeg's Ben presents a clean, easy-to-follow tutorial aimed at gardeners who want to collect rain for their plots. At six and a half minutes it's one of the shortest videos here, ideal for a fast, well-produced overview with a gardening focus rather than hardcore survival framing.
6. How We Collect, Store, and Filter Rainwater For Everyday Use
Our Self-Reliant Life · 183.2K views · 8:27 · 2021
The couple behind Our Self-Reliant Life walks through the actual system their household lives on, covering collection, storage, and filtering in one video. At eight and a half minutes it's a real-world case study rather than a staged demo, great for viewers who want to see what daily reliance on rainwater actually looks like.
7. How to catch clean rainwater DIY Rainwater Harvesting
Grant Burton · 117.6K views · 19:12 · 2023
Grant Burton delivers a step-by-step DIY build video focused on a first-flush diverter and leaf catcher using basic home tools. At just over 19 minutes, this one suits the hands-on viewer ready to follow along with a project rather than someone browsing for ideas.
8. Build This GENIUS Medieval Rainwater Harvesting System
Medieval Wisdom · 111K views · 31:27 · 2025
Medieval Wisdom takes a historical angle, exploring a medieval-style water system and seven ancient techniques over 31 minutes. It's the longest, most niche entry here, best for viewers who enjoy the history-and-skills crossover format and want depth over speed.
9. Rain Collection – Quick Deploying Rain Catchment
survivalresources · 104.5K views · 15:47 · 2014
Survivalresources demonstrates a quick-deploying rain catchment setup aimed at urban and suburban viewers without gutters, with an emphasis on putting it up and taking it down fast. This 2014 video runs about 16 minutes and is the most survival-specific pick on the list for people working with improvised materials.
10. Survival Rain Water Catchment
SensiblePrepper · 53.4K views · 9:31 · 2012
SensiblePrepper shows off a barrel-based catchment system built from roughly $150 of hardware-store parts, pitched at garden use or survival drinking water. This older 2012 upload runs under ten minutes and suits budget-minded viewers who want a simple, store-bought-components approach.
Ranked by YouTube view count as of October 22, 2026. View counts move around, so the order here reflects the day this list was compiled. All videos belong to their respective creators – watching them here plays them directly from YouTube, so views and any ad revenue still go to the channel.
