I have this idea of a rain water recovery system that uses inexpensive 50-gal drums, one solar panel, and an electric water heater. I think that this system will allow a family to have a full day of hot and cold water, replentishable through the daily use of a hand crank pump. This system could be used daily, indefinately, much easier if you replaced the hand crank pump with an electric pump that would keep the second floor primary storage containers continuously full. I think this would provide an unlimited amount of water for an average family if you had enough first floor secondary storage 50-gal drums. Our family uses the refrigerator door drinking water recepticle for our drinking water. This recepticle and one additional water faucet at the kitchen sink, both connected directly to the well/city water source, is what I feel comfortable with.