I have a book at home that shows how to capture downspout rainwater into barrels, for use on lawns. It supposedly pays for itself in a year through savings of water used to water the lawn and garden, but not here...we got 12” of rain two years ago, and 6” this year.
In California there was a guy a while back who was fined for using water falling on his house lot for the purpose of watering his garden.
The state claimed that the water needed to be allowed to flow into the public reservoirs, I assume so that they could charge him for it when he turned on the tap.
The world is upside down. Hide your water barrels.
I used to capture rain in 50gal barrels at the Family Farm, for re-use. Some years were good; others were bad. It’s hit or miss, most times, but every little bit helps.