Before indoor plumbing became commonplace, rainwater was an important water source for many Americans. Barrels or cisterns captured water that would then be used to bathe, wash clothes, drink, and water small kitchen gardens. Both the Paw Paw Post Office and Pinecraig had cisterns designed to catch rainwater. Rain barrels continue to be a great way to help conserve water and protect local water sources. By collecting water in rain barrels, runoff is prevented from entering and potentially harming local streams and rivers. Although we can now water our gardens with tap water, rainwater offers a much safer alternative as tap water can contain chemicals damaging to plant growth.