Systems and methods for precipitation collection

A system for harvesting water from precipitation, the system comprising:

• a collection surface adapted to receive precipitation through an opening during a precipitation event, the opening formed by a plurality of panels located along a periphery of the collection surface;
• at least one cover assembly having a take-up assembly adapted to extend a cover over at least a portion of the opening in response to a command received over a network corresponding to an identification of a triggering event based on water collection data,
• the cover assembly and the panels sealing the received precipitation from an outside atmosphere when the cover is extended,
• the cover made from one or more of a low haze and high transparency material and a material adapted to maximize solar gain;
• and
• at least one drain adapted to direct water harvested from the sealed precipitation to a water storage device.

A system for remotely monitoring and managing water harvesting from precipitation, the system comprising:

• one or more water collection devices, each of the water collection devices having a collection surface accessible via an opening, a cover being movable along the opening using a take-up assembly,
• the cover made from one or more of a low haze and high transparency material and a material adapted to maximize solar gain;
• one or more sensors configured to capture water collection data;
• and
• a computer system in communication with the one or more water collection devices over a network, the computer system having at least one processor executing a collection analyzer configured to identify a precipitation event based on the water collection data received from the one or more sensors, the collection analyzer issuing a command over the network to the one or more water collection devices to retract the cover using the take-up assembly to uncover the opening through which precipitation may be received onto the collection surface during the precipitation event, and
• configured to identify a triggering event based on the water collection data and to issue a command to the one or more water collection devices to extend the cover over the opening using the take-up assembly in response to identifying the triggering event.