Patent attributes
Implementations described and claimed herein provide systems and methods for harvesting water from precipitation while limiting loss due to evaporation and sublimation. In one implementation, precipitation is received on a collection surface through an opening during a precipitation event. The received precipitation is sealed on the collection surface from an outside atmosphere using at least one cover assembly in response to a triggering event concluding the receipt of the precipitation. The at least one cover assembly includes a take-up assembly adapted to extend a cover from a first cross bar to a second cross bar over at least a portion of the opening. Water harvested from the sealed precipitation is directed to a water storage device. Other implementations described and claimed herein provide systems and methods for remote monitoring and management of water collection devices.