Here is an example of a person who took their house off the grid while living in the middle of a big city. In Brooklyn we can do everything he did. We need to get around the false belief that our brownstones need to be connected to the mains sewer lines. If we do it correctly we not only don’t need to be connected to the mains sewer but our neighbourhood will have richer and healthier plants without any health or smell hazzards.
The same goes for potable water. We get enough rain to feed a normal house. We can collect healthy drinking water if done correctly.
Brooklyn brownstones need to be taken off the grid as much as possible, both as insurance for homeowners if the city infrastructure continues to deteriorate and break down and for price reasons. It is cheaper to do it yourself. It is better for the environment too.