The Rainwater Observer

The 5 Questions That I Hear Every Day About Rainwater Harvesting

On average, I meet face-to-face with about 5 new people every week who are seriously thinking about building a rainwater collection system. There are five main questions that I hear nearly every day regarding rainwater harvesting, some of which you may be thinking right now.

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Urban Rainwater System- 3,000 gallons

Collecting rainwater is easy in the urban landscape. Just find an unused space and choose tanks that will fit nicely.

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Converting a Swimming Pool to a Rainwater Tank

Rather than paying to have an unwanted swimming pool removed, it is possible to convert it to a rainwater harvesting tank and then cover with soil and sod for an attractive and environmentally sustainable lawn.

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Commercial Rainwater System- 20K gallons

Installed for the purpose of providing irrigation water to a growing business, this system takes advantage of 8,000 square feet of collection area and two (2) 10,000 gallon metal tanks. A drought-tolerant landscape was installed to minimize water demand during the hottest and driest months of the year.

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Rainwater System Installation, Part 2

The tank is complete and the system is now ready to collect rainwater. In this post, you can see the vortex filtration systems being installed as well as the extensive conveyance system.

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Utah Bill 128- Rainwater Rights

Current law prohibits those who don't own water shares from collecting rainwater, which is considered state property because it feeds state waterways and recharges underground aquifers. Senate Bill 128, sponsored by Sen. Scott Jenkins, R-Plain City, allows individuals to collect and store up to 2,500 gallons of rainwater at one time.

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Does Rainwater Collection Reduce Stream Flow?

Colorado House Bill 1129 seeks to ease restrictions on rainwater harvesting in urban areas and would establish a pilot program in which extensive studies would be conducted to determine whether rainwater collection reduces downstream water flows.

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For the Future of Water Efficiency, Look to Australia

Here are some of the recommendations from the Australia delegation touring U.S. cities to share their experiences with water efficiency as a result of prolonged drought (from meeting 1/13/09).

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Getting Ready for Rain in West Texas

Especially in the driest climates such as West Texas, rainwater harvesting provides a way to make the best possible use of our most valuable resource- water. This article explains the basics of rainwater harvesting and some of the lesser known benefits of rainwater.

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Payoff on Rainwater System As Little As 3 Years

"Because water rates have changed, we're looking at a pay-back of less than three years."

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