Top 5 Homeowner Questions About Rainwater Harvesting

By Evelyn Witterholt. 

If you are interested in collecting and reusing rainwater, we have the answers to all your pressing questions. 

More and more people are looking for ways to make their homes as sustainable as possible. If you are a homeowner who is looking to adopt greener practices, you might have come across the term “rainwater harvesting.” The practice of capturing, storing and reusing rainwater has been growing in popularity, but the practice of it can seem a bit daunting to newcomers. 

Here are the answers to some top homeowner questions about harvesting rainwater: 

What is rainwater harvesting? 

Rainwater harvesting is when you collect and store rainwater from your roof as opposed to letting it run off into the ground. According to Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, people all over the world are adopting this practice because it reduces the demand on water supplies and reduces contamination of surface water.  

How can you harvest rainwater? 

Rainwater is harvested by a water catchment system. Basic harvesting systems include three components: 

1. A way to collect the rain, such as your roof  
2. A device that directs your water, like a downspout or a gutter 
3. A storage system, such as a barrel or a well 

An intricate system will have a filtration system that will sift dirt and debris out of the water. These systems are more ideal for homeowners and facilities that are looking to drink the water. In order to get safe drinking water, a system will need proper filtration, a pump, a flow meter and backflow prevention system. 

What can you use harvested rainwater for? 

Harvested rainwater has many uses. If you are sticking with the basic catchment system, you should really only use the water you collect for watering your garden or grey water uses (toilet or shower water). If you are willing to invest in the more complex system, then you could be able to drink the rainwater so long as you have proper filtration and boil it before using it to get rid of any possible contaminants. According to Starre Vartan from Tree Hugger, other uses for rainwater include:  

• Gardening 
• Car washing 
• Feeding livestock 
• Fountains 
• Swimming pools 

Are there any disadvantages to harvesting rainwater? 

Harvesting systems can require quite a bit of upkeep, so homeowners who don’t have a lot of free time might want to reconsider. It is also fairly expensive to build a water system, costing anywhere from $120 - $21,000. If you live in an area where it doesn’t rain often, you may not be able to trust your rainwater supply for all your water. 

The type of roof you have could also put you at a disadvantage for rainwater harvesting. Starre Vartan writes that the best types of roofs to harvest rainwater are metal and slate roofs. So, if you had another type of roof, such as an asphalt roof, you could potentially cause leaks in your home. 

Are there any regulations I have to follow? 

Different states have different regulations when it comes to harvesting rainwater. The Federal Energy Management Program has a great map you can use to see where your state stands on the matter. Many states have minor regulations and some states have none at all. The states that have the tightest regulations are Colorado and Nevada.