Rainwater Harvesting
"When the well's dry, we know the WORTH of WATER."
Benjamin Franklin
CONSERVATION
in your
BACKYARD Photo courtesy of Innovative Water Solutions, Austin
WE CAN ALL HAVE AHAND IN ff
Increasing population and droughts in What is Rainwater Harvesting (RWH)?
Texas, coupled with decreasing water The State of Texas offers financial
supplies, have made water conservation Rainwater harvesting (RWH) is the incentives for rainwater harvesting systems.
measures even more critical. Rainwater collection and storage of rain, instead of Senate Bill 2 of the 77th Legislature
harvesting has become a popular solution allowing it to run off. Rainwater is exempts rainwater harvesting equipment
in Texas. collected from a roof-like surface and from sales tax,and allows local
redirected to a tank, cistern, deep governments to exempt rainwater
Rainwater catchment is an alternative to pit (well, shaft, or borehole), aquifer or a harvesting systems from ad valorem
using ground or surface water and it's an reservoir with percolation. Its uses include (property) taxes. For more information, visit
innovative approach anyone can use for watering gardens and lawns, indoor the Texas Water Development Board
efficient water management that provides plants, washing vehicles and if treated, it website at www.twdb.texas.gov.
many financial and environmental can be used as potable water.
benefits.
Benefits of Rainwater Harvesting
Environmental
stewardship
The biggest benefit is reducing the burden on the
water supply. It also prevents a valuable resource
from washing what is in the yard and street down
the drain. Plus, its eco friendly and socially
acceptable.
Provides water
in dry times
Rainwater harvesting will increase the retention
of water that is received during the rainy
periods to be used during the non-rainy periods.
Even in dry times, moisture can be collected
from dew on the rooftops.
Saving money in
the long run
Harvesting and using rainwater for yard and garden
can save money and water. It may take some time
to recoup the cost of installing the rainwater
harvesting system, but the water savings alone
makes the system a good alternative.
USDA NRCS Texas 02
Estimating rainwater capture
First you need to calculate the amount of space from which you The equation to calculate the approximate amount of rainfall from
will be collecting rainwater, sometimes referred to as the your roof is:
“footprint” of your roof, like a “bird’s eye” straight overhead view.
________ ft2 × ________ ft. × 7.48 gal/ft3 × .9 = ________ gallons
You can use the dimensions of your house, adding a bit for (catchment area) × (rainfall) × 7.48 gal/ft3 × (runoff coefficient) =
overhang. You will also need to estimate the runoff coefficient. gallons
The runoff coefficient accounts for the water loss resulting from For example, you are putting up a rainwater collection and harvesting
evaporation and minor infiltration; most impervious surfaces, such system on a detached double garage (22 x 24) - 528 ft2. You need to
as roofs or nonporous pavement can lose 5% to 20% of the rain add approximately 92 ft2 for overhang, so the footprint is
falling on them. For general purposes, it is estimated that the runoff approximately 620 ft2.
coefficient for asphalt roofs is .90, meaning it will lose about 10%.
If it rains ½ inch, you will collect approximately 167 gallons of water
When you calculate the amount of rainfall from one rain event, put from the roof of your garage:
the amount in feet, not inches. For example a half an inch of rain
is .04 ft. 620 ft2 × .04 ft × 7.48 gal/ft3 × .9 = 167 gallons
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Sources:
• Texas AgriLife Extension Service
Rainwater Harvesting
• The Texas Manual on Rainwater
• Harvesting Rainwater Volumes from
Roof Runoff
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Rainwater Harvest Systems
Rainwater harvesting systems can be as
simple as a retrofitted food storage barrel Basic Rain Barrel Components
to as elaborate as a certified installed downspout
system with purification and underground screen to keep mosquitos from
storage. breeding in the barrel
overflow to yard, rain garden or
It is not difficult or expensive to install on
a home or other buildings. There are additional barrel(s)
different sizes, shapes, materials and faucet
colors to fit your watering needs and hose and/or raised platform
personal style.
All systems have basics components,
which include a catchment surface,
conveyance system, storage, distribution,
and treatment. Parts can be purchased from
home improvement stores, farm and ranch
supply stores as well as online.
Rainwater is of superior quality: zero Rainwater is the best natural source to Elevating rain barrel allows gravity
hardness, sodium free, and nearly neutral pH nourish plants. flow and also room to put a watering
and rain is free! container under the spout.
USDA NRCS Texas 04
Rain Gardens
Rain gardens are another way of capturing or slowing down rainwater that
is environmentally and aesthetically friendly.
Photo courtesy of Texas AgriLife Extension and Dickson Bayou Watershed Partnership.
A rain garden is a bowl-shaped depression designed as a Choose native plants based on need for light, moisture, and soil.
garden to capture, hold, and absorb rainwater and can Vary plant structure, height, and flower color for seasonal appeal
prevent flooding and erosion. Rain gardens are often and butterfly habitat. A typical rain garden is between four and
located at the end of a roof gutter or drain spout, as a eight inches deep. This depth, proportionate to surface area, helps
buffer between the lawn and the street. Rain gardens assure water will infiltrate quickly and not pond. A rain garden is
slow the flow of rainwater from roofs, sidewalks, streets, typically 5 to 10 percent the size of the impervious surface that
parking lots, and other impervious surfaces, allowing the generates runoff. A good soil mix for rain gardens is 60 percent
water to penetrate the soil. sand, 15 percent topsoil, and 25 percent compost.
The soil cleans the water of pollutants before it enters the When designed properly, water in the rain garden should stand
storm drain and empties into our bayous and bays. This for no more than 24 to 48 hours, too short a period for
process helps keep more of the rainwater, and the storm mosquitoes to hatch.
water that finally enters the storm drain is cleaner.
Another benefit is rain gardens serve as habitats for wildlife such
as birds and butterflies. They are useful for residential,
commercial, and public areas. Above all, a rain garden is a
landscape amenity, blending beauty and function—an attractive
solution to water pollution.
Sources:
Rain Gardens by Texas AgriLife Extension
Texas Rain Garden Plant List
Rain Gardens
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Farm and Ranch Use
Water and Cost
Savings
The USDA-NRCS can help develop a conservation plan
for gutters and tank rain catchment systems that capture
the rain runoff from barn roof and other agricultural
structures. Just like in the backyard, the stored water
can be used for irrigating vegetables to conserve water
and electricity use.
Soil, plant and
crop protection
High tunnels can protect plants from high intensity rains
that can damage plants and the crop and wash away
valuable topsoil. Gutters on high tunnels can capture
rainwater for storage in rain catchment systems where it
can be used for irrigating when needed.
Rain gardens are
like wetlands
Rain gardens are like miniature natural wetlands that slow
down, capture and absorb water into the ground, reducing
runoff that can overload streams and cause flooding.
Runoff also can carry sediment, chemicals and other
substances that can impair waterways — but rain gardens
and wetlands trap them, protecting water quality.
USDA NRCS Texas 06
Incentives
The Texas Legislature allows the exemption of part or all of the assessed value of the property
on which approved water conservation initiatives, such as rainwater harvesting, occur.
For more information on these incentives visit the Texas Water Development Board at
https://www.twdb.texas.gov/innovativewater/rainwater/index.asp.
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USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service
CONTACT:
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[email protected] ~ www.tx.nrcs.usda.gov
June 2021
