When the spring and summer months approach and the average household demand for water increases more than 40%, for outdoor gardens, lawns, and maybe preparedness, A 1000 square foot roof can capture more than 20,000 gallons of free water. You’ll need a Rainwater Harvesting system for that free water. How Much Does a Rainwater Collection System Cost?
Starting with a DIY Rainwater Harvesting system:
$200.00-55 gal Drum-Diverter-Pump
$501 to $2,500-Drums up to 5,000 gals.
$2,500 to $12,000-above-ground 10,000 gal. cisterns
$12,000 or more high-end underground cisterns start around $12,000 & may go up to $22,000 with labor costs & additional features
If you are thinking about Harvesting Rainwater and you live in a house with a roof well, you’re in luck your roof is a natural Rain Harvesting machine that is able to collect a huge amount of Rainwater with a minimal amount of equipment and low cost. There are a few ways to go about it.
How Much Does a Rainwater Collection System Cost
During the summer, much of our potable water is used outdoors. We fill our pools, wash our cars, and water our lawns and gardens. This water must be chemically treated to make it safe for drinking, which is great for you, but not necessarily great for your plants.
Ranging from simple to elaborate design, rain collection systems can vary greatly in cost. The average cost for homeowners is between $120 and $21,000. You can collect fresh water without a
the steep initial investment for a basic system, such as a single rainwater barrel.
Cisterns, on the other hand, are where costs can quickly add up. Additional features like filtration systems can drive prices up into the five-figure range. Cisterns, on the other hand, are where costs can quickly add up. Additional features like filtration systems can drive prices up into the five-figure range.
How do you collect rainwater for use in the garden? On the most basic level, there are five components. First of all, you need a catchment surface, something the water runs off. For the home gardener, that’s your roof. During a 1-inch rainfall, 90 square feet of the roof will shed enough water to fill a 55-gallon drum.
On the most basic level, Rainwater Collection Systems has five components.
- First of all, you need a catchment surface, a platform where the water runs off. For the home gardener, that’s your roof. During a 1-inch rainfall, 90 square feet of roof will shed enough water to fill a 55-gallon drum.
- Next, you’ll need a way to direct the flow of rainwater collection. A Rainwater Diverter That’s your gutters and downspouts, the same downspouts that direct the water out to your yard or storm sewers.
- Now you’ll need a basket filter with a fine screen to keep debris and bugs from your rain barrel, the next component of your rainwater collection system.
- This barrel should be wide and have a removable lid so it can be cleaned. A 55-gallon drum is perfect. So now that you’re using rain barrels, how do you get the water to your garden? That’s the last component for collecting rainwater for your garden.
- You’ll need a spigot installed low on the barrel or an Aluminum Drum Rotary Hand Pump,
An additional spigot can be added higher on the drum for filling watering cans. Ideally, when using rain barrels, there should also be a method for directing overflow. This can be a hose connected to a second barrel or a piece of drainpipe that leads to the original ground pipe to lead the water away.
Under $500 Collection System
For under $500, homeowners have several options for fresh rainwater collection. Barrels and cisterns up to 150 pounds are both available in this price range, with a plastic model for each available for around $120.
In some cases, you may be able to get a simple rainwater barrel for free. Some local water departments have programs available where qualified homeowners can receive a free rain collection kit for being a resident.
$501 to $2,500 System
Larger rain barrels up to 5,000 gallons are available in this price range. Investing in a barrel with this much space is best for homeowners looking to use natural rainwater for various things, like cleaning, cooking, running appliances, and even watering the lawn. Some brands sell smaller cisterns (up to 2,000 gallons) for just under $2,300. You may opt for a more basic barrel over a cistern with less capacity to save money here.
How Do you Filter Rainwater from a Roof?
Best filtration treating potable rainwater:
- Leaf Guard Filters-catch most leaves & twigs
- Downspout filters-catch large particulate
- Sediment Filter size measured in microns 25-micron-5-micron filters
- Activated carbon kills bacteria 1-5 microns
- UV Sterilization kills bacteria still present in H2O
- RO
- Chlorine .……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. Read more
What is Rainwater Harvesting and the Best Way to Utilize Rainwater?
Rainwater harvesting is collecting the run-off from a structure and storing it for later use, typically rain will collect from a roof in gutters & then into a storage tank.
Providing free H2O for:
Drinking H2O
lawn & garden
Washing cars
Washing pets
Re-filling pools
Indoor toilets & washers
Bathing
Fire Protection ……………………………………………………………………………………… Read more
$2,500 to $12,000 Collection System
For under $12,000, homeowners can choose from several above-ground barrels and cisterns. You may even be able to get two or three smaller barrels to increase holding capacity.
In this price range, you can also spring for more complex installation methods. For example, you may opt to hook your barrel(s) up to gutter downspouts or even hook it up to your lawn irrigation system. For a singular barrel installation, pouring new concrete for an in-ground cistern may be possible if you shop around for a deal.
$12,000 or More Collection System
High-end underground cisterns start around $12,000 and may go up to $22,000 with labor costs and additional features. At this range, you’re likely setting up an off-grid water system with filtration capabilities that will be a large portion of your water use in the home. These devices function similarly to well water. Drilling a new well costs $15 to $60 per square foot, so that may be something to consider based on your needs and budget.
What are some techniques of Rainwater Harvesting?
- Well Recharging- H2O diverted to wells
- Rooftop Harvesting-H2O diverted to tanks
- Trench Recharging-trenches dug between crops
- Soakway-H2O held in the upper layer of farm soil
- Recharging Bore Wells-rain diverted to aquifers
- Street Runoff Harvesting-rain diverted from streets
- Percolation pit-H2O for gardens .……………………………………………………………………………………. Read more
JimGalloway Author/Editor
