Why Collect Rainwater????

• Reduces energy used to pump water
• Did you know that Sierra Nevada water from the Feather River runs through the Sacramento River delta and is pumped up hill over 3,000 feet before it is delivered into the Los Angeles basin.  Overall, California uses 19% of its electricity, 30% of its natural gas, and over 88 billion gallons of diesel fuel per year to move water from the source to where it is consumed!
  
• Reduces stress on old water delivery infrastructure
• Did you know approximately 15% of water pumped out of the Carmel River and Seaside Aquifer is lost to leaks or breaks in the infrastructure.  15% of 14,000 acre feet annually pumped is approximately 2,100 acre feet or 684.3 million gallons lost!
• Reduces storm water runoff and first flush issues
• Did you know a major source of pollution in the Monterey Bay Marine Sanctuary results from storm water runoff?  Annual studies by various groups that monitor "first flush" runoff into the bay show higher levels of oil, bacteria, nutrients, metals, sediment, other chemicals, and trash originating from parking lots, streets, and yards.  What's running off your yard?
• Provides a source for water when groundwater is unavailable
  Did you know you can collect .623 gallons per square foot of catchment space for every 1 inch of rain?  Even if you don't have access to municipal water or groundwater via a well, you can collect rainwater for your needs.  It isn't unusal in different parts of the U.S. or around the world for the only source of water to be rainwater.  Do you know where your water comes from? 
• Generally pure, sodium free, with zero hardness
  Did you know rainwater is free of salt and other minerals normally found in groundwater.  Groundwater begins as rainwater and picks up these elements after coming in contact with the earth.  Catch it before it comes in contact with the earth and you have relatively clean water other than what it picks up off your roof.
  
• Relatively free after initial installation costs                                                                                                                                  Costs for rainwater harvesting equipment breakdown into several categories.
  
  1. The size of the tank you want to install.  Tanks range from a few hundred dollars for 500 gallons to approx $2000 for a 5000 gallon tank.  Delivery charges are over and above the cost of the tank.
     
  2. Local gov'ts may also have rules for larger tanks that may require a concrete pad, adding cost.
     
  3. Whether or not you install a pump or just use gravity flow.  A good pump such as a Grundfos MQ3-45 can run $500 plus.
  4.  Sched 40 PVC connections and pipe can run several hundred dollars for a simple set up or more if your tanks are further away from your catchment surface.  The pipe gets more expensive as the diameter increases so don't use larger pipe then you need.  Your rainwater harvesting specialist should be able to tell you what size pipe you need based on your catchment surface and rainfall.
     
  5. If you live on the side of a hill and have to carve out some flat space for your tanks a landscaper may have to install several retaining walls and compact base rock and decomposed granite or install concrete.  This will add significantly to your cost.
  6. Lastly, labor is costly.  Plumbers can charge anywhere from $75 to $100 per hour where I live.  Landscapers with rainwater specialists typically charge less from $50 to $70 per hour. 
     

• It is another way to reduce your carbon footprint!