Steps to Ensure Success

• Establish a vision that embraces sustainable principles and an integrated design approach
• Develop a clear statement of the project’s vision, goals, design criteria, and priorities.
• Develop a project budget that covers green building measures. Allocate contingencies for additional research and analysis of specific options. Seek sponsorship or grant opportunities.
• Seek advice of a design professional with green building experience.
• Select a design and construction team that is committed to the project vision. Modify the RFQ/RFP selection process to ensure the contractors have appropriate qualifications to identify, select, and implement an integrated system of green building measures.
• Develop a project schedule that allows for systems testing and commissioning.
• Develop contract plans and specifications to ensure that the building design is at a suitable level of building performance.
• Create effective incentives and oversight

Rainwater Harvesting

Water has long been a precious commodity in Texas. In the past, 50 percent of water used in Central Texas was from mineral rich groundwater. Our future growth will have a great impact on our water reserves. If the rapid population growth continues, our groundwater will be exhausted within twenty years. Another factor of growth is that there is more ground surface being covered over, and impervious surfaces prevent groundwater from being recharged. Surface water evaporates quickly in our climate and cannot keep up with the expected demand.

On-site rainwater collection is one means to augment our fresh water needs and can prevent rapid stormwater accumulation from roof areas. Harvested Rainwater is rainwater that is captured from the roofs of buildings. Harvested rainwater can be used both indoors and for irrigation.

Why Harvest Rainwater

Can rain save you money? Yes. Even if you live where annual rainfall averages only 12 inches, you can save money by collecting and storing rainwater and using it to irrigate your trees, shrubs and lawn.

Efficient water use is increasingly important to Texas. With the state’s growing population and limited supply of both groundwater and surface water, Texans must use water wisely. Rainwater harvesting is an innovative approach anyone can use.

Rainwater harvesting captures, diverts and stores rainwater for later use. Rainwater can even be used for drinking, with proper treatment. But the easiest way to use stored rainwater is for landscaping. In many communities, 30 to 50 percent of the total water is used for landscape irrigation. If that demand for a limited natural resource can be reduced, everyone benefits.

Harvesting rainwater for use in the home landscape:

• Saves you money by reducing your water bills.
• Reduces demand on the municipal water supply.
• Makes efficient use of a valuable resource.
• Reduces flooding, erosion and the contamination of surface water with sediments, fertilizers and pesticides in rainfall run-off.

Rainwater is good for plants because it is free of salts and other minerals that harm root growth. As rainwater percolates into the soil, it forces salts down and away from root zones, allowing roots to grow better and making plants more drought tolerant.

Rainwater harvesting can be used both in large-scale landscapes, such as parks, schools, commercial sites, parking lots and apartment complexes, and in small residential landscapes. Whether your landscape is large or small, developed or new, the principles described here can help you install a rainwater harvesting system.

How Rainwater Harvesting Works

A rainwater harvesting system consists of the supply (rainfall), the demand (water needed by plants), and a system for collecting water and moving it to the plants. Simple systems distribute rainwater immediately. Complex systems store some or all of the rainwater for later use.

Rainfall. “Run-off” is the rainwater that flows off a surface. If the surface is impermeable (for example, pavement, concrete, roofs), run-off occurs immediately. If the surface is permeable, run-off will not occur until the surface is saturated. Run-off can be harvested (captured) and used immediately to water plants or stored for later use.

Plant Water Requirements. The types and numbers of plants in your landscape, along with their growth stages and sizes, determine the amount of water your plants need to be healthy. Because rainfall varies throughout Texas, different plants have become adapted to conditions in different regions of the state. Plants native to your region are the best choices for your landscape because their water requirements are usually met by normal rainfall amounts.

Water Collection and Distribution System. Rainwater collection and distribution systems can be incorporated into almost any existing site, although it is easier to incorporate them into new construction.

Useful Links and Resources

Download the following pdf documents for great information on rainwater harvesting:

The Texas Manual on Rainwater Harvesting: Texas Water Development Board

Rainwater Harvesting: Russell A. Persyn, Dana O. Porter and Valeen A. Silvy

Watch a video called “Start to Finish – Rain Harvesting”