What is Rainfall Harvesting and Why is it Important?

Water is our most precious natural resource and something that most of us take for granted. We are now increasingly becoming aware of the importance of water to our survival and its limited supply.

The harvesting of rainwater simply involves the collection of water from surfaces on which rain falls, and subsequently storing this water for later use. Normally water is collected from the roofs of buildings and stored in rainwater tanks. Water can also be collected in dams from rain falling on the ground and producing runoff. Either way, the water collected can be considered to be precious.

The collection of rainwater from the roofs of buildings can easily take place within our cities and towns, not just in rural areas. All that is necessary to capture this water is to direct the flow of rainwater from roof gutters to a rainwater storage tank. By doing this, water can be collected and used for various uses. If you are from the city, it is possible to replace a substantial portion of your fresh water requirements by the capture and storage of rainwater from your roof.

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The new Texas Manual on Rainwater Harvesting is now available online from the Texas Water Development Board (TWDB). The manual includes chapters on rainwater harvesting system components, water quality and treatment, water balance and system sizing, cost estimation, and financial and other incentives. The manual also provides information and photographs of “case studies” – currently installed rainwater harvesting facilities in Texas .

Download the Texas Manual and Rainwater Harvesting here

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