Green Term Defined: Rainwater Harvesting

Rain water harvesting is the collection of water for reuse before it reaches the aquifer.

figure 5

Uses include landscape irrigation, car washing, flushing toilets, drinking water, and / or washing clothes. Rain water provides protection against short-term droughts for keeping your garden alive. It can also reduce the impact of run off in neighborhood streams and ponds. A rain water collection system can also be used in the event that public water supply becomes unusable or polluted.

figure 4

Rain water harvesting systems are easy to set up. You need a collection system like a gutter and roof and a storage system like a barrel or cistern. Adding a filter can prolong the life of your storage system and reduce the first flush pollutants from getting into the system.

IMG_6117

In some areas in the mid-west it is illegal to collect rain water. Charlottesville now has a Storm water Fee based on your impervious surface on your property. This fee may be reduced by having a rainwater harvesting system on your property.

Subscribe to Blog via Email

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Related Posts

Northern Lights from Afton Mountain

Northern Lights from Afton Mountain

We have had the honor to design three houses in Elk Rock Meadows at the top of Afton Mountain. The views are ...
Now hiring: Office Manager / Bookkeeper

Now hiring: Office Manager / Bookkeeper

Now hiring: Office Manager / Bookkeeper Gaines Group Architects is growing again. We believe strongly in being in ...
Albemarle County Custom Homes and Renovations

Albemarle County Custom Homes and Renovations

Albemarle County Custom Homes and Renovations Our firm was founded in Charlotteville, Virginia over 36 years ago. ...
Historic Renovations

Historic Renovations

Historic Renovations We love saving historic structures and implementing building science knowledge so that they ...

Discover more from The Gaines Group Architects

Subscribe now to keep reading and get access to the full archive.

Continue reading