Staggering Amount of Water

Recently we were asked to measure for a local College Station apartment complex for the rainwater harvesting potential. We knew there would be plenty of roof space for harvesting but the sheer amount of water that can be collected was mind blowing, even for us since we work with these numbers every day. 

If we collect from every surface in this apartment complex, one inch of rain harvests 53,181 gallons of rainwater. Unfortunately it will not be feasible to capture from every surface since we have limited space for tanks to hold the water. On average (taken from data from the past 10 years) we have had 35 inches of rain annually in College Station, Texas. This means that we could capture 1.8 million gallons of water from this one apartment complex alone in town. 


This is a staggering amount of water that can be harvested and used for numerous purposes. Landscaping is the first use that comes to mind. Filling pools or fountains to beautify the property is another. Potable water use is also an option for drinking, showering and washing clothes etc. 

It is more of a challenge to retrofit an existing complex, but it can be done. We are going to propose capturing from the roofs nearest the areas the owner would like to see the water be used for since that makes the most sense from an economical standpoint. It seems a shame to waste the rest, but since we simply don't have an empty lot to put a 50,000 gallon tank on the property, we are faced with doing the best we can with the allotted space. 

It is easier to plan for rainwater harvesting with new construction because you can plan where the tanks and everything will go from the start. Retention ponds and drainage can be placed and set where those can be collection points as well into tanks to reduce evaporation issues. 

I am thrilled to see business owners starting to step up and attempt to at least see what it would cost to increase their green footprint. Food for thought is that maybe one day, in areas of severe drought, water of this magnitude could be harvested not only for use, but to be purchased by the cities for treatment and usage for consumption. 

As always, comments and/or questions are always relevant and welcome. 

RainDrop Harvesting Solutions, LLC
www.RainDropSavers.com