Rainwater Harvesting

Innovative Water Solutions designs and installs all sizes of rainwater collection systems, but most commonly small urban systems.

They offer cisterns ranging from 300-9000 gallons for urban homes and 10,000-20,000 gallons for larger homes in the hill country. These cisterns are available in different sizes, colors and materials.

The cost is determined by the area of the roof used to collect water. Typically customers install a cistern at the back of their home and only use water from this half of their roof. IWS sub-contracts for the installation of the gutters, but a typical cost of a 1000 gal cistern and complete system is $3/gal.

*Rainwater Harvesting Systems*
	Rainwater Harvesting Incentive Program
	Bowerbird Construction
	Keith Miller - Owner PO Box 698 Dripping Springs, TX 78620 Phone: 512-858-5395 Fax: 512-858-2061 bowerbird@texas.net Mobile: 512-461-3851	Bowerbird Construction installs various sizes of rainwater collection systems, including ferrocement tanks. An estimated cost for a complete system comprising the cistern (depending on the size), and the pumps and equipment, is approximately $3,800, but varies if additional plumbing is required. A 2000 gal cistern costs about $10,000, a 30,000 gal tank, $14,000, and a 40,000 gal tank, $16,800. Other sizes are available. Bowerbird Construction uses a 12gal/min UV light instead of harmful chemicals. For new residences, it is recommended that plumbers install the collection lines for the system.
	Innovative Water Solutions
	Chris Maxwell-Gaines PO Box 9963 Austin, TX 78766 Phone: 512-490-0932 Mobile: 512-619-4519	Innovative Water Solutions designs and installs all sizes of rainwater collection systems, but most commonly small urban systems. They offer cisterns ranging from 300-9000 gallons for urban homes and 10,000-20,000 gallons for larger homes in the hill country. These cisterns are available in different sizes, colors and materials. The cost is determined by the area of the roof used to collect water. Typically customers install a cistern at the back of their home and only use water from this half of their roof. IWS sub-contracts for the installation of the gutters, but a typical cost of a 1000 gal cistern and complete system is $3/gal.
	Sustainable Homesteads
	Mark Licklider 8607 Swanson Ln Austin, TX 78748 Phone: 512-282-6629 Mobile: 512-299-5524	Mark Licklider of Sustainable Homesteads designs and installs a variety of rainwater collection systems most commonly for existing residences. Sustainable Homesteads is a small company specializing in residential remodels and providing multiple sized collection systems for outdoor irrigation on smaller existing urban homes, and full house systems for larger rural homes. Rain barrels and small portable sprinkler pumps to 5,000 gallon tanks with full pressure pumps have been installed for homes within the city. A 300-1000 gallon capacity tank is most common for 2000s.f. homes. The distance of the plumbing determines the cost of a system, but the estimated cost of a 1000 gal system is $2/gal (not including gutters). A 10,000 gal system or larger will cost about $1/gal. This cost includes tank, piping, and a small portable sprinkler pump. A full pressure pump for larger systems is available as an upgrade. Sometimes customers choose a series of small 300 gal tanks costing $190 each with a gravity feed and no pump. This smaller basic system, with minimal plumbing, costs approximately $1.50/gal. The City of Austin only allows professional irrigators or landscape architects to install sprinkler systems, but Sustainable Homesteads connects the irrigation system to the rainwater collection system. Most people use a combination of both city water and collected rainwater for their outside irrigation needs. On average, a 1000s.f. roof will collect 500gal of rainwater for every inch of rain, this is doubled for a 2000s.f. roof. Austin averages 32" of rain a year, but can be as low as 20" yeilding 20,000 gal for a 2000s.f. roof. An average household will use 5,000 - 15,000 gal per month. An annual rainfall of 32" will yield 36,000 gal per year or 3,000 gal per month.