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Disclaimer This website does not necessarily represent the views of the City of San Diego or its employees. The City of San Diego assumes no legal liability for the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of information in this report. The contents of this website are provided for general education and informational purposes only. The City of San Diego highly recommends that the reader consult with a technical professional and/or product retailer before applying any of this information to a specific project.
City of San Diego Residential Rainwater Harvesting Pilot Rebate Program General Information Rainwater Harvesting Basic Components Rainwater Harvesting Advantages and Disadvantages Safety Considerations Standards and Regulations Helpful Web Links and References
General Information
Rainwater harvesting is a technique used for collecting, storing, and using rainwater for landscape irrigation and other uses. The rainwater is collected from various hard surfaces such as roof tops and/or other types of manmade above ground hard surfaces. This ancient practice is currently growing in popularity throughout our communities due to interest in reducing the consumption of potable water and the inherent qualities of rainwater. This web site will mainly focus on general information about rainwater harvesting systems, rain water system advantages and disadvantages, and helpful links and references.
tanks should also be placed close to the areas of use and supply line to reduce the distance over which the water is delivered. Also consider placing the storage at an elevated area to take advantage of gravity flow. The tank should always be placed on a stable and level area to prevent it from leaning and possibly collapsing. Delivery systems - gravity-fed or pumped to the landscape or other end use areas. Purification/treatment system - needed for potable systems to make the water safe for human consumption. Please check with your local health department for information on filtration systems and certification requirements. Information is available at the County of San Diego Department of Environmental Health - Small Drinking Water Systems. Additional information available at California Department of Public Health.
Can be costly to install - rainwater storage and delivery systems can cost between $200 to $2,000+ depending on the size and sophistication of the system The payback period varies depending on the size of storage and complexity of the system Can take considerable amount of time to "pay for itself" Requires some technical skills to install and provide regular maintenance If not installed correctly, may attract mosquitoes (i.e.; West Nile Disease and other waterborne illnesses) Certain roof types may seep chemicals, pesticides, and other pollutants into the water that can harm the plants Rainwater collected during the first rain season is generally not needed by plants until the dry season. Once catchment is full, cannot take advantage of future rains
Safety Considerations
Parents/adults: Please make sure that children and pets do not climb on the storage systems and accidentally fall into the storage tank. Storage tanks should have locking lids and/or bars that keep the children and pets out!
Rainwater harvesting policies vary from state to state. However there are no known local laws restricting rainwater harvesting at this time. In 2007, two bills were passed in the California State Legislature that requires local water districts to create water conservation programs and building standards: AB1420 and AB 1560; however neither bill discusses rainwater harvesting as a water conservation option. The American Rainwater Catchment Systems Association (ARCSA) has developed a standards guide that is being proposed to the International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials (IAPMO) inclusion in the Sustainable Plumbing Standard. The City of San Diego's Storm Water Pollution Prevention Program is currently conducting a pilot study on rainwater harvesting at seven locations throughout the city's watersheds. Information about the pilot project will be available soon on the "Think Blue" web site at www.sandiego.gov/thinkblue.
Rain Barrel/Downspout Disconnect Pilot Program National Weather Service Climate Station Precipitation Summary H2OUSE - Water Save Home Texas Manual of Rainwater Harvesting (PDF: 6Mb) Green Affordable Housing Coalition Fact Sheet (PDF) Rainwater Harvesting - Supply from the sky - A Publication of the City of Albuquerque (PDF: 1.4Mb) Harvesting Rainwater for Landscape Use by Patricia H. Waterfall San Diego County Low Impact Development Handbook - Stormwater Management Strategies (December 31, 2007) (PDF: 3.4Mb)
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