This document provides information about rainwater catchment systems. It defines rainwater catchment as collecting normally wasted rainwater and reusing it for non-potable uses. Rainwater catchment helps conserve water supplies and reduces costs. The document discusses different components of rainwater catchment systems, including cisterns and rain barrels. It provides guidance on siting, maintaining, and labeling non-potable water systems.

1. Rainwater Catchment Rainwater
CISTERNS SAFETY AND MAINTENANCE Catchment in
Cisterns are larger than rain barrels, Be sure your rain barrel or cistern is sited on a Monterey County
ranging from 300 gallons to thousands of stable, flat area near your downspout. Keep
gallons. A basic system used for irrigation your system free of debris and maintain all
typically includes: screens to prevent mosquito breeding. Clean A Homeowner’s Guide to
!"Fully screened gutters (1), your rain barrel or cistern with a non-toxic Capture and Re-use of
!"Downspouts and piping (2), cleaner such as vinegar. If you notice a bad Rainwater
!" fully closed storage tank (3),
A smell, treat the water with chlorine beach
!" spigot and/or hose bibb (4), and
A (Clorox) 1½ cups per 1000 gallons. Label all
!" overflow pipe (5).
An rainwater collection
A cistern should never be connected to system pipes and fixtures:
your home’s plumbing. NON POTABLE WATER,
DO NOT DRINK. Go to
www.WaterAwareness.org
for a printable label.
QUESTIONS? CONTACT US
If you are interested in learning more about
rainwater collection, please contact us:
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NOTE: If your storage tank is less than
5,000 gallons and is above ground, no
permits are required. If your system
includes new wiring for a pump, or will be Learn more about local water conservation
installed underground or on a roof, you will efforts and resources at: www.WaterAwareness.org
need a building permit. www.WaterAwareness.org
Learn more about graywater systems and
Disclaimer:
This brochure is intended as a general refer- installation at:
ence tool and in no way supersedes statutory www.EcoAct.org An initiative of the Monterey County Business
Council's Competitive Clusters (C2) program.
law or rules in your City or County. © Monterey County Business Council V.1—2010 Jan

2. Rainwater Catchment
WHAT IS RAINWATER CATCHMENT? WHY SHOULD WE COLLECT RAINWATER? RAIN BARRELS
Rainwater Catchment is Rainwater collection is older than the Roman Rain barrels are just that, a barrel to catch
saving normally wasted water Empire, and is growing in popularity as people the rainwater coming off your roof. They
and reusing it for irrigation or look for ways to use water resources more are inexpensive, easy to install and
other non-potable (non- wisely. Monterey County would like to promote maintain, and good for small scale
drinkable) uses. We can rainwater collection to help stretch our limited residential sites. They typically hold from
reuse rainwater, graywater water supplies. When 50 to 300 gallons, and are mostly used for
and reclaimed water if we you install a watering plants.
follow some simple rules. rainwater catchment
system at home, you SYSTEM COMPONENTS
SOURCES OF NON-POTABLE WATER are helping to
A rain barrel should have:
maintain the beauty
R
!" AINWATER: Water that falls as rain, !" spigot and/or a hose bibb (1) so that
A
and health of your
and then is collected as catchment you can access the water;
property, and of the
water from your roof or other hard !" overflow pipe (2) routed away from
An
Monterey Bay region.
surfaces. the house;
By collecting and using rainwater you are:
!" RAYWATER : Wastewater from
G !" sealed and screened lid (3) with an
A
!"Slowing downspout water run-off and
bathroom sinks, showers, baths, opening for your drainpipe; and
reducing peak storm water flows;
laundry or car washes. See !"Screens on all vents (4).
!"Reducing the volume of drinking water used
www.EcoAct.org for more information for non-potable uses such as irrigation; and
on using graywater. !"Saving money by reducing the amount of
B
!" LACKWATER: Wastewater from your water you have to buy from the water
toilet, kitchen sink or dishwasher. company.
Blackwater may not be reused without
municipal treatment at the local GETTING STARTED
sewage plant.
R
!" ECLAIMED W ATER : Municipally Rainwater can be collected from most types of
treated sewage that meets California rooftops. Roofs painted with lead-based paint
or paint containing fungicide would have to be
regulations for reuse as landscape
recoated with paint approved for the intended See www.WaterAwareness.org for a list of
irrigation.
use. The first step is to clean your roof, local places that sell rain barrels.
disconnect your downspout, and connect it to a
storage container. Your storage container NOTE: No permit is required for a rain
Rainwater Rooftop Catchment Estimation:
Avg rooftop of 1500 Sq Ft x Avg rainfall in needs an overflow pipe, which should be barrel. A rain barrel should never be
Monterey of 15 in/yr = 14,027 gallons/yr routed away from the house. connected to your home’s plumbing.