Design

What is your reason for wanting to harvest rainwater?
What is the area of the collection surface (m², ft²)?
What is the rainfall data for your location?
How much water do you intend to use each week?
What are the bylaws in regards to zoning and rainwater collection?

These are just some of the questions we ask.

Some footwork you can do to help this is to contact your municipality to see if they have tax incentives or grants for such things as rainwater catchment, living roofs, storm water retention, raingardens and groundwater recharge. Also, ask if they have any programs that cover the cost of fire hydrant hookups to cisterns – they may not but the question begins to build awareness.