Introduction

Sustainable rural water supply: Rainwater catchment systems

Sustainable rural water supply: Rainwater catchment systems

CP-1995-04
Sustainable rural water supply: Rainwater catchment systems

Fok, Yu-Si, Kyung H. Yoo, and Todd A. Boulanger

Rainwater catchment systems are regaining their reputation as a viable means of providing a sustainable water supply in rural areas and urban centers. In the United States, more than 250,000 rainwater catchment systems are scattered in the rural areas of many states. The number of such systems per state ranges from 100 in Vermont to 80,000 in Kentucky. This paper presents the recent progress of rainwater catchment system development. Requests for maintenance and operation guidelines by state legislatures are positive trends to promote the use of rainwater catchment systems in rural and urban areas. The prospect of incorporating rainwater catchment systems in 21st century buildings as part of renewable resources collection and utilization systems is also presented.