A Guide to Rainwater Harvesting

Rainwater harvesting is an ancient technique enjoying a revival in popularity due to the inherent quality of rainwater and interest in reducing consumption of treated water. Rainwater collection has numerous benefits such as: free supply, low mineral and sodium content, reduction in non-point source pollution, and reduced demand on water utilities.

This course introduces basic principles of residential and small-scale commercial rainwater harvesting systems design. The design process includes choosing system components in the most cost effective and advantageous manner. It is intended to serve as a first step in consideration of the use of rainwater harvesting systems and is presented in a low-tech format that engineers and designers can use as a guide and expand on.

This course is based on the publication, Texas Manual on Rainwater Harvesting. The information in this course may be useful in planning and sizing of rainwater harvesting systems.

This course presents the following useful information to help you to determine if it is suitable for your continuing education needs. Please review this carefully to ensure you receive useful and beneficial information.

Learning Objectives

This course is intended to provide you with the following specific knowledge and skills:

Basic Rainwater System Components
Catchment Surface, Gutters, and Downspouts
Leaf Screens
First-Flush Diverters
Roof Washers
Storage Tanks
Pressure Tanks and Pumps
Treatment and Disinfection Equipment
Water Quality Standards
Factors Affecting Water Quality
Water Treatment
Water Capturing System Capabilities
Rainfall Distribution and Calculating Storage Capacity
Estimating Water Demand
Rainwater Harvesting Best Management Practices
Building Codes
Cistern Design, Construction, and Capacity
Backflow Prevention and Dual-use Systems

Download the Course to review and begin earning your PDH credits.

We provide technical courses for PDH credits that meet Board requirements for Professional Engineers, Geologists and Land Surveyors. This courses is guaranteed to be accepted in AK, AL, AR, GA, IA, IL, ID, IN, KS, KY, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, MS, MT, NC, ND, NE, NH, NJ, NM, NV, OH, OK, OR, PA, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VA, VT, WI, WV, and WY. Before purchasing this course, please confirm that your state Board is listed above.