Essential Rainwater Harvesting

Secure Your Water Supply with a Custom Rainwater Harvesting System
Part of the Sustainable Building Essentials series, Essential Rainwater Harvesting is the complete guide to designing, building, and maintaining rainwater systems for any home, acreage, or farm. Learn how to turn rainfall into a reliable, sustainable water source—even in arid or extreme climates.

What You'll Learn

• Water Security and Independence: Harvest and manage rainwater to supplement or replace municipal or well water for your home or property.
• Smart Planning and Conservation: Assess demand, optimize water use, and plan for droughts or extreme rainfall.
• Custom System Design: Determine the right gutters, conveyance, tanks, pumps, and filtration methods for your site.
• Water Quality Management: Pre-filtration, filtration, and disinfection strategies ensure safe, reliable water.
• Step-by-step Installation Guidance: Detailed, practical instructions for DIYers, tradespeople, and sustainability practitioners.
• Maintenance and Longevity: Learn methods to keep your system efficient, reliable, and long-lasting.

Written by Rob and Michelle Avis, engineers and permaculture designers with decades of experience, this guide combines practical know-how, technical rigor, and site-specific strategies for designing rainwater systems anywhere in the world.

Explore the full Sustainable Building Essentials series for illustrated, hands-on guidance on sustainable building systems, high-performance homes, and environmentally responsible construction.