Water Conservation

Rainwater Harvesting

Rebate Program

January 27, 2016

John H. Abbott

Conservation Program Specialist

Qualifying Water Providers

• Aqua Texas- Morningside

• Aqua Texas- Night Hawk

WSC

• Aqua Texas- Rivercrest

Water Systems

• City of Rollingwood

• City of Sunset Valley

• City of Westlake Hills

• Creedmoor-Maha WSC

• High Valley WSC

• Lost Creek MUD

• Marsha WSC

• Mid-Tex Utilities

• North Austin MUD #1

• Northtown MUD

• Shady Hollow MUD

• Travis County WCID #10

• Village of San Leanna

• Wells Branch MUD

• Windermere Utility

Rainwater Harvesting

Rainwater Harvesting System Components

Rainwater Harvesting Rebate Program

• Rebate calculation: (Not to exceed 50% of the system cost)

– $ 0.50 / gal. for non-pressurized systems. (rainbarrels)

– $ 1.00 /gal. for pressurized systems (large cisterns with a pump)

– $5,000 lifetime maximum

• All individual rainbarrels are less than 500 gallons

– May purchase and install barrels and submit application and receipts

within 30 days of installation

• Systems with a tank 500 gallons or greater

– Must apply and be approved for the program before purchase or

installation

Rainbarrels less than 500 Gallons

Rainwater Harvesting Resources

•Texas Water Development Board

– http://www.twdb.texas.gov/innovativewater/rainwater/docs.asp

– Texas Manual on Rainwater Harvesting, 3rd Edition, 2005

– Rainwater Harvesting System Size Calculator

•The American Rainwater Catchment Systems Association

– http://www.arcsa.org/

Rainwater Harvesting

TWDB System Sizing Calculator

Rainwater Harvesting

System Size Calculator

Application Process - http://www.austintexas.gov/department/rainwater-harvesting-rebates

•Size of individual tanks determines

application procedure

•All tanks are under 500 gallons –

purchase and install tanks and submit

application and receipts within 30 days

of installation

•Any tanks are 500 gallons or more –

apply for rebate program before

anything is purchased or installed

– Additional requirements for

pressurized systems

500 Gallons Or More:

Application Materials

O&M Guide

Site Drawing System Drawing

Rainwater Harvesting Permitting

Development Assistance Center

505 Barton Springs Rd

512-974-2380

• Subdivision or zoning regulations including

setback and impervious cover limitations

Austin Water’s Special Services Division

3907 South Industrial Drive

512-972-1060

• Cross Connection Control /

Water Protection Program

Pressurized Rainwater Requirements

1. Install a Reduced Pressure

Principle Backflow Preventer

(RPZ) at the water meter.

2. RPZ, air-gap, or disconnect

make-up water

3. Backflow Prevention Assembly

Test (BPAT)

4. Expansion tank

5. Cross-Connection Test (CCT) "Reduced pressure zone device connected to a fire hydrant" by Z22 - Own work. Licensed under CC BY-SA

4.0 via Wikimedia Commons -

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Reduced_pressure_zone_device_connected_to_a_fire_hydrant.jpg

#/media/File:Reduced_pressure_zone_device_connected_to_a_fire_hydrant.jpg

After Installation

•Submit Receipts

–Downspouts (and piping for wet

systems), first flush diverters, filtration

–Tanks –Pump

–Base –Labor

•Submit Photographs

•Conservation staff verifies completion of

pressurized system requirements

•Check will be sent in the mail in 6-8

weeks

Questions?

John Abbott – Water Conservation Specialist

• Website: www.waterwiseaustin.org

• Water Conservation Mainline – 512-974-2199

• Email: john.abbott@austintexas.gov