About Rainwater Harvesting in New York City

What is Rainwater Harvesting?
Rainwater harvesting is an ancient practice of catching and holding rain for later use. In a rainwater harvesting system, rain is gathered from a building rooftop or other source and is held in large containers for future use, such as watering gardens or washing cars. This practice reduces the demand on water resources and is excellent during times of drought.

Why is it Important?
In addition to reducing the demand on our water sources (especially important during drought), rainwater harvesting also helps prevent water pollution. Surprised?

Here’s why: the success of the 1972 Clean Water Act has meant that the greatest threat to New York’s waterbodies comes not from industrial sources, but rather through the small actions we all make in our daily lives. For example, in a rain storm, the oil, pesticides, animal waste, and litter from our lawns, sidewalks, driveways, and streets are washed down into our sewers. This is called non-point source (NPS) pollution because the pollutants come from too many sources to be identified. Rainwater harvesting diverts water from becoming polluted stormwater; instead, this captured rainwater may be used to irrigate gardens near where it falls.

In New York City, keeping rainwater out of the sewer system is very important. That’s because the city has an old combined sewer system that uses the same pipes to transport both household waste and stormwater to sewage treatment plants. During heavy rains, the system overloads; then untreated sewage and contaminated stormwater overflow into our rivers and estuary, with serious consequences:

• Beach closures
• Restrictions on seafood consumption
• Decreased value of coastal property

Who is Harvesting Rainwater in New York City?
Back in 2002, a drought emergency pushed many community gardens to the brink of extinction. For the first time in twenty years, community gardeners were denied permission to use fire hydrants, the primary source of water for most community gardens. This crisis led to the formation of the Water Resources Group (WRG), an open collaboration of community gardening and environmental organizations. With help from the WRG, rainwater harvesting systems have now been built as demonstration sites in twenty NYC community gardens.

At community gardens that harvest rainwater, rain is diverted from the gutters of adjacent buildings and is stored in tanks in the gardens. A 1-inch rainfall on a 1,000-square-foot roof produces 600 gallons of water. The tanks are mosquito proof, so the standing water does not encourage West Nile virus. Because rainwater is chlorine free, it is better than tap water for plant growth, meaning healthier plants. And it’s free!

What are Other Cities Doing?

Many cities have adopted creative, low-cost ways to stop wasting rainwater by diverting it from their sewage systems and putting it to use where it falls. Here are some examples:

• Seattle
  Seattle’s P-Patch Community Garden Program has created rainwater-harvesting systems and issued urban-design guidelines that promote paving with porous surfaces, landscaping planting strips and setbacks, and vertical and rooftop landscaping.
  In April 2002, the city of Seattle adopted Resolution 30454 on wastewater reuse and rainwater reclamation. Seattle Public Utilities is recommending changes to the city’s land use and building codes that encourage water conservation and has sponsored wildly successful sales of rain barrels to Seattle residents.
• Toronto
  The City of Toronto Works and Emergency Services Downspout Disconnection Program offers a free service to homeowners to disconnect downspouts from the sewer system and install rainbarrels, available at a discount.
• Vancouver
  The City of Vancouver designs and manufactures rain barrels for use by residents for garden irrigation. The City subsidizes the cost of the rain barrels by 50%.
• Chicago
  Besides actively encouraging citizens to disconnect downspouts, Chicago is developing other natural means of using rainwater wisely. Chicago’s Water Agenda 2003 includes a rooftop garden initiative, a pilot project for permeable alleys, and rain gardens planted in the City’s rights-of-way. These gardens use native plants and gravel drains to move water more quickly into the soil. In more natural settings, the City directs water through planted “bioswales” and into wetlands that filter water and provide habitat.
• Austin
  Austin, Texas, offers rebates of up to $30 for newly installed rain barrels and of up to $500 for installation of a rainwater harvesting system, following approval of its design by the City.
• Portland
  Portland, Oregon, has granted a permit for a household to harvest rainwater for use indoors during all but the dry summer months.

What Can I Do?

Spread the word! Educate those around you on the importance of lifestyle decisions.

Tell people not to litter, dump oil down storm drains, or overfertilize their lawns.

Install a rainwater harvesting system at your home, school, business, or local community center.

Contact your local elected officials, and let them know you support rainwater harvesting!

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