Texas Incentives for Rainwater Harvesting

State facilities to incorporate rainwater harvesting systems in their design (Texas Government Code §447.004(c)(8)). Municipalities and counties are also encouraged to promote rainwater harvesting at residential, commercial, industrial, and educational facilities through incentives such as discounts for rain barrels or rebates for water storage facilities (Texas Local Government Code §580.004).

Additionally, a municipality or county cannot deny a building permit solely because the facility will implement rainwater harvesting; however, it may require that the system comply with the minimum state standards established for such systems (Texas Local Government Code §580.004).

TWDB Services
The Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) provides information to the public on all aspects of rainwater harvesting through the TWDB website, with other outreach and education efforts, and with such printed materials as the Texas Manual on Rainwater Harvesting (3rd edition, 2005), a popular guide published by the TWDB that introduces rainwater harvesting and designing residential and small-scale commercial systems. The TWDB has provided limited financial support for rainwater harvesting research studies and is required to make rainwater harvesting training available to permitting staff of certain municipalities and counties (Texas Local Government Code §580.004(b)).

Texas Rain Catcher Award
The Texas Rain Catcher Award is a competition and recognition program established by the TWDB to promote rainwater harvesting and to recognize the contribution of individuals and entities pursuing it as a water conservation strategy. The competition began on October 1, 2007, and—with the exception of TWDB employees and Board members—is open to all individuals, companies, organizations, municipalities, and other local and state governmental entities in Texas. The deadline for applications each year is June 30. 

More Information and Contact www.twdb.texas.gov/innovativewater/rainwater.
Shae Luther, Shae.Luther@twdb.texas.gov, 512-463-8830

After learning about the capabilities of the DAB’s ESYLINE offering, RWE placed an initial stock order and soon after quickly realized the pumps’ market potential. “The ESYBOX and the ESYBOX MINI 3 were so different than the pumps we had been used to seeing. The DAB ESYLINE pumps were a cutting edge, cost competitive, variable speed pump option that easily fit most residential applications,” Jim says. “These pumps were game changers for us.”

“Variable speed pumps aren’t a new concept, but ease of use, reliability, price point, and availability, all rolled into one, made DAB’s ESYLINE pumps very appealing,” Jim says.

It seems there were certainly other compelling reasons why DAB pumps and Rainwater Equipment have flourished together. “We love the support that DAB gives us,” Mitzi says. “You can’t say that about all of the manufacturers that we work with. The team at DAB is there for us when we need them. Our job is to support our customers, and DAB supports us, and that’s the way it should be.”

Mitzi continues, “DAB stands behind their pumps. They know that they are well constructed, but they are also always open to working with us to quickly address any issues that we might experience.”

“Rainwater Equipment has been the ideal partner to introduce DAB pumps into the North American rainwater market,” DAB Area Sales Manager, Andrew Casademunt, says. “These guys have great relationships with most of the major rainwater installation experts in the U.S., and it just made perfect sense to partner with them.”

With VFD pumps including the ESYBOX, ESYBOX MINI 3, ESYBOX DIVER, and the ESYBOX MAX as part of its offering, along with the single speed, submersible, DTRON 2, Rainwater Equipment is the leading supplier of DAB pumps in American rainwater applications.

“Jim, Mitzi, and the rest of the Rainwater team know our pumps well, and that’s what it takes to be successful. They understand how the DAB pumps work and which pump is best suited for a specific job. Plus, they’re great at trouble-shooting, which gives their installation customers an extra boost of confidence when using our pumps in their projects,” Andrew says.

Rainwater Equipment has posted over 60 support videos on its youtube channel, and many of them focus on DAB pumps. DAB also has an extensive selection of its pump videos on youtube. “Videos are just such a great way to educate people before and after a product purchase. Users love it when they can watch a video on a topic that they are interested in but aren’t completely sure about,” Jim says. “For example, we try to give customers a comfort level with DAB pumps so they’ll have enough of an understanding to make the right pump selection for their specific need.”

As drought conditions across the U.S. continue to be a major concern, rainwater collection, water re-use, and water independence have become top of mind for many Americans, and a big part of solving water issues is the ability to pressurize and move water from one place to another. It’s clear that DAB Pumps and Rainwater Equipment will continue working together in the coming years to solve these water challenges.

“The water industry is such a good place for us to be,” Jim says. “We are passionate about helping people solve their water issues. I mean we get to do what we love while also having meaningful, real-world impact, and that’s tough to beat.”

For more information, visit rainwaterequipment.com and dabpumps.us

Please note:The information below refers to 115V pumps and wiring. We recommend using a piggy-back float switch or control panel to operate 230V pumps. DO NOT USE THE METHOD DESCRIBED BELOW FOR 230V PUMPS.

In 115V wiring, there are 3 wire legs: 1) Hot  2) Neutral and  3) Ground. The pump will have these 3 wires and the incoming power supply will have these 3 wires. The neutral (white) wire from the panel will connect directly to the neutral (white) wire from the pump. The ground (green) wire from the panel will connect directly to the ground (green) wire from the pump.

This leaves the hot wire from the panel (or 115V Outlet) and the hot wire from the pump. The float switch has two legs. One leg of the float switch will connect to the hot wire from the panel or 115V receptacle/outlet, and the other leg will connect to the hot wire from the pump. (Please note: Most float switches have a white and black wire, which means you will most likely have a white wire to black wire connection. This is normal. Once these connections are made, you may turn the power on, and the submersible pump should operate according to the position of the float switch. Pump up, normally closed float switches, when used in this manner, turn the pump off when the float is in the up position and turn the pump on when the float is in the down position.

Pump down, normally open float switches, when used in this manner, turn the pump on when the float is in the up position and turn the pump off when the float is in the down position.

Wiring Diagram

All of the Ways to Use Rainwater

Jim Wood has been an active player in the rainwater harvesting industry since 2012. His ecommerce background made him an ideal choice to lead Rain Harvesting Supplies’ online efforts, and soon after joining the rainwater collection world, he became one of the industry’s most successful salespeople. Jim ultimately led the charge to pivot the company’s business model to focus attention on installation professionals

After spending a few years with Rain Harvesting Supplies, Jim started his own company in 2016 with his wife and business partner, Mitzi Wood. Based in north Texas, their company, Rainwater Equipment LLC (RWE), works primarily with installation professionals but also serves rainwater DIYers throughout the U.S.

Enjoy our recent interview with Jim and Mitzi, where we learned what sets RWE apart in the world of rainwater collection.

Grundfos: RWE does things a little differently than the competition. How has this ensured your success?

RWE: We never wanted to be installers; it just wasn’t our strength. We’re good at helping installers get the equipment they need to do their jobs. That is how Rainwater Equipment has stayed successful: by providing equipment (pumps, UV filtration systems, level gauges, etc.) to installers at a discount while also offering them direct product support, such as pump sizing. Today, only three or four companies in the U.S. do what we do as rainwater equipment online distributors.

Grundfos: Why rainwater?

RWE: Water is essential for all life, and it’s a great business to be in. Outside factors impact so many industries, and though water isn’t bulletproof, it is certainly in a good spot when the world or the market is going crazy. People always need water and most of the time they understand the value of it. We’re also passionate about sustainability and being part of the solution as a family. The value of rainwater collection will continue to increase, and we want to be part of that.

Grundfos: Your customers range from homeowners to installers. These are very different audiences, so why do they each choose RWE?

RWE: We provide excellent service and customer support, especially when it comes to pumps. When you buy a Grundfos pump from other places, it can often be difficult to get someone on the phone who can help you make an appropriate pump choice for your particular need. When you contact us, you won't sit on hold waiting to speak to someone who doesn’t know the product. When you contact or visit RWE, you get to speak to one of the team directly. We work with our customers to specify the products and help diagnose issues — it’s our in-house knowledge that separates us from others, and we provide unmatched support. We also have a storefront so people can see firsthand how rainwater harvesting is done in real-time on various installations.

Grundfos:Tell us more about your onsite pump setup.

RWE: We have one 30,000 gallon tank at our facility, a couple of 3,000 gallon ones, and a 5,000 gallon tank. Each is part of an actual working system that is set up as a demo for clients to check out. Our tanks are outfitted with the pumps that we sell. For example, we use a Grundfos SCALA1 3-45 as a transfer pump to automatically send rainwater from one tank to top off another once the water level in the main storage tank begins to drop. It’s great for customers to be able to see the pumps in action in the store instead of only discussing hypothetical situations or potential problems by phone or email. Also, when a customer calls with questions, we can go straight to one of our in-store display pump installations, pull out our phones, and create a short video to share with them that helps to solve their specific issue. But we don’t just talk about pumps and rainwater harvesting; we have a Grundfos CME Plus pump providing potable water to our offices and warehouse.

Grundfos: You’re clearly highly dedicated to your customers' success.

RWE: Everyone needs a pump expert it seems. It’s not uncommon for a customer to come into the store saying, “I have a tank, but I didn’t know I needed a pump.” For both homeowners and installers, we have the expertise to help them select above ground pumps or submersible pumps, single speed pumps or VFD pumps that meet their flow and pressure needs. We enjoy learning about each project, and we form good connections. We also support rainwater system installers nationwide, and those relationships truly matter. Our goal is to make them successful. We know that taking care of them is also the key to our own success. So, it makes perfect sense.

For more information, visit Rainwater Equipment LLC.

For the purpose of this exemption, "solely" means the equipment, services, or supplies are used exclusively for stated water conservation. For example, a water dam in a toilet tank is used only to save water, so it qualifies for the exemption. A washing machine that has special features to conserve water does not qualify, because it is used to wash clothes, not solely to reduce water use. 

The new exemption covers the following types of conservation with examples of equipment, supplies, and services that qualify for the exemption from sales tax if used solely for the purpose shown. 

Rainwater harvesting - rain barrels, gutters used solely to route the water into rain barrels or rainwater collection systems, tanks and cisterns, roof washers used in harvesting systems, screens and filters for the gutters, barrels, tanks, cisterns and roof washers, and a collection surface area that is not used as a roof of a structure or storage area. 

Water recycling and reuse - chemicals, tanks and cisterns, and water recycling systems for washing machines.

Reduction or elimination of water use - water dams for toilets, timers attached to sprinkler systems, water displacement devices for toilet tanks, and faucet sensors that shut off water flow.

Desalination of surface water or groundwater - cleaning and pickling valves, filters, membranes, pre-filter pumps, product flow meters, salinity meters, and high-pressure control valves. Brush control designed to increase the availability of water - spray equipment and calibration of the equipment, herbicides, tractors, bulldozers, and chain saws. 

Precipitation enhancement - end-burning cloud-base flares, acetone solution wing-tip generators, pressure transducers, spectrometer probes, and calibration equipment. 

Water or wastewater system - equipment, services, and supplies to construct or operate a system certified by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality as a regional system. The exemption also covers a water supply or wastewater system built or operated by a private entity if the system is certified by a political subdivision or by a non-profit water supply corporation created and operated under Chapter 67 of the Texas Water Code. 

Not exempt are items that do not meet the "sole purpose" test, such as water-efficient appliances, pumps for fountains or water displays, tools used for landscaping or lawn care, lawnmowers, shredders, low-flush toilets, and water hoses. 

The purchaser of equipment used for the sole purpose of water conservation or water reuse must give the seller a Texas sales tax exemption certificate stating valid qualifications for the exemption. 

The certificate must also state the purchaser's name and address, description of the item, the reason the purchase is tax exempt, the purchaser's signature, the date, and the seller's name and address.

2. Colorado: Without a water permit, Colorado residents are legally allowed to store up to 150-gallons for rainwater harvesting systems that comply with the Colorado Water Conservation Board.

3. Kansas: It’s not illegal to harvest rainwater in Kansas, but you may need to apply for a permit to do so if you plan on using the water for anything other than for domestic purposes.

4. Nevada: There are restrictions on using rainwater for anything other than for wildlife but SB74 created a few changes including allowing the use of a small-scale rainwater system without having to prove the “use it or lose it” doctrine and expanding the use for the water.

5. Oregon: While rainwater harvesting is allowed in Oregon, there are a lot of statutes regulating it including specifying only rooftop collection.

6. Utah: Utah allows for rainwater harvesting on land owned or leased by the person responsible for the collection. Must register system with Utah Division of Water Rights

7. Washington: Washington allows rooftop rainwater harvesting for domestic use without a water permit. Other applications may require a permit.

One common Uniform Plumbing Code that is often cited by states is Chapter 13 Non-potable Water Systems, Section 1303 Non-potable Rainwater Collection, and Distribution Systems.

SECTION 1303 NON-POTABLE RAINWATER COLLECTION AND DISTRIBUTION SYSTEMS

1303.1 General. The provisions of Section 1303 shall govern the construction, installation, alteration, and repair of rainwater collection and conveyance systems for the collection, storage, treatment, and distribution of rainwater for non-potable applications, as permitted by the jurisdiction.

1303.2 Collection surface. Rainwater shall be collected only from above-ground impervious roofing surfaces constructed from approved materials. Collection of water from vehicular parking or pedestrian surfaces shall be prohibited except where the water is used exclusively for landscape irrigation. Overflow and bleed-off pipes from roof-mounted appliances including but not limited to evaporative coolers, water heaters, and solar water heaters shall not discharge onto rainwater collection surfaces.

Which states allow rainwater as a source for potable, drinking water?

7 states include regulations on rainwater as a potable drinking water source (Texas, Mississippi, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon recently, Virginia, Hawaii)

Texas offers a tax exemption for rainwater harvesting equipment.

Once rainwater hits the ground, it’s no longer defined as rainwater and is defined as stormwater or groundwater depending on the type of contaminants that enter the water. Water diversion, groundwater collection, well water, groundwater, even stormwater collection are all considered legally different than rainwater and may require different regulations depending on the location.

Alabama

Don't forget to insulate your ball valves and pipes! They will break and cause you to lose all of your stored water.