Friends of Stafford Creeks Nonprofit organization of volunteer citizen scientists monitoring water quality, advocating sustainable land use policies and watershed protection, and promoting education and stewardship of aquatic and wildlife resources in Stafford County Virginia's Potomac River tributaries. Harvesting Rain Water

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Rain water harvesting is collecting rain from the roof of a residential or commercial property and using it for outdoor irrigation, indoor clothes washing, and toilet flushing. 

Rain water harvesting helps the water quality of our steams. It also saves tax money used for water treatment.  Let’s encourage more use of ‘harvested water.’

While we hear much of Water Quality, we tend to take our plentiful water supply for granted. Water quality is very closely related to water quantity or the needed supply of fresh water. We become very concerned when a prolonged drought results in loss of plants and restrictions are being placed on water consumption by humans.

When water supplies are low, water quality is affected by lack of flow in streams which then become stagnant of dry up altogether. When water supplies are excessive, surface water flows faster dislodging protective vegetation and eroding stream banks thus causing suspended solids in the stream which later settle out as sediment covering aquatic life habitat.

For best water quality we need a steady supply of ground water runoff but nature seems to provide a series of extremes. Certain practices of storm water management can help regulate steam flow. Low Impact Development is the use of practices which help capture rainwater allowing it to soak into the ground thus replenishing the water table without quickly rushing down stream. One such practice is the capture of rain water from roofs to be directed to certain everyday uses.  Not only does this mitigate the need for treated potable water but it reduces peak flow in streams after rains where damage can occur.

So – rainwater harvesting is worth consideration for residential cleaning, washing of clothes, landscape irrigation and flushing of toilets. Such use of water would result in less peak stream flow and a better quality of stream water. There are numerous uses of rainwater for commercial operations as well. One report shows that as much as 60% of municipal water in urban and suburban areas is used for irrigation and as much as 50 % of that either evaporates or runs off.

Installation of rain water harvesting equipment can be done at time of new construction or as a retro-fit. Payback varies depending on the water use. This is a new way to ‘go green.’  Check out the Virginia Rainwater Harvesting Manual for ideas and information. A house with a 2,000 sq ft roof can capture 47,120 gallons of water in a 40” per year rainfall region. Use your valuable resource and encourage your local government to do so.