How to Build a Rainwater Collection System for Your Tiny House

Even more people who are interested in downsizing to tiny houses have been turned away from certain aspects that may be dense or difficult, such as how to provide water and power to their new homes. Most tiny houses utilize a rainwater collection system to provide a source of freshwater for daily uses in cooking, cleaning, and hygiene. However, many people do not understand how to build a rainwater collection system or realize just how easy it can be to set up water systems for tiny houses.

This article is a how-to guide on how to set up your very own tiny house rainwater collection system. We will discuss things to consider, important parts of your collection and filtration, and provide solutions so you can set up your very own off-grid water collection system.

1. Understand Your Water Requirements

While this may seem simple at first glance, it is a factor that will determine many aspects of your tiny house rainwater collection system. The amount of water you require for daily use will dictate how large the collection and storage systems need to be in order to supply you with fresh, accessible water.

An obvious factor would be the number of people utilizing the water. Each person requires their own amount of water for bathing, consumption, and cooking to meet their daily living needs. Other variables would include activities such as washing clothes, farming, gardening, cleaning, and maintenance. In order to build proper sustainable water systems for tiny houses, it is important, first and foremost, to understand just how much water we consume.

2. Know Your Climate

Once you have determined what your daily water needs are, the next thing to ask before you set up a proper tiny house rainwater collection system might seem like an obvious question: How often does it rain?

Most people have a general idea of the rainy season for their region if they have lived there for their entire life. However, they may not understand exactly how much it rains at a given time or how much water they would be able to collect if it does. If you live in hotter, dryer climates, it may not be possible for you to collect enough rainwater to cover all of your daily needs. If it rains for two months and is dry the rest of the year, you would need a larger, more long-term tiny home rainwater collection system than you would where rainfall is consistent throughout the year.

Parts Of A Tiny House Rainwater Collection System

Now that we've gotten all of that out of the way, we can move on to the parts of your rainwater collection system.

• Catchment Area - The surface where the rainwater first touches before being collected. For most tiny house rainwater collection systems, this will be your roof. Others may set up an umbrella-like system or even a large tarpaulin that directs water toward your storage area, typically through gutters or other funnels.
• Downspout - Connects the catchment area to your filtration and rainwater storage system. May include pre-filtration before water enters your storage area or connect to a diverter that filters water for you.
• Pre-Filter - Takes care of large particulates and debris so they don't enter your storage tank. Usually consists of a vortex or in-line rainwater filter that gets rid of sediment and leaves that may have fallen into your catchment and gone through your downspout.
• Collection Tank - This is where your rainwater is stored. Your rainwater collection area usually consists of rainwater storage tanks, rain barrels, or a cistern.
• Pressure Pump - Once you've got the water in your system, you need to be able to pump it back out again. The amount of water pressure and flow you have for your sink, shower, and other utilities are derived from the capacity of your pump, so make sure you get an adequate pressure pump if you like really good water pressure in the shower.

If all of that sounds like a lot, no need to worry! Rainwater Management Solutions has a collection package designed specifically for tiny houses that will take care of the more complicated sections of the water system for your tiny house. Our tiny house rainwater collection package includes the pre-filtration, pumping, and post-tank filtration elements that you need to meet your off-grid water collection requirements. Designed with space considerations in mind, our rainwater filtration system has a small footprint and minimal electrical demands so that you can always have the water you need.