Onsite Rainwater and Stormwater Capture and Use

Capture

Capturing and using water onsite within a building reduces demand for potable
water and decreases stormwater discharges that cause combined sewer
overflows, stormwater pollution, and aquatic and riparian habitat degradation.
Rain barrels and cisterns capture and store rainwater for later use.

Rainwater Capture

Capture of water from rain, snow-
melt or sleet that lands on rooftops
and other surfaces before it reaches
the ground.

Stormwater Capture

Capture of water from rain, snowmelt,
or sleet that lands on and flows over
the ground.

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Cisterns capture and store
rainwater for later use.

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State and local standards may require treatment of onsite
collected waters using processes such as ultraviolet
disinfection, chlorine addition, and other filtration methods.

End Use

Indoor and outdoor uses for captured and treated
onsite collected waters include toilet flushing, wash
waters, landscape irrigation, and other uses.

Drinking Water

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Toilet Flushing

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Rain gardens, bioswales, or other
forms of green infrastructure
infiltrate stormwater into the ground
where it recharges groundwater.

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Irrigation

Washing

Infiltration for

Groundwater
Recharge

There is growing interest in some
communities to capture rainwater for
treatment and drinking, as well as other
household uses after disinfection.

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Rain barrels
capture and
store rainwater
for later use.



https:z7www.epa.gov/waterreuse

Roofs and other
impermeable surfaces can
be used to collect and use
rainwater and stormwater
for different industrial uses,
such as vehicle washing.

Learn more about green infrastructure and stormwater management:
https://www.epa.gov/green-infrastructure/what-green-infrastructure
https://www.epa.gov/npdes/stormwater-smart-outreach-tools
https://www.epa.gov/waterreuse

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