Frequently Asked Questions
Have a question about rainwater collection systems, installation, or harvesting rain here in Texas? View our frequently asked questions below!
Don't see the answer you are looking for? Fill out our contact form and one of our experts at Hill Country Rainwater will get back to you!
How much does a rainwater collection system cost in the Texas Hill Country?
Most potable whole-home systems we install run $25000 to $50,000. Our most common ranch or residential system is a 31,000-gallon tank, with an industry leading 30 year warranty, which typically costs $38,000 to $44,000 installed. The biggest cost drivers are tank size and style, then trenching and pipe runs. If you’re planning new construction, call us early and we can typically help with design that can bring down cost.
What size rainwater tank do I need for my house?
Start with your roof. Every inch of rain on 1 square foot of roof yields about 0.62 gallons. In the Hill Country, where we average roughly 34 inches of rain a year, a 5,000-square-foot roof can collect around 95,000-105000 gallons a year! For a full-time household on rainwater only, 31,000 gallons of storage is the size we install most, because it carries a family through our dry stretches, but we size every system to your roof, household and water use during the virtual estimate.
How does your estimate work?
All of our estimates are done by virtual meeting, so nobody has to walk your property in the Texas heat (we’ll ALWAYS walk the site before we begin work). You'll typically have a written estimate within 24 hours of that meeting, and often the same day. Start by requesting a quote online.
How large a system can Hill Country Rainwater build?
We've built everything from single-home systems to commercial cisterns holding more than 500,000 gallons. Across 500+ installed systems, we've built over 2 million gallons of storage.
What areas do you serve?
Hill Country Rainwater is based in Wimberley, TX, and serves the Texas Hill Country, including Wimberley, Dripping Springs, San Marcos, New Braunfels, Blanco, Johnson City and Spring Branch, Kendalia, Boerne, Fredricksburg, Hye, New Braunfels, Canyon Lake and more. We also take on larger commercial projects across Central Texas.
How hard is it to maintain a rainwater system?
About one hour a year. You change your sediment and carbon filters twice a year, change the UV bulb once a year, and clean out the filter basket twice a year. That's it.
How much do filters and UV bulbs cost?
Plan on about $260 a year in parts. Or you can sign up for our annual maintenance plan where we do all the work including: checking gutters and leaf screens, cleaning the leaf basket on the cistern, checking the first flush diverter, changing filters, and the UV bulb. You also get our lowest service rate for any service call when your a maintenance customer.
Does rainwater help protect Texas aquifers?
Yes. Every gallon you collect from your roof is a gallon you don't pump from the aquifer. Hill Country aquifers like the Trinity and Edwards are shared and limited, and rainwater lets a home or business run on water that would otherwise have run off. Protecting them is a big part of why we do this work.
Will I need a water softener?
No. Rainwater has almost no dissolved minerals, so it's naturally soft.
What is the pH of rainwater?
In the Hill Country, we've found harvested rainwater runs close to neutral, about 7.0, up to slightly alkaline at 7.2. It varies by location.
Will I have pipes running all over the outside of my house?
No. On the vast majority of our systems, the pipes are buried underground and out of sight.
Does my cistern have to be downhill from my house?
No. Downhill is the preferred spot, but if the tank needs to sit uphill we can pump water from the house to the tank.
Does rainwater taste good?
Yes. Most of our clients say they'll never taste water the same way again after living on rainwater.
Is rainwater good for plants?
Yes. Plants, especially garden plants, thrive on rainwater, particularly when it's unfiltered.
Can I use both rainwater and my well?
Yes. We usually set systems up so you choose the source for each use. A common setup runs the house on rainwater and the hose bibs on well water.
How big is the tank/cistern?
A 19,000-gallon cistern is about 21 feet in diameter, and our most popular size, 30,000-gallon cistern is 27’ is diameter. All standard 2-tier cisterns are 7 feet 6 inches to the top of the side wall. Overall height will depend on the roof style (we offer 3 roof styles - dome, 10 degree and 30 degree).
What about freezes?
Most of our systems came through the February 2021 winter storm intact. We can't guarantee against every freeze, and our Winterization page covers the steps that protect your system.
Is there a warranty?
Yes. Hill Country Rainwater gives a lifetime warranty on workmanship. Galvanized tanks carry a 30-year manufacturer's warranty, and system components carry their own manufacturer warranties.
Can the tank go underground?
Yes. It costs considerably more, but it can be done.
What about algae in the water?
Our tanks are designed and built to keep sunlight out. No sunlight means no algae.
What if I don't have enough roof area for the system I need?
Add collection surface. Extending eaves, covering a porch or patio, or adding a pole barn or carport can all add enough square footage.
Can a tiny home run on rainwater?
Often, yes, but a tiny home's small roof limits collection. Adding a covered structure such as a carport or pavilion usually makes it work.
Privacy Policy
This Privacy Policy ("Policy") applies to Wix, and Hill Country Rainwater, LLC ("Company") and governs data collection and usage. For the purposes of this Privacy Policy, unless otherwise noted, all references to the Company include www.hillcountryrainwater.com and www.hillcountryrainwater.com. The Company's application is a E-commerce application. By using the Company application, you consent to the data practices described in this statement.
Collection of your Personal Information
In order to better provide you with products and services offered, the Company may collect personally identifiable information, such as your:
-First and last name
-Mailing address
-Email address
-Phone number
We do not collect any personal information about you unless you voluntarily provide it to us. However, you may be required to provide certain personal information to us when you elect to use certain products or services. These may include: (a) registering for an account; (b) entering a sweepstakes or contest sponsored by us or one of our partners; (c) signing up for special offers from selected third parties; (d) sending us an email message; (e) submitting your credit card or other payment information when ordering and purchasing products and services. To wit, we will use your information for, but not limited to, communicating with you in relation to services and/or products you have requested from us. We also may gather additional personal or non-personal information in the future.
Use of your Personal Information
The Company collects and uses your personal information in the following ways:
-to operate and deliver the services you have requested
-to provide you with information, products, or services that you request from us
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-to carry out the Company's obligations and enforce our rights arising from any contracts entered between you and us, including for billing and collection
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The Company may also use your personally identifiable information to inform you of other products or services available from the Company and its affiliates.
Sharing Information with Third Parties
The Company does not sell, rent, or lease its customer lists to third parties.
The Company may share data with trusted partners to help perform statistical analysis, send you email or postal mail, provide customer support, or arrange for deliveries. All such third parties are prohibited from using your personal information except to provide these services tothe Company, and they are required to maintain the confidentiality of your information.
The Company may disclose your personal information, without notice, if required to do so by law or in the good faith belief that such action is necessary to: (a) conform to the edicts of the law or comply with legal process served on the Company or the site; (b) protect and defend the rights or property of the Company; and/or (c) act under exigent circumstances to protect the personal safety of users of the Company, or the public.
Right to Deletion
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Children Under Thirteen
The Company does not knowingly collect personally identifiable information from children under the age of 13. If you are under the age of 13, you must ask your parent or guardian for permission to use this application.
Email Communications
From time to time, the Company may contact you via email for the purpose of providing announcements, promotional offers, alerts, confirmations, surveys, and/or other general communication. In order to improve our services, we may receive a notification when you open an email from the Company or click on a link therein.
Changes to This Statement
The Company reserves the right to change this Policy from time to time. For example, when there are changes in our services, changes in our data protection practices, or changes in the law. When changes to this Policy are significant, we will inform you. You may receive a notice by sending an email to the primary email address specified in your account, by placing a prominent notice on our Hill Country Rainwater, LLC, and/or by updating any privacy information. Your continued use of the application and/or services available after such modifications will constitute your: (a) acknowledgment of the modified Policy; and (b) agreement to abide and be bound by that Policy.
Contact Information
The Company welcomes your questions or comments regarding this Policy. If you believe that the Company has not adhered to this Policy, please contact the Company at:
Hill Country Rainwater, LLC
13501 RR 12, Suite 103
Wimberley, Texas 78676
Email Address:
info.hcrw@gmail.com
Phone Number:
5128564626
Effective as of January 24, 2024