Los Angeles Proposes Rainwater Catchment For New Developments

A proposed law put forward by the Los Angeles Department of Public Works would require many new developments to build rainwater catchment and reuse systems to their buildings.

Unitl now, urban rainwater catchment has been a concept mainly used in developing countries such as India. But with California's looming water crisis, these kind of measures are getting more attention.

Water crisis or not, urban rainwater catchment has many benefits. First off, catchment reduces a buildings water footprint by giving it a new source of water. Buildings can use filters to allow rainwater to be used for anything from heating to drinking water. Secondly, catchment systems prevent rainwater from running through the streets of urban areas, where they pick up pollutants and then run-off into other bodies of water such as rivers or lakes, bringing the contaminants with them.

To strongly encourage this water conservation and water pollution prevention, the LA Department of Public Works has also proposed a fine of $13 per gallon for water that ends up as run-off and not caught in the catchment system. While the fee is quite high, it sends a strong signal that rainwater is important.

I'd like to see this kind of legislation introduced in other cities so people recognize the importance of rainwater in conserving water.