[WATER DELIVERY – RAINWATER CATCHMENT – WATER WELL]
Cost of the rainwater collection / delivery system can be dramatically reduced because we do not need to size the storage tank to provide water through an extended drought period. The tank is of course the most costly piece of the system.
Cost of the well also is reduced because there is no need for a pump sized to produce high demand volumes of water. The pump only need fill the storage tank slowly over time. Pressure tank, pressure switch and gauge as well as a number of miscellaneous items are not involved and this all saves money. The well casing an be smaller in i.d. and the well bore is drilled smaller allowing us to install the well and pump system in fewer days therefore even further savings occur.
It is advantageous to include a well into the property improvements at this time because each year permitting and grandfathering of domestic wells is becoming more difficult. One day you may not be allowed to drill or at least you know the process will be more costly and that the gallon per minute levels allowed will be less.
According to state rules we now have to pay no tax on the cost of the rainwater system. Usually if a well is drilled and piped into the home tax is paid, but with the well not being the main source of water it can be a stock water well and so falls under the guides of agricultural exemption assuming your property is exempt.
The cost of the hybrid system can be about the same or only slightly more than the cost of only a well and filter system that would serve a family or a rainwater catchment system that would serve the same family through drought periods.