Standen Residence
Overview
- Category: Residential
- Organization Location: Austin, Texas; Travis County
- Activity: Meets 100 percent of residential water needs through rainwater harvesting.
Background
The Standen residence was designed and built with rainwater harvesting in mind since municipal water service is unavailable in the neighborhood. The design provides for 100 percent of the household needs by maximizing the 4,000-square foot metal roof collection area while minimizing the conveyance distance between roof eaves and storage tanks. The two 10,000-gallon storage tanks are located underneath an exterior deck, allowing the system to conform to the natural slope of the lot while keeping the tanks out of sight. By collecting and capturing rainwater, Mr. Standen has been able to conserve local groundwater resources by avoiding drilling a well, minimizing erosion, and providing water back into the watershed through an underground overflow pipe.