Questions
Everything people ask before the site visit
Is it legal to collect rain in New Mexico?
Yes. Collecting rain from your roof is allowed in New Mexico. The rules for how it is plumbed, and for any use indoors, differ by county and by use, so we tell you which apply to your place before we draw anything.
How big a tank do I need?
That depends on your roof area, the rain you actually get and the water you will actually use. We size it from those three, not from a catalog. A bigger tank only helps if the roof can fill it.
Can I drink rainwater from the tank?
Some households do, but we don't call any water safe to drink. It depends on your roof, your tank and a lab test, and your county health office has the final say. We install the treatment a result calls for and hand you the lab report.
Will the tank freeze in winter?
A tank buried below the frost line stays liquid. Above ground, we insulate the tank and wrap or drain the lines that can freeze. We choose between them on your site, your budget and how you use the water in January.
What is greywater, and where can it go?
Greywater is the used water from showers, bathroom sinks and the washing machine. We route it below mulch to trees and shrubs, not onto the surface. Kitchen sinks and toilets are not part of a basic system.
Do I need a permit?
Often yes, and it depends on what you are building. Anahi tells you which permits apply, prepares the paperwork and brings it to you to sign. We schedule inspections as part of the job.
How much upkeep does a system need?
Plan on clearing screens and the first-flush diverter a few times a year, and changing filters on the schedule we write for your system. We leave a one-page maintenance sheet at the tank.
What about mosquitoes and algae?
Every opening gets a fine screen, and the tank is opaque so light can't grow algae. The overflow is screened too.
Does a flat adobe roof work for catchment?
Yes. Water leaves a flat roof through canales or scuppers, and we catch it there. We check the roof surface first, because some coatings and tar leave a taste in the water, and that decides what the water is good for.
Do you work with builders and landscape designers?
Yes, and it goes better when we start from the plans. Send the roof plan or the planting plan and we draw the water so it meets them.
What does it cost?
It depends on the tank, whether it is buried, how far the water has to travel and what treatment you need. How pricing works lays out each part, and you get a written number after the site visit.
Who on the crew speaks Spanish?
Cecilia, Alfredo and Anahi do. Tell us when you call and we send one of them to the site visit.
Still have a question?
Call or text. Anahi answers on working days.