Water Conservation

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Loan and Grant Program for Limited-Income Families

Given the ongoing drought in the Southwest and the predictions that our climate will continue to get hotter and drier, approaches for cooling urban temperatures (e.g. shade tree irrigation) and more effective water management are increasingly important in our community. Rainwater Harvesting can help our community address the amount of cooling needed in homes and future water supply needs.

The limited-income families in our target area traditionally have fewer resources to purchase and install rainwater harvesting systems and maintain trees. Additionally, there are very few programs in our community that help limited-income families with rainwater harvesting. Through our Limited-Income Rainwater Harvesting Program we are increasing the number of rainwater harvesting systems for limited-income families through loans and grants and teaching workshops (open to the public).

Education and Resources

Coming soon.

Rain Barrels

We provide low-cost refurbished rainwater harvesting barrels to low-income families and non-profit organizations. During COVID-19 we are not taking rain barrels orders but if you would like us to add you to our waiting list please email us at seri@seriaz.org

Project Harvest

The Colorado River supplies drinking water to 40 million people in Arizona and six other states. The City of Tucson is allocated about 144,000 acre-feet of Colorado River water annually. Over-allocation, a severe 20-year drought, and human-caused climate change have caused the Lake Mead reservoir to plummet to critical levels.

A large percentage of Tucson drinking water is used for landscape watering. The city offers rebates to residents who install a rainwater harvesting system, which diverts rainwater from a roof into a cistern for storage. Project Harvest, a collaboration between SERI and the University of Arizona, is studying the chemistry of cistern water with samples from citizen scientists who own rainwater harvesting systems. The goal is to evaluate the safety of using cistern water. In June, one of the first papers from the study was published. The paper describes the demographics of Project Harvest participants.

Upcoming Events

Rainwater Harvesting Online Workshop – English

Rainwater HarvestingRainwater Harvesting

  • Online
  • Free

Rainwater harvesting helps cool urban temperatures, reduce street flooding and is best used for irrigation. The water collected can be for your trees, plants and garden. During this workshop come learn about residential rainwater harvesting. Learn about passive and active systems including design considerations, planning your project, best practices, maintenance, and more. The second half of the workshop you will receive information on Tucson Water’s Rebate and SERI’s Limited-Income Loan and Grant Program including what you will receive by participating, requirements to participate and how to apply. Register at by clicking the Details and Registration button below! For any questions please contact leslie.pilli@seriaz.org or (520) 308-9519. Attending this workshop meets one of the requirements for the City of Tucson’s rainwater harvesting rebate and is open to the public. This workshop is in English and about 1.5 hours long.

Rainwater Harvesting Online Workshop – English

Rainwater HarvestingRainwater Harvesting

  • Online
  • Free

Rainwater harvesting helps cool urban temperatures, reduce street flooding and is best used for irrigation. The water collected can be for your trees, plants and garden. During this workshop come learn about residential rainwater harvesting. Learn about passive and active systems including design considerations, planning your project, best practices, maintenance, and more. The second half of the workshop you will receive information on Tucson Water’s Rebate and SERI’s Limited-Income Loan and Grant Program including what you will receive by participating, requirements to participate and how to apply. Register at by clicking the Details and Registration button below! For any questions please contact leslie.pilli@seriaz.org or (520) 308-9519. Attending this workshop meets one of the requirements for the City of Tucson’s rainwater harvesting rebate and is open to the public. This workshop is in English and about 1.5 hours long.

Rainwater Harvesting Online Workshop – English

Rainwater HarvestingRainwater Harvesting

  • Online
  • Free

Rainwater harvesting helps cool urban temperatures, reduce street flooding and is best used for irrigation. The water collected can be for your trees, plants and garden. During this workshop come learn about residential rainwater harvesting. Learn about passive and active systems including design considerations, planning your project, best practices, maintenance, and more. The second half of the workshop you will receive information on Tucson Water’s Rebate and SERI’s Limited-Income Loan and Grant Program including what you will receive by participating, requirements to participate and how to apply. Register at by clicking the Details and Registration button below! For any questions please contact leslie.pilli@seriaz.org or (520) 308-9519. Attending this workshop meets one of the requirements for the City of Tucson’s rainwater harvesting rebate and is open to the public. This workshop is in English and about 1.5 hours long.