We’ve made rainwater harvesting simple.  Sometimes you just want a little bit bigger cistern than your rain barrel.  Or maybe your budget doesn’t allow for a full, customized rainwater harvesting system.

Is The Raincache BUILD Right For Me?

  • You don’t want to figure out how to install a small rainwater harvesting system and you would rather have professionals do it.
  • You want something larger than a rain barrel but you don’t have a lot of space to devote to a large rainwater cistern.
  • You are on a limited budget for a rainwater system.
  • You have existing gutters and a downspout where you want the rainwater cistern located.
  • You have adequate access from the street to the cistern location.
  • You don’t want a long process of scheduling a consult, getting a custom system estimate, and finally getting the system installed. The Raincache system simplifies all of that so that you can pick the appropriate system and get it installed fast.
2500 gallon poly tank in Raincache Build project
2500 gallon Poly Tank in Raincache Build

Raincache BUILD Sizing And Ordering Process

  • Determine optimal cistern volume

    Make sure the gutter height at the location of the cistern is at least 2' taller than the cistern height and the diameter of the cistern can fit in desired location.

  • Determine cistern access path

    Make sure the access path to get the cistern from your front yard to the desired cistern location is at least 12" wider than the cistern diameter.

  • Determine cistern location slope

    Make sure you have a flat-ish area where you want to install the cistern. We will install a decomposed granite base but we won't carve into a hillside.

  • Purchase KIT

    Click on the "Purchase" button below for the Raincache BUILD model that will work for you.

  • Schedule Installation Date

    After purchasing, you will be able to schedule your BUILD installation date online

diy raincache header
500 Gallon Polyethylene Cistern

Raincache Build:

Polyethylene Cistern

Raincache BUILD Package includes:

  • Cistern and its installation
  • Single downspout connection with inlet screen/cover component
  • 4″ first-flush diverter (only for tanks larger than 500 gallons)
  • Overflow pipe with overflow flap
  • Water level indicator
  • Outlet hose bibb
  • Decomposed granite pad with landscape metal edging border
  • Prices good for Austin addresses only.  Additional costs will apply for areas outside of Austin.
  • RCB-250P
    $2065
    • Polyethylene Cistern
    • 250 Gallons
    • 3'-0" diameter X 5'-7" tall
    • Complete Install Package*
    Call to Order
  • RCB-500P
    $2365
    • Polyethylene Cistern
    • 500 Gallons
    • 4'-0" diameter X 6'-0" tall
    • Comprehensive Install Package*
    Call to Order
  • FEATURED
    RCB-1000P
    $3055
    • Polyethylene Cistern
    • 1,000 Gallons
    • 6'-3" diameter X 5'-5" tall
    • Complete Install Package*
    Call to Order
  • RCB-1150P
    $3195
    • Polyethylene Cistern
    • 1,150 Gallons
    • 5'-3" diameter X 7'-6" tall
    • Complete Install Package*
    Call to Order
  • RCB-1500P
    $3495
    • Polyethylene Cistern
    • 1,500 Gallons
    • 7'-3" diameter X 5'-4" tall
    • Complete Install Package
    Call to Order

Test Price Table

150 Gallons 250 Gallons 500 Gallons
Tank only $200 $500 $3.00
Raincache KIT $950 $1500 $4.00
Raincache BUILD $1450 $2000 $7.00

Raincache Build:

Galvanized Metal Cistern

Raincache BUILD Package includes:

  • Cistern and its installation
  • Single downspout connection with inlet screen/cover component
  • 4″ first-flush diverter (only for tanks larger than 500 gallons)
  • Overflow pipe with overflow flap
  • Water level indicator
  • Outlet hose bibb
  • Decomposed granite pad with landscape metal edging border
  • Prices good for Austin addresses only.  Additional costs will apply for areas outside of Austin.
galvanized metal rainwater collection cistern
1,000 Gallon Galvanized Metal Cistern
  • RCB-200M
    $2595
    • Galvanized Metal Cistern
    • 200 Gallon
    • 3'-0" diameter X 4'-2" tall
    • Complete Install Package*
    Call to Order
  • RCB-500M
    $3695
    • Galvanized Metal Cistern
    • 500 Gallon
    • 4'-0" diameter X 6'-0" tall
    • Complete Install Package*
    Call to Order
  • FEATURED
    RCB-830M
    $4765
    • Galvanized Metal Cistern
    • 830 Gallon
    • 5'-0" diameter X 6'-0" tall
    • Complete Install Package*
    Call to Order
  • RCB-1000M
    $5725
    • Galvanized Metal Cistern
    • 1,000 Gallon
    • 5'-0" diameter X 7'-0" tall
    • Complete Install Package
    Call to Order
  • RCB-1500M
    $6985
    • Galvanized Metal Cistern
    • 1,500 Gallon
    • 6'-0" diameter X 7'-0" tall
    • Complete Install Package*
    Call to Order
polyethylene slimline cistern
200 Gallon Poly Slimline Tank in Raincache Build

Raincache Build:

Slimline Cistern

Raincache BUILD Package includes:

  • Cistern and its installation
  • Single downspout connection with inlet screen/cover component
  • Overflow pipe with overflow flap
  • Water level indicator
  • Outlet hose bibb
  • Decomposed granite pad with landscape metal edging border
  • Prices good for Austin addresses only.  Additional costs will apply for areas outside of Austin.
  • RCB-SL130P
    $2315
    • Polyethylene Cistern
    • 130 Gallons
    • 17" Wide X 50" Long X  49" Tall
    • Components delivered to house
    • 1 hour with installation tech
    Call to Order
  • RCB-SL265P
    $2345
    • Polyethylene Cistern
    • 265 Gallons
    • 25" Wide X 64" Long X  59" Tall
    • Components delivered to house
    • 1 hour with installation tech
    Call to Order
  • RCB-SL530P
    $3215
    • Polyethylene Cistern
    • 530 Gallons
    • 25" Wide X 66" Long X  86" Tall
    • Components delivered to house
    • 1 hour with installation tech
    Call to Order
  • RCB-SL233M
    $3985
    • Galvanized Metal Cistern
    • 233 Gallons
    • 30" Wide X 60" Long X  33" Tall
    • Components delivered to house
    • 1 hour with installation tech
    Call to Order
  • RCB-SL467M
    $6125
    • Galvanized Metal Cistern
    • 467 Gallons
    • 30" Wide X 60" Long X  68" Tall
    • Components delivered to house
    • 1 hour with installation tech
    Call to Order

Planning Steps for the Raincache BUILD Program

Determine cistern access path

Majority of the time, you will be locating the cistern in your backyard. To determine if you can feasibly install the cistern in the location you desire, you will need to measure all “bottlenecks” in the path of egress from the street to the desired cistern location.

Examples of Bottlenecks:

  • Gates
  • Fence sections that may be able to be removed to get the cistern through fence
  • Trees
  • AC units
  • Other utilities
Sideyard bottleneck for rainwater cistern
Not Getting a Rainwater Cistern Through Here

Cistern Dimensions

Polyethylene Tanks 500 gal 1000 gal 1150 gal 1500 gal 2500 gal
Diameter 4′ 6′-4″ 5′-4″ 7′-9″ 8′
Height 6′ 5′-5″ 7′-6″ 5′-4″ 8′
Galvanized Metal Tanks 500 gal 1000 gal 1500 gal 2000 gal 2500 gal
Diameter 4′ 5′ 6′ 7′ 7′
Height 6′ 7′ 7′ 7′ 8′-6″

Determine optimal cistern volume

Determining the optimal cistern size can be tricky.  Although you may want the largest cistern available, most of the time you are limited by certain physical limitations of your house or property.

Method #1: Gutter height or fence height limitation

Review all of the cistern heights available and measure the gutter height or fence height from the ground surface at the desired location of the cistern.

Method #2: Tank diameter limitation

Review all of the cistern diameters and measure the horizontal distance between hindrances where you desire the cistern to be located.

Method #3: Roof collection area limitation

Measure the roof area that you can collect from and decide if the roof area warrants the cistern volume you are considering.

Determine cistern location slope

To qualify for the Raincache BUILD pricing, we have a slope limitation for the spot where you want the cistern installed.  This helps us ensure that we can have a quick installation and that we don’t have to build a retaining wall for your cistern foundation.

How to Determine the Slope

Tools required:

  • Two stakes
  • String
  • String level
  • Ruler
determine slope for cistern pad
Tank Diameter Max Elevation Difference across Diameter
4′ or 48″ 2″
6′-4″ or 76″ 3″
8′ or 96″ 4″

Purchase system & apply for rebate*

Now you have the right sized cistern that you know can fit into that perfect spot.  It is time to purchase the Raincache BUILD installation package.  If you live in a city that has a rainwater system rebate program, at this time, we will provide a “nearly complete” rainwater system rebate application package to you.

City of Austin

City of San Marcos

Sunset Valley

Schedule your Installation

After purchasing, you will be able to schedule your BUILD installation date online. We have a scheduling lag time of 5 weeks because this allows us to put the date into our job board and make sure we can make sure your cistern is in stock from the manufacturer.

What if I want to do it myself?

No problem.  We have formulated packages that we can deliver to your doorstep.  We’ll even spend a bit of time with you to answer all your questions.

See our Raincache KIT packages
Contact Us

Got a quick question? Send us an email and we'll get back to you, ASAP.

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