Collect Our Rain
East Los Angeles Sustainable Median Stormwater Capture Project (County of Los Angeles) / Credit: Joe Linton /Streetsblog
Imagine if we could collect more rain during storms instead of letting all the excess water run off! Modern infrastructure and natural systems will help us secure more water for our future.
Did You Know?
Californians are often surprised to learn that most of our stormwater infrastructure is designed to direct rainwater away from homes and communities during heavy storms, leaving rainwater as an untapped resource.
Guy West Bridge, Sacramento / Credit: Rosendo Tolento (Office of Water Programs)
Getting Rain Ready
Getting Rain Ready means developing infrastructure and natural systems to collect rain and use it in the future. Collecting more rain will boost California’s water supply and support healthier communities. By modernizing our infrastructure, we can restore our groundwater, irrigate parks, properties, and public landscaping, create beautiful public spaces, and prevent or reduce flooding.
Top Photo: Echo Lake Park (City of Los Angeles) / Bottom Photo: Green Streets Project (City of Los Angeles)
Protect Our Water
From small sidewalk gardens on city streets to large parks and rural groundwater recharging, Rain Ready projects use a variety of techniques to collect and protect our water. In addition, a recent study by the California Stormwater Quality Association demonstrates the value of these projects in terms of improved water quality, added green spaces and recreational opportunities and community health. The economic return from one year of these socioeconomic benefits alone exceeds the total costs of the project; in other words, these projects “pay for themselves” in the space of a year.
City of San Mateo Green Streets Project / Source: flowstobay.org
Case Studies
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![County of LA’s Safe Clean Water Program]()
County of LA’s Safe Clean Water Program
This one-of-a-kind program invests approximately $280 million annually into multi-benefit rainwater collection projects and programs.
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![Earvin Magic Johnson Park]()
Earvin Magic Johnson Park
The rainwater collection system at this popular park collects up to 85% of the water that was flowing away and brings community health benefits to a disadvantaged area.
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![East Los Angeles Sustainable Median Stormwater Capture Project]()
East Los Angeles Sustainable Median Stormwater Capture Project
The project collects more rainwater, while also adding much-needed greenspace to a couple of parched and barren medians in East Los Angeles.
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![Fresno Metropolitan Flood Control District Stormwater Basin System]()
Fresno Metropolitan Flood Control District Stormwater Basin System
The system collects and channels rainwater that once caused flooding. But is now channeled safely to recharge the water supply, while adding green space and places for rest and recreation.
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![San Mateo County Sustainable Streets Master Plan]()
San Mateo County Sustainable Streets Master Plan
The Plan includes multi-benefit projects designed to improve street conditions for walkability, cycling, urban greening, climate resiliency and water quality.
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![Orange Memorial Park, South San Francisco]()
Orange Memorial Park, South San Francisco
The park is the site of an underground rainwater collection project that will return as much as 78 million gallons of water to the groundwater basin each year, while providing renovated athletic fields for the community.
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![Elk Grove Rain Garden Plaza]()
Elk Grove Rain Garden Plaza
This one-acre site incorporates a wetland, surrounded by swales and native plants/trees, a large rain garden, examples of pervious paving material and rain barrels and rain chains.
What You Can Do to Collect Rain
Rain barrels, rain gardens and other Rain Ready home improvements are smaller projects that can be implemented by homeowners. To learn more about what individuals can do to collect our rain, click here.
Rain Ready Resources
The studies below provide more detail about rainwater collection and its benefits:
The Socioeconomic Value of Stormwater Capture (CASQA, 2024)
The Untapped Potential of California’s Urban Water Supply: Water Efficiency, Water Reuse, and Stormwater Capture (Pacific Institute, 2022)
Untapped Potential: An Assessment of Urban Stormwater Runoff Potential in the United States (Pacific Institute, 2024)