Does it rain enough in Phoenix to make rainwater harvesting worthwhile?
Yes – it absolutely does. According to most researchers and experts in the field, the minimum amount of annual precipitation necessary to make rainwater harvesting worthwhile is 5 inches. In Phoenix, the official rainfall average over the past twenty years is 8.3 inches – and that’s at Sky Harbor Airport – historically one of the driest areas of the Valley. The Town of Cave Creek receives 13.3 inches; Carefree 13.0 inches. Most of the East Valley receives over 9 inches. Generally speaking, the closer you live to mountains; the more rain you get. So folks in Wickenburg, Anthem, New River, Cave Creek, Carefree, North Scottsdale, Fountain Hills, and Apache Junction usually get the most rain. But no matter where you live in the Valley, rainwater harvesting is a very worthwhile practice. To see a monthly rainfall report from 1980-2008, click here.
