Laundry with Harvested Rainwater in Nevada

Using harvested rainwater for laundry in Nevada is a practical way to reduce your water bill and conserve municipal supplies. With 9.5 inches of average annual rainfall, a 1,500-square-foot asphalt shingle roof in Nevada can collect approximately 5,683 gal per year. laundry requires roughly 15 gallons per day per person, year-round. With this setup, rainwater can meet approximately 51.9% of your laundry needs, saving an estimated $39.78 per year.

Annual Harvest 5,683 gal 1,500 sq ft roof
Annual Demand 10,950 gal laundry (2 people)
Demand Met 51.9% of laundry
Rec. Tank 55 gal storage capacity

Monthly Supply vs. Demand for Laundry in Nevada

The table below shows how your monthly rainwater harvest compares to laundry demand throughout the year. Green values indicate months where your harvest exceeds demand (surplus water for tank storage), while red values show months where you will draw down your stored reserves. Laundry is a year-round use, so demand remains constant regardless of season. Tank sizing should bridge the gap during your driest months.

Month Harvest (gal) Demand (gal) Balance
January 748 930 -182
February 748 840 -92
March 598 930 -332
April 374 900 -526
May 374 930 -556
June 224 900 -676
July 299 930 -631
August 374 930 -556
September 374 900 -526
October 449 930 -481
November 523 900 -377
December 598 930 -332

Harvest by Roof Size for Laundry

A larger roof collection area directly increases your harvest and the percentage of laundry demand you can meet with rainwater. The table below shows how different roof sizes perform in Nevada for laundry (calculated for 2 people).

Roof Area Annual Harvest Demand Met Rec. Tank Savings/Year
1,000 sq ft 3,787 gal 34.6% 55 gal $26.51
1,500 sq ft 5,683 gal 51.9% 55 gal $39.78
2,000 sq ft 7,574 gal 69.2% 200 gal $53.02
2,500 sq ft 9,470 gal 86.5% 500 gal $66.29

Setting Up Rainwater Harvesting for Laundry in Nevada

Using rainwater for laundry in Nevada offers a unique benefit: rainwater is naturally soft, meaning you can use 30-50% less detergent while achieving the same or better cleaning results. Hard municipal water requires more soap to lather effectively, and mineral deposits can make fabrics stiff and dull over time. A rainwater-fed laundry system requires the same setup as toilet flushing — dedicated non-potable plumbing, a pump-and-pressure system, and sediment plus carbon filtration to remove any debris or tannins that could discolor fabrics. The filtration requirements are slightly higher than for toilet use because you want to protect both your clothing and your washing machine from fine sediment. A first-flush diverter on your collection system is especially important for laundry use to keep water clean.

Metal Roof Upgrade: Laundry in Nevada

Upgrading to a metal roof increases your collection efficiency from 80% (asphalt shingle) to 95%, boosting your annual harvest to 6,747 gal from a 1,500-square-foot roof. This increases your laundry demand coverage to 61.6% and raises annual savings to $47.23. Metal roofs also last 40-70 years compared to 20-30 years for asphalt shingle, and their smooth surface sheds debris more effectively, reducing maintenance on your collection system and improving water quality.

Other Uses for Rainwater in Nevada

Explore how harvested rainwater can serve other needs in Nevada:

Get Your Custom Estimate

Use our Rainwater Harvesting Calculator to enter your exact roof area, material, and combine multiple uses for a comprehensive harvest analysis. See all rainwater harvesting data for Nevada or compare all 50 states.