IPSF: Rainwater harvesting systems
Savings can be achieved using rainwater harvesting systems on broiler farms
23 June 2026
1 minute read
By: [Excerpts of a poster presentation by Carson M. Edge and colleagues at Auburn University, USA, during the 2026 International Poultry Scientific Forum]
Broiler producers must have access to sufficient water supplies to maintain the health and well-being of broilers. For some producers who rely on municipal water sources, increased water rates have begun to affect their bottom line. This has been the experience for broiler producers in Cullman County, Alabama, USA, where the county water department announced customers would see increased water rates beginning in 2015. Water rates have since increased by 69% in 10 years: $2.51 per 1,000 liters in 2015 to $4.25 per 1,000 liters in 2025.
In anticipation of these water rate increases, a pilot study was initiated in 2015 to evaluate the performance of a rainwater harvesting system (with a storage capacity of 378,541 liters) in offsetting rising water costs for a four-house broiler farm in Cullman, Alabama. While the producer has observed a reduction in their monthly water bill, the system did not include an effective way of measuring rainwater use and municipal water use.
This study quantified farm rainwater use, and municipal water use to better understand the overall performance of the rainwater harvesting system. Two wireless ultrasonic meters were installed and monitored rainwater use and municipal water use over six flocks reared from 13 January 2024 to 3 January. 2025. Average flock age during the test period was 45 days with an average flock placement of 27,517 birds. A simple economic analysis of water bill savings based on water use, water rate, taxes, and fees during the study period was also performed.
Total water use for the farm during the 12-month study period was 7,267,625 liters with a mean flock total water use of 1,211,271 liters, ranging from 1,005,634 to 1,593,661 liters. Municipal water use represented 45% of total water use and rainwater use represented 55% of total water use over the entire study period for the farm.
The producer paid $14,307 for water with an estimated water bill savings of $17,017 had the producer not been able to utilize rainwater. While results from this study suggest water bill savings can be achieved using rainwater harvesting, continuous monitoring of this system should occur to understand the long-term use of rainwater harvesting on this commercial broiler farm.
