FreeRain Rainwater Harvesting
At Bost Custom Homes, we've been building award-winning luxury estates in the Triangle for four decades. Many years ago, we also built FreeRain, an in-house rainwater harvesting system that turns otherwise wasted storm runoff into a valuable resource. That legacy lives on today.
FreeRain: Bost Homes' Innovative Rainwater Harvesting History
Rex Bost installed his first rainwater storage and reuse system in the mid 1990s— before "green building" had become a buzzword. At the time, his 2 acre property was being run off of a low yielding well, including irrigation. When completing home additions, he buried a large water storage tank adjacent to the well-house, ran all of his roof gutters into it, and pumped water out of it for irrigation. There were a few problems that he had to solve for, like debris screening and trickle feeding the tank with a float valve to ensure it never fully emptied. Solving those problems allowed him to offer this system to custom home clients, and in 2007 it evolved into the company FreeRain.
During the drought of 2007 - 2009, many systems were installed at homes and businesses amidst water restrictions, including the Durham Public Health building, an NC State facility, and even a chain restaurant location. In those early years, North Carolina plumbing codes required indoor rainwater to be disinfected and dyed (even for toilets). With help from the NCHBA, Rex advocated for change at the Building Code Council. He succeeded — disinfection remained, dyeing was eliminated. With that, he incorporated rainwater (gray water) reuse for irrigation and toilet flushing at the showcase home Casa Lucca in Youngsville, NC.
Today, we continue to offer rainwater harvesting systems for our custom home clients to help offset their utilities, to build self reliance, and preserve water resources. Although we've dissolved the company, the RWH system is still a great option for environmentally and self-reliance minded homeowners.
Why Rainwater Harvesting?
Here's the math: roughly 50% of household water goes to non-potable purposes
— toilet flushing, irrigation, laundry, car washing. In commercial
buildings, it's closer to 90%. Yet 100% typically comes from
drinking-grade supply.
In the Triangle, we average 3-4 inches of rain per month. A 4,000-square-foot roof captures approximately 9,500 gallons per month — over 114,000 gallons annually — running through your gutters for free.
The Benefits of Rainwater Harvesting and Reuse:
- Lower water bills — Every gallon harvested is a gallon not bought.
- Environmental benefit — Less strain on municipal infrastructure, less polluted runoff.
- Drought resilience — When restrictions hit, your home has its own supply.
- Healthier landscapes — Rainwater is naturally soft; plants respond better.
- Property value — Sustainable features differentiate luxury homes.
How It Works
A FreeRain system is elegantly simple:
- Collect: Rain flows through gutters into catch basins.
- Filter: Screens and a first-flush diverter remove debris and initial dirty runoff.
- Store: Water enters a large underground cistern — invisible, zero yard footprint.
- Distribute: A pump sends water to irrigation, outdoor spigots, and other code-permitted uses.
- Backup: A secondary well or municipal connection ensures uninterrupted supply during dry periods.
Looking Forward
Water is undervalued, until it's in short supply. Droughts, rate
increases, and aging infrastructure are pushing conservation and reuse from a fringe idea to a smart plan. Our team can help ensure your home is ready for tomorrow, whether that includes rainwater harvesting, solar PV, greenhouses, or other self-reliance features.
