Guide · reviewed July 18, 2026
Buying a Catchment Home in Hawaiʻi
Inspect the tank, roof, gutters, filtration, disinfection, pump, pressure system, water quality, and maintenance records.
Practical guidance
Inspect the whole water path
Start at the roof and follow the water through gutters, inlet screening, storage, pump, pressure equipment, filtration, treatment, and every tap. A clean-looking tank does not prove the complete system is maintained.
Take this to the property
Catchment-home inspection checklist
Practical guidance
Documents and questions to request
- Tank, pump, filter, ultraviolet, and treatment equipment manuals.
- Dates for tank cleaning, cartridge changes, lamp replacement, repairs, and water testing.
- Water-hauling history and the household conditions that caused shortages.
- Who maintains the system and where replacement parts are obtained.
- What happens during a power outage or pump failure.
Related tool
Use the existing sizing calculator
Estimate storage and household demand with the Hawaiʻi Water Catchment Sizing + Cost Calculator. Replace its defaults with the actual roof area, tank size, household use, and local conditions.