Guide · Water independence
An off-grid water system for a home or ranch
Water independence means more than one source. Rain fills the tank when it rains. A water-from-air unit keeps adding when it does not. A monitor tells you what you are storing.
BlueSignal · October 9, 2026
The parts
- Rainwater: gutters, a first flush, a screen and a tank sized for your roof and rainfall.
- Water from air: a BlueSignal generator trickle-fills the tank between storms.
- Storage: enough to ride out a dry spell, not just a wet month.
- The monitor: a WQM-1 on the tank reads pH, TDS, turbidity and temperature every 60 seconds and shows them in BlueSignal Cloud.
Size for the dry year, not the average one
In 2011, Texas had its driest year on record. A tank sized for an average year runs dry in a year like that. The Rain Planner plays your tank through 2011 where the data exists, so you see the gap before you build.
A water-from-air unit fills that gap without waiting on rain. Its output follows humidity, so pair it with storage rather than counting on it for a peak day.
Power
The BlueSignal 5 and BlueSignal 21 run on a standard 120 V outlet; the BlueSignal 66 needs a dedicated 240 V circuit. On solar, size the array and batteries for the generator's draw as well as the house.
Drinking water
Drinking use depends on the treatment after the tank and on local rules. A licensed plumber and your local authority decide it.
Questions
Can a home run on rainwater alone?
In wet regions, often. In Central Texas, a dry year can empty a tank sized for an average one, which is why a second source and enough storage matter.
Who installs an off-grid water system?
A licensed trade does the plumbing and electrical work. A plug-in generator on an existing outlet needs neither.
How much water will a generator add?
BlueSignal figures are nameplate output at 86°F / 80% RH. Your quote estimates your address.