What is a First-Flush Diverter?

This post is part of the series How to Build a Simple Rainwater Collection System.

What is a First-Flush Diverter?A first-flush diverter helps keep your rainwater harvesting system clean by enabling the removal of dust, other debris, and any fecal matter that collects on your roof and in your gutters between rainfalls, so it is flushed out at the very beginning of the water collection process.

What is a First-Flush Diverter?
Click to view larger version of First Flush Diverter Diagram

The cleaner your water is as it goes into your system, the cleaner your water will be when you use it. Studies have shown a tremendous drop in fecal bacteria levels when the roof is flushed before water enters the tank. Bacteria also like to live in decaying leaves and other organic matter that collects at the bottom of the tank. A first-flush diverter “washes” the roof, so there is less rubbish on the tank’s bottom.

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Seattle Times: Utility Rates Could Soar – Rainwater Harvesting Saves Money

“Seattle Utility rates could soar” according to the Seattle Times Jan-22-14

Steel Tank Residential_watermarkedOfficials at Seattle Public Utilities say they will need to raise rates about 30 percent over the next six years. “Over the past decade, the utility’s rates have gone up 96 percent, while the rate of inflation in the Seattle Tacoma area has risen 25.6 percent.”

Now is the time to have a rainwater harvesting system designed and built by a professional rainwater collection system designer/installer and save money.

Underground Tank Construction3RainBank Rainwater Systems has been designing and building rainwater harvesting systems in the greater Puget Sound area for over 10 years and is an American Rainwater Catchment Systems Association lifetime member and an accredited professional. RainBank specializes in potable supplementary whole house systems in the Seattle area.

Do you want to learn how to save money on your utilities bill? Complete the form or leave a comment below. Ken Blair will respond to your questions.

Rainwater Collection Lesson For Orcas Island Students

If you think kids are only into video games, try teaching them about something they really care about – like rainwater harvesting and conservation.

Ken Blair Orcas Island School

RainBank’s Ken Blair and Craig Sanders from Island Irrigation recently spent an entire day with the students from Orcas Island School K through 6th grade, teaching rainwater collection and conservation. “I don’t know who had more fun – the children or myself. The enthusiasm of the kids kept the pace of the class going from bell to bell”, said Ken.

SandersBalloonKen taught a little history of rainwater collection, some science on the natural cycle of rain and a bit of math so the children could calculate how much rainwater they could collect from their home roofs. Each class will make rain gauges so they can monitor how much rain is available to fill their storage tank that RainBank installed last year for their garden-to-lunch program. “I think the children took away the need for them to conserve our resources and I am confident that they will go home and teach their parents. It was a great bunch of kids and I look forward to doing more of this”, adds Ken.

Read more about Orcas Island students and their lessons on rainwater collection here.

If you would like for your Seattle area school to participate in this type of learning, complete the form below to send a request to Ken Blair of RainBank Rainwater Catchment Systems.