Monthly Archives: April 2016

Rainwater Catchment

Precautions to Take for Summer Fire Season

Image of an ember storm from the Washington State Wildfires this year from the Washington Times Website 2015
Image of an ember storm from the Washington State Wildfires this year from the Washington Times Website 2015

Summer fire season is not far away. The past two summers have been devastating for homeowners, businesses and their communities. Over 1,600 square miles were scorched from June to September. For the first time in history, Washington State officials asked residents to volunteer in fighting the fires. Measures can be taken to protect your home from wildfires before fire season is upon us.  Some precautions homeowners can take include:

  • Create a break in vegetation with a rock path or non-flammable material around your yard to slow the spread of wildfire.
  • Create at least a 30 ft “defensible space” around your home
  • Keep your lawn and roofs free of needles and leafs.
  • Keep conifers around your home pruned well above ground level.

Many homes are not protected with public water supplies, leaving them vulnerable to fire, making these and other precautions necessary.  Homeowners, businesses and communities can be proactive by having their own source of water in case of fire. According to the Tallahassee Community Wildfire Protection Plan, “Water for fire suppression is in short supply throughout the service area. Communities should investigate and install cisterns at suitable locations to improve the capabilities of fire suppression efforts”. An on site water source can provide the homeowner and fire fighters a water source that may not be available otherwise.

ENGINEERED NFPA 22 FIRE PROTECTION WATER STORAGE TANKS

Fire Suppression Water TankRainBank Rainwater Systems is the Northwest region Contain Water Tank Inc. master dealer.  We offer several options for systems that are designed and built to handle fire suppression.  Tanks can come with a 20 year warranty; contact us below to learn more.

Infrastructure, Rainwater Catchment

Rainwater Collection Industry Alliance

wave-64170_640ARCSA (American Rainwater Catchment Systems Association) recently announced an alliance with the Green Water-Infrastructure Academy (GWI), where they will work together to cultivate and execute an integrated “expert-based” and “service-based” process for “information-sharing and research” within the United States and other countries to promote the use of rainwater.

In its announcement, ARCSA reports “Both organizations are dedicated to global water-resource sustainability through knowledge transfer and capacity building. These organizations recognize that rainwater and stormwater are underutilized resources and that their harvest and appropriate uses can alleviate water challenges related to scarcity and poor quality of existing potable and non-potable water sources, stormwater runoff management and energy consumption.”

The rainwater collection industry is riding a wave of growth as individuals and communities become aware of the fragility of our current infrastructure – as aging systems increase potential for lead in pipes carrying water into our homes and businesses. As the industry grows, there is a need for standards and best practices that will result in systems that can provide clean and safe water to the public. This alliance addresses that need for education and standards.

The mission of the American Rainwater Catchment Systems Association (ARCSA) is to “promote sustainable rainwater harvesting practices to help solve potable. non potable, stormwater and energy challenges throughout the world.”

RainBank is a lifetime member of ARCSA, and ARCSA’s Northwest regional representative, RainBank offers workshops for education and promotion of rainwater collection. With 15 years of establishing, applying and promoting rainwater collection best practices, RainBank Rainwater Systems’ practices dovetail with ARCSA’s mission statement.

Rainwater Catchment

7 Reasons to Collect Rainwater

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RBRWC924153Collecting rainwater offers many benefits for residents and businesses – for potable (drinking, showering) and non-potable applications (toilet flushing, irrigation, wash down) – and more. Water tanks can be made of plastic or steel and can be set above or below ground, depending on the amount of space available. Here are 7 reasons to collect rainwater:

Significant, economic, social, and environmental benefits can be achieved by collecting, storing, and using rainwater. According to the Texas A&M AgriLlife Extension and the American Rainwater Catchment Systems Association (ARCSA), rainwater harvesting benefits individuals and communities in many ways.

  1. CONSERVES WATER: Rainwater harvesting provides an alternative water source to well water and public water supplies. About 50 to 70 % of all household water is used for landscape irrigation and other outdoor activities.
  2. CONSERVES ENERGY: Because rainwater harvesting bypasses the centralized water system, it conserves energy. Many household systems require only a small pump to create water pressure in the pipes, and many non potable systems operate by gravity.
  3. PREVENTS FLOODING AND EROSION: Part of the local rainfall is diverted into collection tanks or passive harvesting methods, leaving less storm water to manage. Stormwater problems are turned into water supply assets by slowing runoff and allowing it to soak into the ground.
  4. DECREASES WATER CONTAMINATION: Captured rainwater does not cause immediate runoff. Limiting runoff helps decrease the contamination of surface water by sediments, fertilizers, and pesticides in rainfall runoff.
  5. REDUCES PERSONAL WATER BILLS: Rainwater can be used in landscaping, for toilets, and for washing laundry. With more filtration and treatment, it can be used for cooking and drinking as well.
  6. SUPPLIES NUTRIENTS TO PLANTS: Rainwater often contains nitrogen which provides a slight fertilizing effect for plants.
  7. PROVIDES NATURALLY SOFT WATER: The use of rainwater can significantly reduce the amounts of detergents and soaps needed. It also prevents soap scum, hardness deposits, and the need for water softeners.

A properly installed rainwater harvesting system, by a credentialed company, reaps rewards over city, well or surface water for many years with reliable, safe and quality water.

This throwback Thursday post was originally published under the title Benefits of Rainwater Collection at RainBank.info.