Cost vs. the Value of Water

coins-1015125_640Humans cannot survive without water.  But, how much should water cost?

Below is a throwback Thursday post about the cost of Seattle water:

The Seattle water system is a good one, provided by Seattle Public Utilities. But, as the demand grows with urban development and population, the cost of Seattle water will need to rise to support expansion.

A recent article by Gene Balk in the Seattle Times makes some interesting points.  Balk mentions “…bafflingly — drought-stricken Fresno, Calif., has some of the cheapest water in the nation. At a 50-gallon-per-person usage, a family of four would pay just $41.63 — less than one-quarter of the cost in soggy Seattle.”

Balk goes on to write: “Seattle has such high rates because we’ve invested more than most places in our water infrastructure in recent years. We relocated our reservoirs underground, in compliance with federal mandates, to keep our drinking water safe from contaminants. “

We can clearly see that it’s not the amount of Seattle water that is the generator of costs, it is the infrastructure required to convey and treat the water to potable standards.

Approximately 70% of household water demand is for non-potable usage. Irrigation, water closets, laundry, and wash down account for this non potable use. Rainwater collection can mitigate non potable use of city water and have a positive effect on our centralized water system and environment.

The commercial building owner and the home owner can enjoy healthy savings on future Seattle water bills by utilizing rainwater collection. Stormwater reduction could be significantly recognized through on site filtration if buildings and homes in the urban environment adopted rainwater collection.

Seattle is a progressive city in many ways and rainwater collection is part of that progression.

This article was originally published under the title The Cost of Seattle Water at RainBank.info

Rainwater Systems Designs

ruler-1030968_640RainBank Rainwater Systems designs potable and non potable rainwater catchment systems throughout Washington, Oregon, and Idaho.

RainBank’s experienced team provides customers with an integrated, progressive approach to sustainable, premium water systems.

Our customers include;

  • Eco-friendly homeowners seeking to add rainwater collection or integrate into plans for a new premium or custom built residence
  • Architects developing plans for premium residential projects
  • High-end building contractors specializing in custom builds
  • Commercial contractors where rainwater harvesting is a component to the scope of the project

We work closely with our clients early on in the project to insure the system design will meet the client’s needs and desires. We spec only quality components, chosen based on our 15 years of experience, ensuring performance for years to come.

RainBank is a full service LLC with in-house engineering, design team, and licensed plumber. Our designs meet all county and state plumbing codes and their requirements. RainBank is familiar with the permitting process in most counties and will process the permitting to alleviate the guesswork for our clients. Our designs include;

  • Calculations of domestic demands & supply, MIDs, & sizing 
  • Drawings from down spout to storage, cistern placement, conveyance, filtration train, connection to household  and civil
  • Complete list and specs of components along with manufacturer cut sheets
  • Operations and maintenance manual
  • County permitting from health department

We install our own designs to ensure the system will meet the high standards we have set in the industry. We offer inspections of other systems for evaluation, real estate and insurance transactions, always with a detailed written report including sampling results and photos for submittal.

RainBank’s team is ARCSA  Accredited & ARCSA  Inspector Specialists.

Need more info? Contact us below:

Fire Protection Water Storage

You may have read that RainBank is a Master Dealer for water tanks by Contain Water Systems.

Why Contain?

They are the manufacturer of corrugated steel liquid storage tanks primarily used for the storage of water. Contain’s water series tanks and accessories come with a 20 year warranty, the longest in the industry, backed by a team of certified installers around the country ready to provide a top notch installation service for your project site.

As the most experienced designer and installer of rainwater systems in the Pacific Northwest, RainBank selects the highest quality materials and products for its customers. Many of the systems we built early on are still operating – and our customers still refer us – because our systems are build to last. With a 20 year warranty, Contain Water Systems’ steel water tanks are the perfect fit for RainBank’s selective customers.

More about Contain Water Systems Tanks and Accessories

  • Contain Water Systems Inc. Water Series tanks & accessories are designed and engineered for several applications. Rainwater harvesting, stormwater management, fire protection, irrigation, agricultural, industrial, mining, potable drinking water and many other applications.
  • Contain Water Systems Inc. water series tanks & accessories are manufactured from high quality corrugated, hot-dipped galvanized steel for superior strength and durability.
  • Contain Water Systems Inc. includes a full scale structural engineering package with each estimation designed to the seismic area in your project location throughout the USA & Canada.

Please enjoy these photos from a recent custom engineered project from Contain Water Systems Inc. This tank was built inside a pre-assembled enclosure. Model CGS 1806 NFPA 22 Fire Protection Tank providing  the customer with 41,500 gallons of fire protection water storage.

Contact us about your next project today.

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