All posts by Ken Blair

A rainwater collection systems designer and consultant, Ken has designed and installed residential and commercial systems, primarily in the northwest United States for more than 10 years and, in 2014, began consulting and managing builds in other states. Ken is an accredited ARCSA Professional Designer / Installer and Life Member, the Northwest Regional ARCSA representative and advisor to its education committee and is available to speak about Rainwater Collection Systems design and builds. Ken is a United States Navy veteran, having served on active duty during the Vietnam War era. A career entrepreneur, Ken created a new business focus with a commercial dive company in Hawaii in the mid 1980′s to respond to and clean up oil spills, oil spill equipment training, service and maintenance for the oil co-op service industry. Ken is passionate about having a positive impact on the environment and is also a founding director of BANK-ON-RAIN (2011-2014), whose mission is to create grassroots solutions for rainwater collection for consumption and agriculture in developing areas of the planet.
Environment, Rainwater Catchment

Innovative Way to Collect Water in Dry Conditions


Close-up of a worn, metallic fountain pen nib on a black surface.Here is aninnovative way of collecting water in a dry environment.

With water fairlyeasily accessible in the US, let’s not forget it is a precious resource -a basic human right – that may not be so readily available in other areas of the world.

“Inspired to offer solution to this issue in a creative way, designer Arturo Vittori invented stunning water towers that can harvest atmospheric water vapor from the air. The nearly 30-foot tallWarkaWatertowers can collect over 25 gallons of portable water per day, and are comprised of two sections. The first is a semi-rigid exoskeleton built by tying stalks of juncus or bamboo together; the second, an internal plastic mesh similar to the bags oranges are packed in. The nylon and polypropylene fibers act as a scaffold for condensation, and once droplets of dew form, are funneled by the mesh into a basin at the base of the structure.”

Read more…

Rainwater Catchment

Electric Lifting Jacks Make Difficult Installations Easier


Close-up of a worn, metallic fountain pen nib on a black surface.Electric Lifting Jacks Make Difficult Installations Easier

RainBank Rainwater Systems, a Contain Water Systems Inc. distributor, can accommodate difficult installations where use of a boom truck or crane cannot be met.

Close-up of a worn, metallic fountain pen nib on a black surface.A 15,000 gallon Contain Water Systems Inc. water tank was erected for single family residence as a sole source rainwater collection system. The use of electric lifting jacks provided by RainBank Rainwater Systems allowed the tank to be built without the use of heavy equipment, protecting sensitive areas on this property.

Close-up of a worn, metallic fountain pen nib on a black surface.RainBank Rainwater Systems provides quality installations at competitive pricing of steel water tanks as a Contain Water Systems distributor and certified installer.

Contactus for rainwater collection, fire suppression, manufacturing, storm water retention, or any other purpose of water containment.

Environment, Infrastructure

How Do EPA Budget Cuts Affect Drinking Water Supplies?


Close-up of a worn, metallic fountain pen nib on a black surface.How willthe 31% budget cuts to the EPAaffect our country’sdrinking water?

An order of review of the “Clean Water Rule” will likely cut protections for smaller streams and wetlands.

According to Scientific American, “Wetlands do an excellent job of filtering out pollutants. As an example, bacteria in wetlands remove nutrients like nitrates from agricultural fertilizer run off, which prevents the contamination from living down stream.” Thus, affecting larger bodies of water, which are reservoirs for much of our water supplies .

Cuts to the National Forest Service can put our watersheds at risk. Forested areas are crucial to infiltration of ground water. Much of our nation’s water supply is from well water, dependent on natural filtering. Runoff caused by development and deforestation would directly affect water quality from increased pollutants entering larger bodies of water.

The Clean Water Act protects major water bodies like large streams, rivers, bays and other coastal waters, along with streams and wetlands that flow into them from being destroyed or polluted–or, at least, not polluted without federal oversight. It covers a large range of pollutants, including sewage, garbage, biological and radioactive materials, and industrial and agricultural waste.

States need the EPA as backup tocosts of programs that study, monitor, and write policies that protect our nation’s water supplies. The Federal government, with the clean water act of the 1970s and its amendments, need to remainin tact for the health and welfare of our nation.