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.
Rainwater Catchment

Are Decentralized Water Systems the Answer?

water-1587718_640As we shared in an earlier post, RainBank Rainwater Systems and Contain Water Systems Inc.  are attending the 16th annual American Rainwater Catchment Systems (ARCSA) conference in Las Vegas December 4th through the 8th.

While we’re working hard to learn new ways to bring the most modern rainwater harvesting products and practices to  you, here’s an oldie, but goodie from January 2015, that talks about decentralized water systems.

Rainwater collection, a simple source for decentralized water, can be the answer to our aging, centralized water systems. With expected increased demand from high density development and the high cost of upgrading infrastructure to meet those demands, water will become the new commodity. Much has been discussed about privatization of water districts in order to fund these expenses, turning these districts into “for profit” businesses.  Large corporations such as Nestlé are actively pursuing this new business model.

What effect will privatization and profit generating water companies have on water supplies? Will Wall Street play a part in the trading, much like oil or any other commodity? What then will happen to the average consumer? What level will supply and demand hold on the price and pricing of water?

Rainwater collection and use can play an important role in not only supply, but potentially help keep costs down for the consumer and water districts. Simple water conservation, along with  collection can decrease supply and demand by supplementing centralized water. A rainwater collection system used only for toilet flushing and laundry facilities can save the average home 50% of its use. Commercial buildings can supply their irrigation and toilet flushing needs with rainwater collection while saving thousands of cubic yards of centralized water consumption.

The supply and demand of centralized water can be mitigated with rainwater collection on a large scale by small supplementary rainwater collection systems for commercial and residential use.

If you can’t attend the ARCSA conference, be sure to stop back here for an update from us.

Rainwater Catchment

Seattle Stormwater and Drainage Code Compliance

roof gutter rainRainwater collection has become an integral part of Seattle’s construction projects, starting with design and architecture, to be in compliance with the new 2016 stormwater and drainage codes.  Collection and beneficial use can be key components toward compliance with these codes, which is especially important at the architectural design stage.

 Infiltration typically uses a detention system, which regulates and controls storm water runoff by slowing the rate of discharge to reduce impacts downstream, or a retention system, which stores stormwater runoff indefinitely, until it is lost through percolation, evaporation, or uptake by vegetation. Both are typical of rain gardens and small rain barrel systems.

Rainwater collection systems typically collect only roof runoff and conveys it to storage for future beneficial use. This can be for irrigation by combining detention and collection. Some Rainwise Program installations are combining these two in their approach toward best practices of stormwater management. Larger scale rainwater collection systems are typically comprised of corrugated steel water tanks used for irrigation, water closets, and wash down and can be included in the building’s design. 

RainBank Rainwater Systems works closely with owners, architects, engineers, and contractors in the process of design, through installation, to achieve the desired results of both efficiency and aesthetic. RainBank is a full service rainwater collection systems contracting company offering designs, permitting and construction throughout Washington State and Oregon. 

New codes and permitting can be complex and sometimes frustrating, especially when the rules change. We remove the guesswork of all requirements of city, county, and state agencies and new codes. All designs are custom engineered to meet specific design requirements while onsite management and installations are by ARCSA accredited installers and licensed plumbers. We only specify and install the most reliable, effective components and warranty our craftsmanship. 

RainBank Rainwater Systems is the right choice when it comes to Rainwater collection for design, components, and installations. Contact us for more information:

Infrastructure, Rainwater Catchment

Why is Rainwater Collection Important?

rainwater-collection-diagramSimply put, Rainwater Collection is the practice of collecting and storing rain for future use.  A Rainwater collection system combines components to collect, convey, and store for beneficial use. This can be as simple as rain barrels or a more complex system for potable drinking water. Both are important and have large scale benefits environmentally and socially. 

The use of rainwater collection, or sometimes referred to as harvesting, is nothing new. Evidence as far back as 1700 BC on the Island of Crete indicate a sophisticated rainwater collection system. It is known that the Romans constructed reservoirs and conveyance throughout the Mediterranean. In more modern times, many of our grandparents collected rainwater in rural areas in the United States and Europe. During World War II, many of the South Pacific Islands occupied by US forces collected rainwater for beneficial use.

A modern, centralized water system in urban areas expanded into outlying areas and eventually into more rural communities. Large and small public and community water systems made life easier for the average person and costs were minimal to the consumer. However, with increased demands from population, commercial and industrial demands, new fresh water supplies are becoming strained. The technology, equipment, testing, and efficiencies of rainwater collection and a supplementary, decentralized water system are helping to reduce that stress on today’s resources. 

Expenses incurred to upgrade, expand, and repair our current centralized water systems will be high, but can be reduced by lessening the demand. The use of rainwater capture for non potable use, i.e.,  toilet and laundry facility, can reduce residential use by as much as 48%. The use of centralized water, disinfected to drinking water standards for irrigation of landscaping has a great impact on our resources. Along with better practices such as swales, drought tolerant plantings, passive on sight infiltration, pollution of our waterways are less threatened by stormwater runoff.

Groundwater levels at present are showing declines, excessive pumping, and other factors are causing wells to go dry or quality to decrease. Many locals are experiencing shifts in rainfall frequency and intensity. Declining habitat due to impacts of development, pollution from runoff, and declining river flow rates can be minimized by preventable, best practices such as rainwater collection, use, and infiltration.