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.
How-to, Rainwater Catchment

How to Move Collected Water From Tank

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Submersible water pump with float switch and control box.To move collected water from a tank for filtration and then use, installing a submersible pump or centrifugal pressure pump is necessary to get the job done. Additionally, if you go with a submersible pump, it will also need a way to manage and regulate movement.

A pressure tank with a pressure switch will tell the pump when to turn on and off by a drop of pressure in the pressure tank. This application is much like well system and is intended for household use. It could be used for irrigation, but keep in mind that the pressure tank will need to be frost protected.

A stainless steel cylindrical gas heater with a black front.The most common method of conveyance would be a booster pump. These pumps are generally centrifugal pumps and can be placed in the mechanical room or well shed.

A centrifugal booster pump is used without an exterior pressure tank and is considered an “on demand” pump, meaning that when the faucet is opened, the pressure in the pump drops down to low pressure – usually 20 PSI, and the pump will start running and maintain constant pressure while the faucet is open. Once the faucet is closed, the pump will continue to run until it meets its high pressure cut off.

It is important to remember that either pump system should always be used before filtration and disinfection.

This was firstpublishedas Part 7 in the series “How to Build a Rainwater Collection System”. Click to see partsone,two,three,four, fiveandsix.

Commercial Rainwater Harvesting, Rainwater Catchment

Water Tank Distributor

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Seattle based RainBank Rainwater SystemsLLCis the Northwest distributor ofContain Water Tanks,servingWashington State, Oregon and Idaho.

Close-up of a worn, metallic fountain pen nib on a black surface.Contain Water Systems Inc. Water Series tanks & accessories are designed and engineered for several applications. Rainwater harvesting, stormwater management, fire protection, irrigation, agricultural, mining, potable water and many other applications. Contain Water tanks are manufactured from high quality corrugated, hot dipped galvanized steel for superior strength and reliability.

Contain Water Systems Inc.Water Series Tanks include a full scale structural engineering package with each estimation designed to the seismic area in your project location throughout the USA & Canada. Contain Water Tanks are engineered to include 165 MPH wind speeds, durable snow loads and seismic forces at specific project locations. Contain Water Systems Inc. water series tanks & accessories are backed with a20-yearwarranty!Extensive engineering to national design codes make the Contain Water Tankextremelyadaptable to any climate,landscape type, or building facility.

Contain Water Tanks & accessories are packagedefficiently as well aseasily transported into hard to reach locations or building facility. Each tank is custom built,unique to the customer’s needs and assembled at the project site byqualified Contain Water Systems Inc.certified installers. Contain Water Systems water tanks range from 6 ft. to 180 ft. in diameter and up to 400 feet in diameter as an open top tank.

Most Popular Tank Applications

  • Fire Protection Water Storage Tanks
  • Bulk Storage Tanks
  • Wastewater Tanks
  • Stormwater Management
  • Treatment Tanks
  • Mining, Minerals & Quarry Bins
  • Clarifier Tanks
  • Irrigation Water Tanks
  • Industrial Liquid Storage & Processing Tanks
  • Aquaculture Fish Brooding Tanks
  • Rain Cisterns & Tanks
  • Thermal Storage & Water Cooling Tanks
  • Brewery & Winery Tanks
  • Greywater Tanks
  • Agriculture Water Storage Tanks
  • Sand Filter Tanks
  • Potable Water Storage Tanks
  • Enclosures, Canopies, Houses, Cabins
Close-up of a worn, metallic fountain pen nib on a black surface.
Access Doors Through Liner

Contain Water Systems Inc. is the only manufacturer that carries a 20-yearwarranty and offers a through the liner, grade level access.

RainBank Rainwater Systems LLC has 15 years of steel water storage tank construction in Washington State and is now offering an alternative Close-up of a worn, metallic fountain pen nib on a black surface.in the corrugated steel water tank market in Washington, Oregon, and Idaho. At RainBank Rainwater Systems LLC and Contain Water Systems Inc. we service what we sell and hold a strong dedication to commitment and quality. Contact our team to see how we can assist your project.

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Rainwater Catchment

How to Find a Rainwater Harvesting Contractor


A row of houses behind a field and trees under a clear sky.When we start a project of some magnitude, we wantto finda trained professional. Right? We want to find the best mechanic for our car, the top electrician to light our homes and businesses, and we certainly want the highest credentialedcontractor when it comes to providing safe, life-sustaining clean water. Ask yourself:

How can I find a qualifiedcompany to design and install my rainwater collection system?

ARCSA (American Rainwater Catchment Systems Association) is a non profit organization designed to educate and promote rainwater collection.

Seminars, conferences, continuing education, and resources are a few advantages that ARCSA members can benefit from, giving ARCSA members a host of opportunities to advance in the industry. After all, it was ARCSA members thatintroduced Rainwater Collection to be a viable source forwater and storm water runoff solutions.

RainBank Rainwater Collection Systems is a lifetime member and an accredited professional of ARCSA, as well as a leader in design and installations in the Seattle Area andthroughout Washington State.

Here are some frequently asked(and answered) questionscoveredby ARCSA.

There are many choices – which may be confusing – when choosing a contractor. Seattle based RainBank wantsto be your supplier of steel tanks and rainwater systems components in the Pacific Northwest – as well as your go-to designer, installerand rainwater harvesting consultant. Use the form below to contact us today.

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