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, Sustainability

Is it Time to Consider Rainwater Collection as a Viable Water Source?

2 Comments

biohazard-295141_640Why should rainwater collection be considered as a viable water source?

When public water supplies become damaged or compromised, especially due to human error, we must consider other viable options.

Over the last year we all have read articles about contamination of public water sources. The most recent in Flint Michigan has alarmed the nation. Old pipes in the infrastructure leached lead into the supply system caused by corrosive water when emergency managers switched water from Lake Harrow to the Flint River, affecting more than 1,000,000 people.

animas-river-pollutionIn August 2015, an estimated 3 million gallons of mine waste was released into a tributary, which flows into the Animas River near Durango Colorado. The mustard colored sludge contained high levels of arsenic, lead, and cadmium making the river and nearby wells unsafe for humans.

In April 2015, the nation’s largest electrical company Duke Energy was found guilty of contaminating nearby wells with heavy metals such as vanadium and chromium. Local streams and lakes were also affected from contaminants from Duke’s Coal ash pits.

Collecting rain makes sense. Whether you collect it in rain barrels or your storage needs require larger cisterns, rainwater collection and use has a host of benefits.

(c) Andrew Suryono, Indonesia, Entry, Nature and Wildlife Category, Open Competition, 2015 Sony World Photography AwardsHere are two main reasons why you should change your way of thinking about rainwater collection:

  • Rainwater can be a clean, safe, reliable source of potable and non-potable water
  • Rainwater is relatively clean to begin with and if collected, conveyed, stored, filtered and disinfected properly, it can meet the needs of small scale watering to whole house potable use
Commercial Rainwater Harvesting, Rainwater Catchment, Residential Rainwater Collection

Rainwater Collection is Ramping Up

In a recent article for Forester Network, about the growing rainwater collection industry, ARCSA president David Crawford says, “The field is really ramping up…”

The article goes on to explain, “There are a variety of methods of collecting rainwater – rain barrels, aboveground or underground cisterns, and other collection devices. Such harvested rainwater is frequently used for irrigation, but can also be a source of water for flushing toilets, washing vehicles, and, in some cases, for drinking water.”

Starting off the year by hitting the ground running, RainBank Rainwater Systems of Seattle is currently designing and building systems from Portland, Oregon to Whatcom County, Washington.

As the industry grows beyond a small niche market and becomes mainstream, RainBank has met the call for new steel water tank options in the Washington commercial and residential market with Contain Water Systems Inc – which carry a 20 year, industry high, warranty.

1-onequarter inch coarse filter_RainBankA dealer for Wisy products, Davey Pumps and Viaqua ultra violet disinfection systems – are all available from RainBank (contact us for more information). Additionally, RainBank recognizes the need for ease of ordering rainwater system components online from a local dealer and is continuing to build its website shopping cart.

RainBank Rainwater Systems has 15 years experience in the rainwater harvesting industry and is recognized by top engineering firms, architects and builders in the Pacific Northwest for consulting, design, and construction as the most knowledgeable, experienced, and trusted firm available. Contact RainBank today.

Commercial Rainwater Harvesting, Rainwater Catchment

Steel Water Tanks Have 20 Year Warranty

3 Comments
cropped-RainBankLogo2015-site-icon.jpeg contain-water-systems pinnacle logo

RainBank Rainwater Systems is the Northwest Pinnacle Steel Water Tank dealer and Contain Tank Systems Inc. certified installer.

Contain Water Systems Inc. has been involved in the manufacturing, design, engineering and distribution of corrugated steel liquid storage tanks for a total of 36 years.

RainBank Rainwater Systems has been designing and building rainwater collection systems in Washington for the past 15 years. The combined experience of Pinnacle, Contain and RainBank is unmatched in the Western United States.

Contain Water Systems Inc. supplies only the highest quality productdouble row bolting steel tankss and works hard to stay on the leading edge with innovative and engineered water tank designs. Contain Water Systems Inc. CGS (Corrugated Galvanized Steel) Water Storage Tanks are tested and engineered to meet or exceed all standard municipal wind, seismic, and snow loads required by the Uniform Building Code.
Access Hatch

Contain Water Storage Water Tanks are overlapped and hand bolted together on site, creating a double thickness of steel that enhances the durability and strength of the tank. Tanks have double row bolting on the vertical seams, rather than the single row bolting found on other manufacturers’ tanks. Ground level, through the liner access hatch for safety during construction and maintenance requires no confined space entry permitting.

All this – and an unrivaled 20-year warranty make Contain Water Systems’ steel tanks the obvious choice.

boom truckWith more than 5 years of construction of steel water tanks and 15 years of residential tank construction in the Northwest, when these tanks are built and installed by RainBank Rainwater Systems, it insures that the job is done right.

RainBank Rainwater Systems stand behind its work with Experience, Safety, and Knowledge and will get the job done right the first time with on site project management.

Use the form below to contact us.