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.
Commercial Rainwater Harvesting, Rainwater Catchment

Rainwater Collection Can Be Part of Architectural Design

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Rainwater collection can be part of architectural design, adding distinction to a building, bringing awareness to conservation, and letting others learn about the responsibility of green building practices.

02915SeaScoutsMany new commercial construction projects are implementing stormwater management into their architectural designs, rather than simply meeting new regulations. Building designers and owners are showcasing their commitment to conservation, and incorporating functionality with aesthetics, in turn, this practice furthers customer and general public interest in conservation and rainwater collection, creating even more public awareness of the need for conservation and sustainable living practices.

“Lead by example”, my father used to say, “and it will inspire others to do the same.” Good advice when trying to do the right thing. Seattle and many other cities are recognizing the importance of rainwater collection as a method of controlling stormwater and are seeing the benefits associated with doing so.

Goodwill Building
Goodwill Building

Other projects that RainBank Rainwater Systems has been involved with include:

  • Sea Scouts building in Galveston, TX (top, left)
  • The Goodwill Building, Seattle, WA (right)
  • Edith Green Federal Building in Portland, OR
  • Federal Way School District, WA
  • Paul Allan’s project, South Lake Union, Seattle
  • Kirkland Safety Building, WA
  • Wallingford Fire Department, Seattle
  • Federal Aviation Building Neah Bay, WA
  • Tacoma School District Tacoma, WA
  • Seattle Arts Academy
  • Puget Sound Energy Seattle
  • Port of Gray’s Harbor, WA
  • Mill Creek Shopping Center, WA
  • Orcas Island School District, WA
  • Fort Lewis (Joint Base Lewis-McChord), WA – and more.

Sea Scouts Base photo courtesy of GuidryNews.com

How-to, Rainwater Catchment

Build a Rainwater Collection System – Throwback Thursday

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slimline tanksHere is a series of articles previously published by RainBank, on how to build a rainwater collection system.

The first post in the series focused on how all rainwater collection systems begin at the roof and gutters. Regardless of purpose, i.e. irrigation, supplementation or drinking, debris must be removed before storing rainwater.

The second, third, fourth and fifth posts in the series talked about tank types, tank sizes, how to keep water clean and kinds of filters to consider for your system.

In post six of the how-to build a rainwater collection system series, we cover managing aesthetics so your system fits into your landscaping  design.

If you’re interested in learning about how to install a rainwater collection system, take a look back at these helpful articles.

If you want to continue to read about rainwater collection and harvesting, remember to click the box below, to receive an email when a new post is launched on this blog.  Thanks for reading!

Rainwater Harvesting Education, Sustainability

California Gets Proactive About Drought

half-dome-534768_640Finally, some great news about the California drought!

A recent release from the California State Water Board  (also shared by ARCSA) announced a $30 million grant to be awarded to 30 school districts for education on stormwater capture and conservation.

The drought response outreach program (DROPS) for schools was established by the California State Water Board and will include on campus rainwater collection systems, bio swales,water wise landscaping along with education of conservation.

Education, including hands on experience, will help students understand the importance of conservation and how to plan for tomorrow. California Governor Brown and the State Water Board clearly understand that the time is now to do something about future water availability. Proactive response to a 4 year drought has been implemented. Let’s hope other states, including Washington State, take notice and follow with their own programs.