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, Rainwater Harvesting Education

U.S. Water Supply Challenges


2014 Annual Conference logo for American Rainwater Catchment Systems Association.Seattle based RainBank Rainwater Collection Systems to attend ARCSA conference addressing U.S. Water Supply Challenges.

This year marksARCSA‘s20th anniversary, and its annual conference will put the focus on Rainwater Harvesting: Solutions to U.S. Water Supply Challenges.

The annual rainwater collectionconference, to be held in Phoenix, AZ this November, will offer presentations from educators, industry professionals, and keynote speakers, with topics includinglegislative action, codes and standards, guidelines, along with panel discussions, and workshops centered around rainwater collection.

Man giving a presentation to an audience in a conference room.RainBank’s president Ken Blair was tapped topresenta session onUrban Rainwater Collectionand its effects on stormwater runoff mitigation.

Additionally, Ken will participate inan advanced continuing education course to attain the designation of Inspection Specialist (IS), augmentinghis already achieved,Accredited Professional (AP) qualification and lifetime member status.

Adding theIS accreditation to itslistof qualifications solidly identifiesRainBank as theleader in rainwater catchment systems design and installation for commercial and residential customers, especially forSeattle area customers and classifiesRainBank asthe most qualified, up to date, professional Rainwater Collection company in the industry.

Rainwater Catchment, Residential Rainwater Collection

Swimming Pool Repurposed for Underground Rainwater Collection


Workers installing large septic tanks at an excavation site.7,200 gallons of collected rainwater for household usage has no visual impact for this newly constructed Bellevue home. The homeowner wanted to have a rainwater catchment system to provide water for the toilet and laundry facility, but he did not want large, above ground water tanks interfering with the landscaping of his backyard.

A sunny backyard with lush green grass and surrounding trees.The solution: excavating the old cement swimming pool and placing four 1800 gallon poly water tanks in its place, creating an underground rainwater collection system. All the tanks are connected with a manifold for equalization and supply a pressure tank and filtration in the mechanical room for usage. Solenoid valves provide automatic switching from rainwater to city water if the tanks should run low, but will switch back to rainwater when the tanks receive more water from the roof.

Gutter screens were installed, along with a vortex filter, which will eliminate debris from entering the storage tanks. In the mechanical room, a sediment filter will remove fine sediment, followed by a carbon filter to eliminate color and odor.

With auto switching, the homeowner will never know the difference (other than his reduced water bill) and he finds the underground rainwater collection system aesthetically appealing.

Rainwater Catchment, Residential Rainwater Collection

What Weather Pattern Will Seattle See This Winter?


A powerful ocean wave curling and crashing.What type of weather pattern can we expect in the Seattle area this winter?

According to the latest NOAA forecast,”For more than a year now we have been experiencing a ‘La Nada’ weather pattern, with ‘El Niño’ todevelop toward the end of the year.” Warming of the equatorial Pacific Ocean will trend toward a warm and dry fall and winter across the Pacific Northwest while sending the jet stream farther to the South bringing California much needed wetter weather. This means less snow pack and less lowland rain for the Seattle area.

However the NOAA stats suggest we are not in the El Niño pattern yet, with .46″ of rainfall this last Saturday and a weekly total of 2.18″ this past week. A monthly total so far of 2.90″ is lessthan the average monthly total for October of 3.24″.

A 2,000 sq ft home in Seattlecould have collected 3,613.4 gallons ofwater from that 2.90″. With an average rainfall of 36″ that same home could collect almost 45,000 gallons. With approximately 12,000 gallons of storage, that home would have a budget of 3,750 gallon average monthly use and enough water stored to supply their summer demand.

Seattle is one of the best suited areas for rainwater catchment regardless ofclimatic weather patterns weface.