All posts by RainBankAdmin

Environment, Sustainability

Drought, Water, Health and Life

flower-887443_640We at RainBank firmly hold true the belief that access to clean water is a basic human health necessity and a deserved right for all people.

The effects of climate change threaten our supplies of this resource that we simply cannot live without. According to the NDRC (National Resources Defense Council), nearly every U.S. region is facing some increased risk of seasonal drought.

The NDRC also reports “climate change will significantly affect the sustainability of water supplies in the coming decades. As parts of the country get drier, the amount of water available and its quality will likely decrease – impacting people’s health and food supplies.”

According to its website, the NRDC is a U.S. environmental action group, combining the grassroots power of more than 2 million members and online activists with the courtroom clout and expertise of nearly 500 lawyers, scientists and other professionals.

The article Drought: Threats to Water and Food Security discusses how public health will be compromised if access to clean water isn’t always available. Many states including California, New York, Maryland, New Hampshire, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Washington, Wisconsin and Virginia have developed drought plans.

The Untapped Savings In California’s Water Supply offers suggestions on ways to conserve water through rainwater harvesting, water reuse, energy efficient appliances and drought resistant landscaping.

We can all do our part to conserve and preserve water – our lives on this planet depend on it!

Infrastructure, Sustainability

Rainwater Harvesting and Life on Maui

Maui 2004As some of us living in colder climes hunker down for the cold weather, now is a good time to share an article from Maui Now about green living with rainwater catchment systems.

The article effectively and simply illuminates the benefits of collecting rainwater for either landscaping or drinking water, outlining the components and why each is important for a system that will either supplement or replace city water.

Some folks may find (at least on Maui) that the property they’re interested in purchasing is off grid, with no city water source available. Others want to supplement city water to save money and reduce demand on city infrastructure, decelerating the onset of potential future water shortages.

According to the article, ‘With a rainwater catchment system, you will be able to capture rainwater, divert it to a storage area, save it in a safe and clean place for later use, and then create a system for water distribution.”

RainBank is an experienced rainwater collection system design firm and consults on systems for residential and commercial use. RainBank designs potable and non-potable systems to be used for irrigation, laundry, toilet and wash down facilities. RainBank follows its designs through the permitting process; clients have an advocate to navigate the confusing maze of government entities and regulations. RainBank president Ken Blair is ARCSA AP (Accredited Professional) and IS (Inspector Specialist), both of which require continuing education for certification. RainBank also serves as ARCSA’s Pacific Coastal Regional Representative.

Commercial Rainwater Harvesting, Environment, Sustainability

Students Design Rainwater Collection System & Save Money for Business

K5116 Tyler Hammerle Engineering Senior Design Project
K5116 Tyler Hammerle Engineering Senior Design Project

Let’s hear it for the next generation! A team of students in Miami, Ohio designed and built a rainwater collection system for a local business that was looking to save money.

An article in the Miami Student details the story of how, in 2010,  an environmental commission discussion on improved stormwater management at an auto shop led to this project. Once the right student team could be assembled, the venture began in September 2014 with students from The College of Engineering and Computing

With the help of their professor, the students worked on designing a rainwater harvesting system that would reduce water usage through filtration, collection and reuse from the 4,200 square feet of roof at the business location. The collected water is used for washing cars and other cleanup functions at the shop.

K5116 Tyler Hammerle Engineering Senior Design Project
K5116 Tyler Hammerle Engineering Senior Design Project

According to the article, the system has been successful, providing the business with 2,500 gallons of water per inch of rainwater and saving close to $1,000 on water bills this year because city water no longer needs to be tapped for this function.

Congratulations to these innovative students for designing and implementing a cost saving, functional and sustainable rainwater collection design.

Photos by Scott Kissell