How Can Rainwater Harvesting Benefit our Cities?

How Can Rainwater Harvesting Benefit our Cities?

Storm water runoff is a major cause of water pollution in urban areas, which is why  we ask the question: How can rainwater harvesting benefit our cities?

When rain falls in undeveloped areas, the water is absorbed and filtered by soil and vegetation. Not so in urban environments. Streets, parking lots and buildings are impervious surfaces and do not allow the natural process of infiltration. In most urban areas, storm water is drained through collection systems and discharged into our waterways. This storm water carries oils, bacteria, heavy metals and other pollutants into the receiving water. The storm water overwhelms the sewer system and intentional releases of sewer into our waterways is conducted to prevent a spill onshore.

Seattle is mandated by the federal government to address its storm water and sewage releases into the Puget Sound. With higher density development, the “Green Stormwater Infrastructure” (GSI) was mandated to address storm water runoff with infiltration techniques such as bio swells, green roofs, infiltration planter boxes, including green parking areas and streets using permeable pavers. While these techniques are helping to reduce run off they do not address the increasing demands on our water resources.

Rainwater that is harvested collects and stores rainfall for future use. When designed and installed properly, it, too, helps reduce runoff while providing a viable source of water for irrigation, toilet and laundry facilities, and when filtrated and disinfected can be an alternative to city water for potable use.

With increased demands on centralized water systems from population growth, aging infrastructure, and increased costs to upgrade and maintain, rainwater harvesting for commercial and residential use is a viable and economical solution.

Mt. Rainier and the Puget Sound photo courtesy of Andrew E. Larsen.

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.