Category Archives: Infrastructure

Infrastructure, Residential Rainwater Collection

Can You Disconnect from a Municipal Water Supply?

drinking water from fountainWhile you cannot disconnect from most municipal water supplies in Washington State, you can include a non-potable rainwater collection system as a supplementary source statewide.

Since October 2009 Washington State legislature has accepted rainwater collection for non-potable use for residential and commercial application. Irrigation, toilet flushing, laundry facility and wash down are all acceptable usage of rainwater.

King, Jefferson, Island, San Juan, Skagit, and Whatcom counties have all adopted potable use of rainwater for a single-family residence as supplemental. Most allow for sole source or off grid use if there is a “hardship” involved with a well or community water source. Some cities within these counties do not allow potable use therefore it is recommended that homeowners who are considering rainwater harvesting should check with their county and city health departments for regulations and requirements.

RainBank’s President Ken Blair actively works with counties and cities to promote the practice of rainwater collection for potable use. With aging infrastructure, increasing demand, and water quality concerns, rainwater collection is being recognized as a viable source of drinking water.

Depending on your roof size, annual rainfall, and demand, you can supplement up to 100% of your household use. An average 2,000 square foot home with 36″ annual rainfall will yield over 44,000 gallons annually. Whether you are building a new home or own an existing home, urban or rural, rainwater catchment can provide a safe, reliable source of water, with quality of water exceeding most well and public water sources. A properly designed and constructed system with quality filtration and ultraviolet disinfection is easily maintained by the homeowner, allowing the homeowner to be in charge of their household water.

RainBank Rainwater Systems has been designing and installing potable rainwater catchment systems for 15 years and President Ken Blair is an American Rainwater Catchment Systems Association (ARCSA) accredited professional, Inspector Specialist, ARCSA Northwest Regional Representative, and lifetime ARCSA member.

Infrastructure, Sustainability

Climate Change and Water Scarcity

ball-1055956_640At the Paris World Climate Summit held in December 2015, participants overwhelmingly agreed to work on a legally binding agreement to reduce carbon output as soon as possible. While currently non-binding, there is commitment to “do their best to reduce their carbon output”.  Global warming is expected to account for approximately 20% increase in water scarcity this century.

According to the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), “Climate change will have significant impact on the sustainability of water supplies in the coming decades.”

The Federal Clean Water Needs Survey identified over $100 billion in needed infrastructure in the next 20 years to address stormwater and sewage overflows.

The NRDC goes on to explain that capturing rainwater from rooftops is an effective water resource management strategy that increases supply and reduces pollution.

The unnecessary use of potable water for non-potable uses, such as outdoor landscape irrigation and indoor toilet flushing, climate change and continually increasing areas of impervious surfaces in our landscape, results in stormwater runoff carrying pollution to our rivers, lakes, and beaches. Although the problems of water supply and water pollution can be complex, practical solutions for both are available now, such as capturing and using rainwater from rooftops.

Rooftop rainwater capture is a simple, cost-effective approach for supplying water that promotes sustainable water management. Reusing rainwater, rather than allowing it to run off of paved surfaces to pick up pollutants and carry them to nearby surface waters, is a practice which provides numerous benefits:

  • Inexpensive, on-site supply of water that can be used for outdoor non-potable uses with little, if any, treatment, or for a variety of additional uses including potable supply with appropriately higher levels of treatment
  • Reduced (or no) energy and economic costs associated with treating and delivering potable water to end users because capture systems often use low-volume, non-pressurized, gravity fed systems or require only the use of a low power pump for supply
  • Reduced strain on existing water supply sources
  • Reduced runoff that would otherwise contribute to stormwater flows, a leading cause of surface water pollution and urban flooding.

Seattle has adopted “Rooftops to Rivers” strategies for controlling storm water and combined sewer overflows. Updated code and regulations can be found here.

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.