Category Archives: Rainwater Catchment

Rainwater Catchment, Residential Rainwater Collection

Skagit County Potable Water Solution


A metal water tank surrounded by rocks and greenery.

 

 

 

There is a solution for the landowners in Skagit County for potable water and obtaininga building permit, while protecting the in stream flow rules.

Skagit County has issued the first water availability and building permit with rainwater collection as the single source of water for a single family residence. The Department of Ecology has been promoting rainwater harvesting since 2009 statewide. It is up to each county to decide whether potable usage is allowed. Whatcom, King, Jefferson, Island, and San Juan Island counties have been allowing rainwater collection for some time now with great success. The Department of Ecology has encouraged Skagit County to promote the use of RWC with little support from the Health Department.

 

A person fly fishing in a misty river at dawn.Rather than continuing the “water war” in the valley, the Building and Health Departments should be promoting rainwater collection. Let the people know that there is a viable solution, so they can build their homes. Offer real case studies from other counties on the quality, availability, and affordable costs of a RWC system. Education aboutalternative water sources is available from the American Rainwater Catchment Systems Association (ARCSA) and myself, president of RainBank Rainwater Systems. There are well over 1,000 potable rainwater collection systems in the state providing clean, safe, and reliable water solutions, at costs similar to well-drilling.

 

Rainwater collection is beneficial to the environment, it mitigates stormwater runoff. Further benefit is found by protecting and replenishing our aquifers and supporting in stream flow rates.

Rainwater Catchment, Rainwater Harvesting Education

It’s Time to Get Serious About How We Choose to Use Water


A person waters flowers in a rustic wooden planter outdoors.The lingeringand controversial California drought has unearthed some interesting viewsabout how we prioritize how we usewater. What if there was a way to conserve drinking water and STILL have enough to water our drought thirsty lawns or washlaundry – or to clean trucks in a commercial facility?

The time has come to get serious about how we choose to use water!

Do you know that only oneinch of rain can supply thousands of gallons of water for non-drinking uses? Think in terms of lawn watering, toilet facilities and laundry for commercial and residential applications. The time has come to get serious about how we choose to use water; the reality is (especially in California) that there may not be enough for drinking one day – and sooner than you might think.

The Los Angeles Department of Water & Powerhas released a video that quickly points out the benefits to capturing rain water for use in irrigation. Take a look at the video below and consider adding rainwater collection to your next residential or commercial project.

Infrastructure, Rainwater Catchment

Rain Harvesting in National Spotlight


A serene waterfall cascading over rocks surrounded by greenery.The American Rainwater Catchment Systems Association, ARCSA, is adrivingforce in placingrain harvesting in the national spotlight by petitioning President Obama’s administration to focus on the broad economic value of supporting and encouraging growth in the rainwater harvesting industry.

According to ARCSA’s petition, rain harvestingis not just a sustainable source of water, the rainwater harvesting industry is building infrastructure “creating new jobs in design, installation, education, R&D, sales, plumbing, landscaping, roofing, monitoring and maintenance, which could propel the U.S. to international leadership, with compounding fiscal benefits.”

The petition has been submitted and is seeking 100,000 signatures in order to qualify for an official response. Please click here to read more and to sign the petition.