Category Archives: Sustainability

Sustainability

400 Year Old Dependable Rainwater System Design


What do you do for domestic water supply on an island that has no rivers, lakes or a dependable water supply?

Close-up of a worn, metallic fountain pen nib on a black surface.

The inhabitants of Bermuda, a small island in the North Atlantic have been collecting rain water from their roofs for hundreds of years. The white stepped roofs, once made of limestone, are still being used today to collect rainfall to be stored for later use. The steps in the roofs, designed 400 years ago were meant to slow the flow of the water to be collected from gutters with the water being stored under the house.

Close-up of a worn, metallic fountain pen nib on a black surface.

Roofs like this one built in 1640 are the only dependable source of domestic supply for the island’s 60,000 inhabitants. Limestone roofs were heavy which in part was a good choice against high winds and the white limestone mortar had anti-bacterial qualities. This practice is now mandated in building regulations requiring 8 gallons of storage for every square foot of roof. To meet the demands of increased population growth and tourism, desalination is being introduced with six plants on the island producing 13,500 meters per day.

Close-up of a worn, metallic fountain pen nib on a black surface.Necessity is the mother of invention. These early settlers, as well as today’s inhabitants, are meeting their needs through conservation and cooperation.

Read more at BBC News.

Rainwater Catchment, Sustainability

Test Your Water Sense


Screenshot of "Test Your Water Sense" game menu with options and a water droplet mascot.Fortunately, Seattle is not dealing with the crippling drought experienced in 2015. However, since water is such a precious resource, we feel it’s always a good time to test your water sense.

We originally shared the following post in August 2014.

In Seattle, we are not facing a water shortage. Here at RainBank, we take aging water systems, water usage, storageand rainwater collection seriously. But, that doesn’t mean we can’t have some fun while being mindful about water.

Who hasn’ttriedthefun quizzes on Buzzfeed– like “How Many US States Have You Visited?” or “How Well Do You Know the Solar System?”

The EPA has joined the quiz frenzy with a WaterSense Quiz, a fun game to test your knowledge and share some facts aboutwater.

The object of the game is to move the water-efficiency hero, aptly namedFlo,through water pipes and answer water-efficiency questions while avoiding water-wasting monsters such asSogosaurusandDrainiac.

It may seem like child’s play, but if you try the EPA’s new interactive online quiz, you’ll be sure to learn a few factsabout water usage.

Click here to playthe game(Editor’s note – this version may not be mobile friendly), or click here to view a text only version of the quiz.Take yourturn and leave us a comment to let us know how you scored!

If you have any questions or comments about rainwater collection, we’re always happy to hear from you.

Rainwater Catchment, Sustainability

A Greener Approach in Yavapai County AZ


Close-up of a worn, metallic fountain pen nib on a black surface.The Prescott News has reported that Yavapai County (AZ) Government is including a greenerapproach tonew construction for a few county buildings. Rainwater collection and solar were included in the “reduction of energy and water usage.” Solar and LED lighting are already proving to be a significant cost savings in existing county building and are expected to do so in future projects.

Rainwater collection will supply irrigation requirements for both the new library and the county health services in Yavapai County. Low flush bathroom fixtures and alternatives in new technology in irrigation nozzles will be used to further the conservation examples to reduce future costs and public education of practices.

The exterior of Seattle Fire Station with a brick facade and signage.Federal and state buildings in Washington and Oregon have included these practices as well fire stations, schools, county buildings and military projects. Private practice has also jumped in with conservation and sustainability throughelectrical and water.

At RainBank Rainwater Systems, we applaud the conservation efforts of our officialsand the continued public education aboutsustainability, whether here in Seattle, throughout the Pacific Northwest, around the country, like in Yavapai County, AZ – and the world.