Rainwater Catchment

Consider Future Demands on Rainwater Collection System


Close-up of a worn, metallic fountain pen nib on a black surface.When you calculate area rainfall – measured annually, monthly and daily, plus factor in how the water will be used in the future, you can determine how much is storage is necessary to meet your needs.

Being aware of current water use is helpful with knowing how to size a system, but don’t neglect to consider potential future demands. If you’re planning a family, entertaining, have a growing business, or may sell the dwelling and property, you want to account for those scenarios when you calculate storage. At best, the system should be professionally designed and built to meet future demands as well. Here are more reasons to consider future demands when building a rainwater collection system:

Possible drought or longer periods of dry season should also be considered when designing or building a system. Incorporating back up water supplies into a system can be as easy as hauled water, or drawing from a well, community or city water system and should be an available option for those times. Residential rainwater systems in the city are often limited in space for storage, leaving the volume of the cisterns inadequate for year round use. Having the ability to switch to this alternate source can be a necessity in design. However,a more rural environment lends itself to larger storage capacities.

Water demand is an important part of design and the American Water Works Association (AWWA) has conducted a study of various fixtures and appliances. Knowing these demands will help estimate usage and assistthe designer to adapt the design accordingly. Single flush toilets use 1.28 gal/ flush, dual flush toilets 1.0 gal/ flush for liquids and 1.28 gal/ flush for solid. Average use is 6 flushes per person, per day. Low use fixtures such as shower heads, faucets, cloths washer (front loading) are recommended for the overall design of the house and can be found in publications from manufacturers.

Outdoor demand should be limited as much as possible. Drought tolerant plantings, drip irrigation, and general conservation will help limit outdoor usage.

For specific irrigation needs, Evapotranspiration (ET) is the measurement of amount of water in inches that is needed to grow plants. All plants have a different watering requirements, also being affected by temperature, wind, humidity, and sunlight. A state climatologist can be contacted to attain an ET standard reference for your area. Careful consideration of outdoor use must be givenif irrigation is part of the RWC design. An average city lot can use as much as 1,800 gallons of water for watering a lawn.

In order to get the best performance from your rainwater collection system, indoor and outdoor demands must be carefully calculated using best storage capacities, surplus and defect, level of storage, daily, monthly, and annual use/demand for the entire year. Simply calculatingthe average annual rainfall amounts will not produce the end goal of a well designed RWC system. It is best to determine average potential of collection and use. Determine average daily, monthly, and annual rainfall amounts. Calculate collection area, and determine runoff. Identify highs and lows of rainfall amounts and demands. Determine those months of low amounts of rainfall along with the carryovers from months prior. Certainly, identify those months of zero rainfall.

When you knowhow you currently and potentially will consume collected rainwater, plus install water efficient fixtures and by employing best conservation practices, you will have enough during periods of high demand or drought, when you might have to cut back or switch to an alternate source. If you plan for this during the design process, you will have a system that works for you far into the future.

This article was originally published under the title Estimating Water Usage for a Rainwater Collection Systemat RainBank.info

Rainwater Catchment

Precautions to Take for Summer Fire Season


Close-up of a worn, metallic fountain pen nib on a black surface.
Image of an ember storm from the Washington State Wildfires this year from the Washington Times Website 2015

Summer fire season is not far away. The past two summers have been devastating for homeowners, businesses and their communities. Over 1,600 square miles were scorched from June to September. For the first time in history, Washington State officials asked residents to volunteer in fighting the fires.Measures can be taken to protect your home from wildfires before fire season is upon us. Some precautions homeowners can take include:

  • Create a break in vegetation with a rock path or non-flammable material around your yard to slow the spread of wildfire.
  • Create at least a 30 ft “defensible space” around your home
  • Keep your lawn and roofs free of needles and leafs.
  • Keep conifers around your home pruned well above groundlevel.

Many homes are not protected with public water supplies, leaving themvulnerable to fire, making these and other precautions necessary. Homeowners, businesses and communities can be proactive by having their own source of water in case of fire.According to the Tallahassee Community Wildfire Protection Plan, “Water for fire suppression is in short supply throughout the service area.Communities should investigate and install cisterns at suitable locations to improve the capabilities of firesuppression efforts”. An on site water source can provide the homeowner and fire fighters a water source that may not be available otherwise.

ENGINEERED NFPA 22 FIRE PROTECTION WATER STORAGE TANKS

Close-up of a worn, metallic fountain pen nib on a black surface.RainBank Rainwater Systems is the Northwest region Contain Water Tank Inc. master dealer. We offer several options for systems that are designed and built to handlefire suppression. Tanks can come with a 20 year warranty; contact us below to learn more.

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Infrastructure, Rainwater Catchment

Rainwater Collection Industry Alliance


Close-up of a worn, metallic fountain pen nib on a black surface.ARCSA (American Rainwater Catchment Systems Association) recently announced an alliancewith theGreen Water-Infrastructure Academy(GWI), where they will work together to cultivate and execute an integrated “expert-based” and “service-based” process for “information-sharing and research” within the United States and other countries to promote the use of rainwater.

In its announcement, ARCSA reports “Both organizations are dedicated to global water-resource sustainability through knowledge transfer and capacity building. These organizations recognize that rainwater and stormwater are underutilized resources and that their harvest and appropriate uses can alleviate water challenges related to scarcity and poor quality of existing potable and non-potable water sources, stormwater runoff management and energy consumption.”

Therainwater collection industry is riding a wave of growth as individuals and communities becomeaware of the fragility of our current infrastructure – asaging systems increase potential for lead in pipes carrying water into our homes and businesses. As the industry grows, there is a need for standards and best practices that will result in systems that canprovide clean and safe water to the public. This alliance addresses that need for education and standards.

The mission of the American Rainwater Catchment Systems Association (ARCSA) is to “promote sustainable rainwater harvesting practices to help solve potable. non potable, stormwater and energy challenges throughout the world.”

RainBank is a lifetime member of ARCSA, and ARCSA’s Northwest regional representative, RainBank offers workshops for education and promotion of rainwater collection. With 15 years of establishing, applying and promoting rainwater collection best practices, RainBank Rainwater Systems’ practices dovetail with ARCSA’s mission statement.

Rainwater Systems