Environment, Sustainability

Will Museum Become the Place Future Generations Can Experience Rainfall?


They took all the trees
And put them in a tree museum
Then they charged the people
A dollar and a half just to see ’em
Don’t it always seem to go,
That you don’t know what you’ve got
‘Til it’s gone
They paved paradise
And put up a parking lot
Big Yellow Taxi, Joni Mitchell

Close-up of a worn, metallic fountain pen nib on a black surface.Released in 1970, artist Joni Mitchell hit the nail on the head with this lyric from her song, Big Yellow Taxi, practically predicting the future. A recent NY Times article titled Drought Adds Wrinkle to ‘Rain Room’ Exhibit in California, reports on “Rain Room” an exhibit at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, which gives visitors the experience of walking through rain without getting wet. Motion sensor cameras pause the water as people walk beneath them, “creating a Moses-parting-the-seas kind of spectacle – the exhibit here is truly novel and timely, a reminder of what is missing in the parched West these days”.

One drought-weary Californian commented on the irony, “The only rain we get is indoors, and it doesn’t hit us, said Ken Bruce, who spread his arms wide as he walked under the high-tech rain ceiling in a mostly fruitless attempt to do what people normally avoid at all costs: get wet. I wouldn’t have minded being hit by some of it”.

Museums typically showcase precious artifacts – often priceless items of historical, scientific, artistic value. Has rain become such a precious commodity that future generations willonly be able to experience it in a museum?

Potable, Rainwater Catchment

Does Rainwater Need Treatment for Drinking?


A clear glass of water placed upside down on a countertop.Although it is fairly clean at the outset, when it comes in contact with impure surfaces, rainwater may need some treatment before drinking. A rainwater collection system designed with filtration and disinfection will get the job done.

Harmful bacteria, pathogens, and cysts removal is a must in a potable (drinking) rainwater collection disinfection train. This is typically achieved with a class “A” UV light. Flow rates are calculated to achieve the correct amount of contact time with the UV spectrum for proper disinfection. The correct class of UV for a specific application is required. A class “A” UV must be used for water that is not deemed safe to drink. A class “B” is only used for water that has already been safe to drink.

But there are other considerations for water treatment. The raw water must be relatively free of sediments, turbidity, organics and inorganics before entering the UV chamber. The UV spectrum will not be able to penetrate the water column effectively otherwise. Special consideration of environmental constituents should also be addressed for proper treatment.

Environmental concerns can include location of collection area. Where is the house located? Possible hydrocarbons from a nearby freeway would be a concern. Pesticide use from farming or city landscaping maintenance should be considered. Roof material and manufacturing process could pose a health threat and should be addressed – all of which can be corrected with proper filtration, whether it is accomplished with canister elements or back flush devices.

Rainwater is typically acidic, approximately 5.5 to 6.0 ph; nominal being 7.0 ph. The lower ph levels, while not considered harmful to humans, can have a negative effect on plumbing and fixtures. A more nominal ph level can be achieved with proper treatment.

RainBank Rainwater Systems designs and installs custom treatment systems to meet customers’ specific needs.

This Throwback Thursday post was originally published under the title Considerations for Water Treatment

Rainwater Catchment, Residential Rainwater Collection

Truths and Myths About King County Rainwater Harvesting


Close-up of a worn, metallic fountain pen nib on a black surface.I have been designing and installing rainwaterharvesting systems in King County and throughout Washington State for 15 years and am still amazed and dismayed at the misinformation that is presented to the pubic wheninquiring about the legality, procedures, and permitting for rainwater harvesting.

TRUTH: Rainwater collection is legal throughout Washington State

Washington State Department of Ecology issued an interpretive policy statementclarifying that a water right is not required for rooftop rainwaterharvesting.Asdescribed by Washington State Department Ecology, Clarifications of Washington State Rainwater Law Pol 1017 in reference to RCW980.03 & RCW90.54 and the Environmental Protection Agency’s paper on Rainwater Harvesting Conservation, Credit, Codes, and Cost Literature Review and Case Studies

False: Rainwaterharvesting is not allowed for drinking water in Washington State.

It is up to each county and city in Washington State to allow for potable usage of rainwater. King, Jefferson, Whatcom, San Juan, Skagit, and Island are counties that currently allow potable use of rainwater for a single-family residence. It is the health department of those counties that are the typical authorities forregulations and permitting.

Here are some resources for gathering information about rainwater collection guidelines in Washington:

As Washington State counties arerecognizing thebenefits of rainwater collection and the fact that rainwater can provide a viable source of water for potable usage, other counties willadopt RWC as an alternative water source.

RainBank Rainwater Systems is the leader in rainwater collection system designs and installations in Washington State and president Ken Blair is the NW RegionalRepresentative for The American Rainwater Catchment Systems Association (ARCSA). RainBank is committed to helpingcustomers andcounties understand thebenefits, standards, and policies of rainwaterharvesting in order to provide a clean, safe, viable source ofquality water.

Seattle waterfront park photo is courtesy of Nicola under Creative Commons

Rainwater Systems