Residential Rainwater Collection

Does Skagit County Allow Potable Rainwater Collection?

RWC snowIs Skagit County allowing potable rainwater collection for single family construction?

WSR 13-21-044 “in stream resources protection program” and “minimum water flows & levels” are in full effect without the 2006 amendments validated as of 10-11-13. The supreme court upheld the Dept. of Ecologies findings and the 2001 original decisions. (see)  www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/wr/nwro/skagit-wtrsolut.html

More than 5,000 land owners are affected in the Skagit River Basins and many are wondering what to do for a source of water to develop their properties. The Dept. of Ecology has determined that rainwater collection actually augments “instream flow rates, and encourages its use , (see)  www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/wr/hq/rwh.html

Additionally, from the Department of Ecology WA State…

Alternative Water Supplies – “We encourage Skagit and Snohomish County to remove any remaining obstacles to property owner’s use of rainwater and trucked-in water for property owners who find this option attractive and who wish to build without delay.”

Skagit County is allowing alternative sources such as rainwater collection for residential single source use, but should also be encouraging those who have no other viable source. For more information go to www.skagitcounty.net/Departments/HealthEnvironment/watermain.html or contact Skagit County Health Dept.

Of course, RainBank is available for consultation and offers assistance with the permitting process to its customers.

Ken Blair
A rainwater collection systems designer and consultant, Ken has designed and installed residential and commercial systems, primarily in the northwest United States for more than 10 years and, in 2014, began consulting and managing builds in other states. Ken is an accredited ARCSA Professional Designer / Installer and Life Member, the Northwest Regional ARCSA representative and advisor to its education committee and is available to speak about Rainwater Collection Systems design and builds.

Ken is a United States Navy veteran, having served on active duty during the Vietnam War era.

A career entrepreneur, Ken created a new business focus with a commercial dive company in Hawaii in the mid 1980′s to respond to and clean up oil spills, oil spill equipment training, service and maintenance for the oil co-op service industry. Ken is passionate about having a positive impact on the environment and is also a founding director of BANK-ON-RAIN (2011-2014), whose mission is to create grassroots solutions for rainwater collection for consumption and agriculture in developing areas of the planet.