Tag Archives: ARCSA

Rainwater Catchment, Residential Rainwater Collection

How to Hire a Contractor or Designer for Your Rainwater Collection System


Snow-covered round shed in a winter forest setting.Rainwater collection is becomingincreasingly popular, driven by centralized water and sewer systems unable to meetdemands, incentive programs offering rebates (much like solar), water quality, availability, and cost increases from our municipal sources.

Decentralized water systems design and implementation need to be regulated for public safety. ARCSA (American Rainwater Catchment Systems Association) has helped to write code, along with ASPE (American Society of Plumbing Engineers) and ANSI (American National Standards Institute) to insure that strict guidelines are met.

RainBank Rainwater Collection Systems recommends that when hiring a designer or contractor for your rainwater harvesting system, ask if they are an ARCSA accredited or certified professional. Members have been trained and are required to have continuing education in order to provide a SAFE source of water. Be sure the designer has experience in the field of water systems and that your contractor has knowledge and experience in Large red cylindrical structure outdoors near water and trees.installation.

A well designed and installed potable system will provide your household with quality, safe, and reliable water for years to come. Non potable systems alsoneed to be designed with use in mind. Proper sizing and components will be essential in the system’s performance.

Rainwater Catchment, Residential Rainwater Collection

Rainwater Harvesting Lets Seattle Area Residents Opt Out of City Water

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Workers installing large septic tanks at an excavation site.Doyou know that you can collect 624 gallons of water from 1 inch of rain with only 1,000 sq ft of roof area?

That’s water that you can use for irrigation, toilet flushing, laundry, or even whole house potable (drinking) use. That’s right! 624 gallons. If you have a 1,500 square foot roof area in the Seattle area, this equates to 33,642 gallons of available water. Water that you don’t need to pay for. You can save money on your water, and sewage bill and, over time, pay for your system withthat savings. Depending on the application of thecaptured rainwater, you can supplement your usage througha simple collection system for irrigation or by plumbing in your toilets and laundry facilities. Or, if you choose to have a whole house system designed and installed by a professional, you can eliminate your municipal water usage altogether and have city water as only a back up supply.

Water quality of collected rainwater after filtration and UV disinfection is above that of a municipal water supply, as long as the system is designed, installed and maintained properly. Annual costs of maintenance is much less than your current water bill and is easy to do. Periodic cleaning of your gutters and screening devices along with filter changes a few times a year and replacement of the UV bulb once a year is all there is to it.

Many people in the Seattle area are opting out of city water usage whether it is for potable or non potable use. Supplementary tankswith a small amount of storage can offset your water bill as much as 80%.

A decentralized private water system eliminates the possible threats to your drinking water from environmental concerns, water advisories, price increases, additives such as chlorine and fluorides and possible rationing, such as in California. You are in control of thequality of your water and its use.Row of rain barrels connected to a gutter system for water collection.

Rainwater collection is a viable source of water that can sustain any household in Washington State. RainBank Rainwater Collection Systems has been designing and installing rainwater systems in Washington for residential and commercial applications for over ten years and is a American Rainwater Catchment Systems Association Accredited Professional.

Rainwater Catchment, Rainwater Harvesting Education

How To Check Rainwater Harvesting Company Credentials


Yellow excavator lifting a large black cylindrical object outdoors.How can I be sure that the person and company designing and installing my rainwater collection system is qualified?

ARCSA (American Rainwater Catchment Systems Association) is a non profit organization designed to educate and promote rainwater collection.

Seminars, conferences, continuing education, and resources are a few advantages that ARCSA members can benefit from, giving ARCSA members a host of opportunities to advance in the industry. After all it was ARCSA members thatintroduced Rainwater Collection to be a viable source forwater and storm water runoff solutions.

RainBank Rainwater Collection Systems is a lifetime member and an accredited professional of ARCSA, as well as a leader in design and installations in the Seattle Area andthroughout Washington State.

Here are some frequently asked questionscoveredby ARCSA.