Tag Archives: featured

Potable, Rainwater Catchment

More Residential Potable Use Permitted in Washington State

Rainwater Collection for residential potable use is increasingly being accepted by Washington State counties.

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

What started in San Juan county years ago with a county exemption of the 1,800’s water rights laws, rainwater collection for residential potable use is gaining momentum up and down the I-5 corridor. Whatcom, Skagit, Snohomish, and King counties all have adopted residential potable rainwater collection systems as an alternative water source for residential building permits. Each county has its own policies & procedures and guidelines for designs and installation available to the public.

The national organizations, American Rainwater Catchment Systems Association (ARCSA) , American Society of Plumbing Engineers, (ASPE) , and the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) developed the standard ARCSA/ASPE/ANSI 63 as a guideline for professionals and local governments in implementing rainwater collection and was updated in 2020. As more counties are expressing interest in rainwater collection as a viable source for domestic potable use, RainBank Rainwater Systems continues to provide updated information for these organizations to formulate decisions, and help guide them in their policies and procedures with regard to implementing rainwater collection.

With 20 years of experience, RainBank Rainwater Systems has been serving all Washington State counties with quality engineered systems and professional installations, using only the best components.

After all, it is your water supply and we take it seriously.

Potable, Residential Rainwater Collection

Potable Residential Rainwater Use is On the Rise

PoClose-up of a worn, metallic fountain pen nib on a black surface.table residential use of collected rainwater is on the rise since the statewide water rights laws were challenged in 2006 by the Washington Department of Ecology, allowing the entire state of Washington to collect and use rainwater for non-potable (non-drinking) use. San Juan County had been awarded an exemption to the 1800’s water rights laws and was already issuing residential building permits with rainwater collection as the only source of water. RainBank’s president, Ken Blair, was personally awarded a building permit in 2002 for his “water availability” being the only source of water for his household. It was not the first, but was certainly at the forefront of rainwater collection’s progression and, throughout the years, RainBank, has continued with that effort.

For close to 20 years, RainBank has shared its deep rainwater collection knowledge, working with many counties as they move toward increased adoption of potable residential rainwater collection systems for single family residences, and remains committed to providing quality engineered designs, professionally installed.

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Rainwater Catchment

Covid-19 Response

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RainBank would like to extend our gratitude to essential workers on the front line in this Covid-19 health crisis. Healthcare professionals, first responders, law enforcement, and military personnel once again are being asked to act during tough times. Truck drivers, shippers, food suppliers, pharmacies all working to keep the essentials available. Teachers and professors are remotely providing the flow of education for our students. Power and water supply workers keeping the lights on and water at our faucets and, finally our citizenry practicing precautionary measures to help slow down the spread of outbreak of Covid-19.

RainBank Rainwater Systems has taken precautionary steps to ensure the safety and health of our employees and customers while maintaining a level of service that is responsible for the health of all. We have educated our employees on proper cleaning and distancing protocols per CDC guidelines to help stop the spread of the virus and have stressed the importance of communication with regard to the onset of any possible symptoms.

RainBank has taken steps to limit travel and job site visits on a case-by-case basis for now, in order to ensure safety measures are in effect for the safety of our employees and our customers.

RainBank’s Engineering and Design team is continuing with system designs for projects underway, as well as new customer inquiries of new or future projects. We are available for support, to answer questions, and provide quality engineered systems for your water project and will be there when it is time to install.   

We are committed to serving our customers and partners during this trying time.