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How-to, Rainwater Harvesting Education

What is a First-Flush Diverter?

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This post is part of the series How to Build a Simple Rainwater Collection System.

A rain barrel system attached to a house downspout for water collection.A first-flush diverter helps keep your rainwater harvesting system clean byenabling the removal of dust, other debris, and any fecal matterthat collects on your roof and in your guttersbetween rainfalls, so it is flushed out at the verybeginning of the water collection process.

Diagram of a water tank filtration and flow system with ball valve.
Click to view larger version of First Flush Diverter Diagram

Thecleaner your water is as it goes into yoursystem, thecleaner your water will be when you use it. Studieshave shown a tremendous drop in fecal bacterialevels when the roof is flushed before water entersthe tank. Bacteria also like to live in decaying leavesand other organic matter that collects at the bottomof the tank. A first-flush diverter “washes” the roof,so there is less rubbish on the tank’s bottom.

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How-to, Rainwater Catchment, Residential Rainwater Collection

How to Build a Simple Rainwater Collection System

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Roof with damaged and deteriorating shingles.
Cottage without gutter screen

Over the next few months, RainBank will take you step by step through how to build a rainwater collection system so you can begin harvesting the rain for yourself. (Be sure to subscribe to posts so you don’t miss any!)

All rainwater catchment systems begin at the roof and gutters. Whether you want to irrigate, supplement, or go for potable (drinking water) usage, you need to remove debris before storing rainwater.

 

Close-up of a roof gutter filled with small hailstones.
Cottage with Gutter Screen

It does not matter what type of roofing material you have – all leaves, pine and fir needles that land on your roof will end up in your gutters. Keeping your gutters clean is a chore most people do not like to do. A good gutter screen is one solution to this issue; it’s advised that it be made of fine mesh stainless steel screen and a solid extruded frame. Gutter screens may be expensive but are worth spending the money on – if you are serious. Maintenance is far easier than gutter cleaning; plus the screens are relatively easy to install.

Do you want to know some tricks of the trade? Stay tuned and feel free to post questions in the comments area below.