Tag Archives: featured

Rainwater Harvesting Education, Sustainability

Where Can You Learn About Rainwater Harvesting?


The American Rainwater Catchment Systems Association (ARCSA) is a rainwater harvesting industry membership organization with a broad range of professionals working in private, city, state, and federal government, academia, designers, installers, manufacturers and suppliers of rainwater harvesting equipment, consultants, and individuals interested in preserving, growing and supporting sustainability through rainwater collection.

Logo of American Rainwater Catchment Systems Association.The mission of The American Rainwater Catchment Systems Association is to promote sustainable rainwater harvesting practices to help solve potable, non-potable, stormwater and energy challenges throughout the world.

In 1994, Dr. Hari J. Krishna of Austin, Texas founded the 501(c)(3) non-profit American Rainwater Catchment Systems Association (ARCSA) to bring renewed attention to the ancient practice of rainwater harvesting. For thousands of years collecting rainwater was a common method for providing water, but over the last century, wells and municipal water supplies took over as primary water sources. The diminishing supply of fresh water in wells and aquifers, concerns of quality and population growth are among the top reasons for the resurgence of rainwater catchment. The American Rainwater Catchment Systems Association (ARCSA) was created to promote sustainable rainwater harvesting practices throughout the United States and the world. Read more.

ARCSA is involved in efforts including:

  • Favorable regulatory atmosphere
  • Educating professionals and the public regarding safe rainwater design, installation and maintenance practices
  • Community outreach education through a volunteer board of directors, augmented by regional directors located in various parts of the United States as well as in Australia, New Zealand, Canada and Europe

RainBank Rainwater Systems president Ken Blair is lifetime ARCSA member, ARCSA accredited Professional, ARCSA Systems Inspector, and ARCSA Northwest regional rep. Ken is a available for ARCSA workshops for interested parties as well as local governmental agencies, engineering and architectural firms. Contact Ken using the form below for more information about a workshop for your agency or group.

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Residential Rainwater Collection

How Can Urban Homes Benefit From Rainwater Collection?


Installation of large blue septic tanks underground.Just like rural homeowners, urban households can benefit from rainwater collection. Unlike rural homes, most city homes have less space available for storage. Slim line water tanks and underground storage options allow those who live in an urban environment to collect, store, and use rainwater for a number of purposes.

You do not need a lot of capacity of storage for supplemental use of rainwater. For everyinch of rainfall, a thousand square feet of surface will yield 623 gallons of water. A 2,000 square foot roof in Seattle will yield over 44,000 gallons of water annually. Even with only 3,000 gallons of storage, winter use can be as much as 100% or can be stored for summer irrigation demands. See chart below – an average 2,000 square foot roof yields over 44, 000 gallons with only 3,000 gallons of storage capacity based on 120 gallons of daily demand. (click the image for larger view)

Bar chart comparing actual vs. desired monthly water use via rain catchment systems.

 

 

 

 

 

Rainwater is a clean source of water that needs very little treatment for irrigation, toilet flushing, or laundry facilities. Further treatment with UV disinfection allows forwhole house demands including drinking water. With more demands on our water districts due to drought conditions, every drop helps. Why not benefit from this natural resource, rather than send it down the curbside drain?

Environment, Rainwater Catchment

Welcome to Washington’s Rainy Season


City skyline at dusk with a rainbow and ferris wheel.October 1 is the official start of the rainy season in Washington State and even though annual rainfall met expectations, another dry, warm winter is predicted for the region. This means that the snowpack – the summer rain bank (see what I did there?) will be missing in action for another year.

According to the Department of Ecology’s drought page, “despite recent rains and some boost for stream flows, extreme drought still coverstwo-thirdsofWashington state.”

Now would be a good time to come up with a personal drought contingency plan, since Mother Nature isn’t going to provide relief any time soon. Washington state’s drought plan, released in 1992, refers to fish and timber harvesting, but makes no mention of rain harvesting.

When planning a rainwater collection system, you must account for the amount and intensity of the average rainfall in your area. That information is usually available at the county level, but can also be captured via National Oceanographic and Atmospheric, Administration (NOAA) and theNational Climatic Data Center.

For a small system, you can head to your local hardware store, purchase a rain barrel, hook it up and, at the very least, can collect water for your garden.

For a whole house, or commercial system, work with a pro that knows how to design and install the most thoughtful system, which is customized to your specific needs. Ask questions; provide information about your roof size and materials, family size, whether you want to capture water for drinking, irrigation or laundry, etc.

When you work with an accredited professional rainwater harvesting installer and designer, the outcome will be a system to meet your water needs for years to come – and it will add value to your home or business.