Tag Archives: filtration

Rainwater Catchment

Buy Rainwater Harvesting Components Online

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RBRWC917154With the recent rains in Washington State filling water tanks installed this Spring and Fall, RainBank Rainwater Systems is looking forward to 2016. RainBank Rainwater Systems gears are turning by continuing to provide first class designs, consultation, construction, and sales of the finest quality of components in the industry.

RainBank recently launched a shopping cart on our website. We’d like to introduce our first component offerings – Wisy Products, which offer pre storage products that will deliver the cleanest, aerated, raw water to your system’s storage, ensuring the finest quality of water. Whether your system is potable or non-potable, stored water should be free of particulate matter and aerated to keep bacteria to a minimum. RainBank is a dealer of Wisy products and offers ease of ordering on our website shopping cart.

RainBank offers filtration systems that keep routine maintenance to a minimum. RainBank recognizes that no one wants more chores to do around the house. In our designs, we consider our customers’ needs and desires, striving to keep our systems user friendly. Large capacity canister filtration, back flush devices, or typical filtration – we custom design our systems. RainBank will be offering these components for sale on our website’s shopping cart shortly after the first of the year and, as of 2015, have been adding them to our designs.

Many Seattle customers have been inquiring about buried tanks this past year. Because of this interest, we have researched different manufacturers of buried tanks throughout the country and Canada. We feel we have come up with the finest quality in this style of tanks and have worked diligently with manufacturers to be able to offer the best prices.

Large capacity fiberglass tanks that can be sized for commercial or residential systems are now part of the lineup RainBank offers. Smaller volume, poly tanks up to 1,800 gallons each can be connected together. RainBank has researched best practices for installation of manifolded, buried tanks and has the experience to get the job done right.

Pump RoomThis past year and one before, we have progressively put together the best-qualified personnel with an engineering department, commercial and residential plumbing department, sales department and administrative staff. We offer services from consultation, design, construction, and now online sales. With more than fifteen years experience and now with more products and services, RainBank continues to be the leading rainwater harvesting experts in Washington State.

Potable, Rainwater Catchment

Does Rainwater Need Treatment for Drinking?

clear-water-glass_smAlthough it is fairly clean at the outset, when it comes in contact with impure surfaces, rainwater may need some treatment before drinking. A rainwater collection system designed with filtration and disinfection will get the job done.

Harmful bacteria, pathogens, and cysts removal is a must in a potable (drinking) rainwater collection disinfection train. This is typically achieved with a class “A” UV light. Flow rates are calculated to achieve the correct amount of contact time with the UV spectrum for proper disinfection. The correct class of UV for a specific application is required. A class “A” UV must be used for water that is not deemed safe to drink. A class “B” is only used for water that has already been safe to drink.

But there are other considerations for water treatment. The raw water must be relatively free of sediments, turbidity, organics and inorganics before entering the UV chamber. The UV spectrum will not be able to penetrate the water column effectively otherwise. Special consideration of environmental constituents should also be addressed for proper treatment.

Environmental concerns can include location of collection area. Where is the house located? Possible hydrocarbons from a nearby freeway would be a concern. Pesticide use from farming or city landscaping maintenance should be considered. Roof material and manufacturing process could pose a health threat and should be addressed – all of which can be corrected with proper filtration, whether it is accomplished with canister elements or back flush devices.

Rainwater is typically acidic, approximately 5.5 to 6.0 ph; nominal being 7.0 ph. The lower ph levels, while not considered harmful to humans, can have a negative effect on plumbing and fixtures. A more nominal ph level can be achieved with proper treatment.

RainBank Rainwater Systems designs and installs custom treatment systems to meet customers’ specific needs.

This Throwback Thursday post was originally published under the title Considerations for Water Treatment

Potable, Rainwater Catchment

Never Clean a Filter Basket Again

A rainwater system designed with WISY products requires minimal maintenance and never needs replacing. Never clean a filter basket or a tank again. Ever.

floating suctionA 45,000 gallon, cement vault, rainwater collection system will supply a new Seattle residence with potable water. Rainwater is collected from the roof and conveyed to the cistern through two Wisy calming inlets.

While filtration removes most of the sediment and bacteria before rainwater enters the tank, a small amount will settle on the bottom. This biofilm layer is good for the tank, which may remove additional bacteria and metals from the water. The Wisy smoothing inlet calms rainwater as it enters the storage tank, to aid in the prevention of agitation of sediment at the rainwater inlet. The smoothing inlet also helps aerate collected rainwater by directing the water upward and outward, avoiding disruption of the biofilm layer and also maintaining water quality in the tank.

A Wisy floating suction was used on the suction side of the solar powered pump (above) to further screening prior to pressurizing and filtration.

The floating filter should never clog, since the harvested rainwater is filtered before entering the tank. The filter will take water from just below the surface. Water at this depth is of the highest quality in the tank, because any particulate entering the tank will either settle to the bottom, or float on the surface.