Tag Archives: irrigation

Water Tanks

Steel Water Tank Bid Requests

Seattle based RainBank Rainwater Systems, a Contain Water Systems Inc. distributor, is actively seeking bid requests for steel water tank sales and construction throughout the western region. Competitive pricing, 20 year warranty, and 15 years of experience make RainBank/Contain a smart choice for General Contractors whether for rainwater collection or fire suppression. 

Contain Water Systems steel water storage tanks are ideal for any water storage applications where the intent is to store water for commercial or residential use. Structural and seismic engineering and full installation are available in Seattle and throughout the United States. Tank packages are delivered to your site where an experienced RainBank Rainwater Systems team will assemble, test, and certify that the tank has been built to Contain Water Systems’ quality standards. As a Contain Water Systems distributor, there is no middle man, which boosts affordability.

We install what we sell, NO subcontractors with inexperienced installers. We stand behind our product and installation with an unmatched 20 year warranty. Safety is always a priority with RainBank Rainwater Systems and Contain Water Systems has met that challenge with the only ground level, through the liner access panel, eliminating confined spaced entry during construction and maintenance or inspections. Contain Water Systems tanks & accessories are designed and engineered for all water storage needs including rainwater collection, stormwater management, fire protection, irrigation, agriculture, and mining. 

Click here for a link that carries specification, sizes, and more information on Contain Water tanks.

Rainwater Catchment

Turkish Bath Becomes Rainwater Collection Cistern

mosaic-200864_640With a little bit of creative thought, Tacoma, WA set out on a path of  green capability while reclaiming a downtown area that had become degraded and mostly abandoned – partly using a Turkish bath.

In an article from Environmental Protection Online, we learn how the city of Tacoma repurposed  Park Plaza South. During the reconstruction, an old Turkish Bath was uncovered. Cleverly, the designers decided to use the old bath as a rainwater collection cistern, which would collect water to be used for irrigation and toilet flushing.

“Other sustainable features at Pacific Plaza include 36 percent of the building materials being recycled, from structural steel and panel metal sidings to wood and windows. All of the products used met LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) thresholds for low-emitting materials, while interior materials such as carpet, flooring, paint, and composite woods had low levels of volatile organic compounds.

These features, along with the rainwater collection system, earned the building a NAIOP Sustainable Development Award and LEED Platinum certification from the U.S. Green Building Council. While the Platinum certification was the city’s first, there now are more than 25 local businesses, schools, or housing complexes that are silver or better LEED-Certified in Tacoma, with many more in the works.”

Read more at Recycling the Past to Build the Future
Rainwater Harvesting Education, Sustainability

Sustainability Key Rainwater Harvesting Benefit

RWC Washington State

Colorado needs to look no further than Seattle and Washington State for the sustainability benefits of Rainwater harvesting.

The Colorado rainwater harvesting narrative shows that as time marches forward, some laws that were passed almost one hundred years ago should be reconsidered because they are just no longer practical. Sustainability wasn’t a factor back then, but it sure needs to be part of the equation now.

In October 2009—after years of argument—the state of Washington officially declared that people could collect and store rainwater captured from a rooftop or other “guzzler” system without a water right, as long as it is used on site and essentially isn’t hurting anybody else. San Juan County was the only one that allowed rainwater collection and potable use for single family residence as an exemption to the water rights issue before the 2009 decision.

Since then, King County recognized the benefits of rainwater collection in January 2011 for household usage, with support from State Department of Agriculture. So now, King County Department of Health not only allows, but encourages rainwater collection.

Commercial, private, and communities all are finding benefits to rainwater collection and the positive effects on the environment of the Pacific Northwest and our water supplies. The Washington State Department of Ecology continues to support rainwater collection and studies the effects of in stream flow rates (Skagit) and salmon habitat.

All Washington State counties allow for rooftop collection for non-potable use, with some allowing for potable use. Non-potable use includes irrigation, toilet facility, laundry, wash down and others that are not intended for consumption or bathing. Commercial applications are directing roof runoff to irrigation and toilet facilities, rather than having this runoff enter our bodies of water with pollutants picked up along the way. Households are not only using rainwater for non-potable use, but are having systems installed that treat and disinfect the rainwater to potable standards that are superior to city drinking water, thus conserving water by simply not allowing it to become runoff. Rural households are using rainwater collection that benefits aquifers by rainwater collection and household use, through infiltration after use. Communities are organizing communal gardening applying rainwater collection, removing the strain on small water systems, while promoting community evolvement and education.

We congratulate Colorado on its progress in exploring new (to them) sustainability methods. We welcome Colorado’s steps towards better understanding of the benefits that we in Washington State currently enjoy.