Tag Archives: permitting

Rainwater Catchment

With Complex Permitting, Choose the Right System Designer / Installer

At the beginning stages of planning a rainwater system, be sure to choose a system designer / installer who will work with you to design and build the most effective and efficient system for your needs. You especially want a company that knows how to navigate the complex permitting process.

Here is some information we originally published last year, which, if you are new to our blog, can be helpful as you plan your own system.

RainBank Rainwater Systems is a full-service rainwater systems contracting company offering design, permitting and construction throughout Washington State and surrounding areas.

RainBank’s rainwater systems are custom designed to meet the expectations and needs of our customers. Whether commercial or residential, potable or non-potable, RainBank works closely with architects, designers, builders, and individual homeowners who appreciate face to face consultations and flexible / scalable solutions. Rainwater collection is appropriate for small scale residential needs and large scale commercial applications. Rainwater collection can help mitigate stormwater runoff, while providing a viable water source for irrigation, wash down, toilet and laundry facilities. With proper design rainwater collection can supplement city water usage for both residential and commercial demands. If properly filtered and disinfected rainwater can provide whole house potable usage in many Washington State counties. Rainwater collection and use can be integrated into a drainage plan to meet the new 2016 storm water codes.

Underground Tank Construction3Permitting can be complex and sometimes frustrating, especially when the rules change. RainBank Rainwater Systems meets all requirements of permitting and engineering for our customers from city, county, and state agencies. We stay up to date on changing codes and permitting requirements, taking the guesswork out of the process. RainBank designs and assembles customized kits and plans for the do-it-yourselfers. Providing detailed designs and components with support from our engineering department.

FiltrationAll onsite management and installation are by ARCSA accredited installers and licensed plumbers. RainBank offers turnkey solutions and we guarantee our work. We specify and order all materials and components, delivered to your location and install, finalize and test your system. We only specify and install the most reliable components that meet our experience of over fifteen years installing systems. We train our customers on how to maintain their systems so they become their own purveyor of water.

Contain Water TanksAdding to our full-service philosophy, RainBank is a distributor of Contain Steel Water Tanks, carrying an unmatched 20-year warranty. We offer other products as a distributor or dealer including:

  • Wisy Products
  • Davey pumps
  • Premier plastic water tanks
  • GC Solenoid valves
  • National water testing
  • Filter cartridge replacement
  • Cascadian Back flush devices
  • Tuffy Screen basket Liners

Contact our team today.

Potable, Residential Rainwater Collection

Skagit County Water Source

RainBank Rainwater Systems has broken through the barriers that have restricted rainwater collection as an approved water source for single family residences in Skagit County.

With the instream flow rules,  many property owners in the Skagit River Basin were unable to develop their properties. WA State Department of Ecology encouraged Skagit County to adopt the practice as a solution that would benefit the river and salmon habitat, while providing a viable water source. Limited permitting for the affected areas was considered as recently as 2015.

A group of residents from Guemas Island petitioned the county to accept rainwater for potable use for homes that were experiencing salt water intrusion in their wells. RainBank Rainwater Systems, along Tim Pope, ARCSA educator and past president, met with Skagit County in January 2017 to encourage acceptance of potable rainwater collection as a viable alternative source, not only in the instream flow rules affected areas but to those who are experiencing other hardships regarding potable water.

RainBank Rainwater Systems is pleased with the recent design approvals from Skagit County for potable residential RWC systems outside the instream flow rules, allowing for more property owners in Skagit County. We look forward to assisting Skagit County residents with their dreams of developing or purchasing properties with limited water resources.

How-to, Rainwater Catchment

Is Sole Source Use of Rainwater Collection Legal in King County?

lake-176942_640There has been a great deal of inquiry about sole source use of rainwater collection in King County, causing confusion for the public – as well as for King County public officials. RainBank is currently consulting on four different projects, assisting clients with navigating the system.

A change in Department of Public Health Policy, which is the authority on single source rainwater collection, has been transferred back to the Onsite Sewage System Authority (OSS) of King County Public Health.

There is a section of Title 13 that refers to rainwater collection for single source usage. This authority has jurisdiction over sole source use; any other permitting approval for supplementary source is to be approved by King County Public Health Department’s senior plumbing inspectors. There are plumbing codes that must be met with regard to installation and permitting from KCH plumbing division for any RWC system that is potable or non potable, that is connected to household plumbing.

Below is the section of Title 13 dated November 20, 2013, which refers to sole source usage

D. A rainwater catchment system that serves as the only source of drinking water for a single family residence and that complies with each of the following conditions:

1. The health officer finds that requiring connection of the plumbing system to an approved public water source or to an approved private well would cause undue hardship.

2. Application for a rainwater catchment system source approval shall be submitted for review on forms provided by the health officer. The applicant shall pay to the health officer the rainwater catchment system review fee as specified in the fee schedule, payable after completion of the application review.

3. Application for a rainwater catchment system source approval shall be prepared by any one or more of the following:

a. A professional engineer authorized under a current, valid license to practice in Washington state;

b. An environmental health professional holding a current, valid registration from either the Washington State Environmental Health Association or the National Environmental Health Association;

c. A King County licensed water system designer holding a current, valid license to design water systems in King County; and


d. A rainwater system designer holding a current, valid accreditation from the American Rainwater Catchment System Association.


4. Rainwater catchment system source design shall conform to Part III of Chapter 16 of the Uniform Plumbing Code, 2009 edition, as amended, and shall include, at a minimum, the following information:

a. Estimated daily and weekly and annual demand;


b. Available catchment area and estimated annual rainwater capture;


c. Roofing materials used;

d. Storage capacity of and materials used in the construction of the rainwater catchment system; e. treatment specifications including filtrations and disinfection system specifications; and


f. Operation and maintenance requirements.

5. Composite or shake shingles or other materials determined by the health officer to present a risk of contamination may not be approved or used as roofing materials for a rainwater catchment system source.


6. Before using a rainwater catchment system source, the property owner shall file in the county recorder’s office a notice on title advising that the property is served by a rainwater catchment system and including the following information:

a. The estimated daily, weekly and annual water supply furnished by the rainwater catchment system;

b. That the water supply from the rainwater catchment system may be limited due to variations in rainfall or usage; and

c. That regular maintenance of the treatment system and components is required in order to minimize the risk of consuming contaminated water.

As rainwater collection becomes less of a niche and more mainstream for residential and commercial applications, and with 15 years of design and installation experience, RainBank is the go-to source and your advocate for rainwater collection systems in the Pacific Northwest. Using the form below, contact us today to learn how we can help you with proper system design, installation and consultation through the sometimes confusing permitting requirements for potable, non-potable, sole source and supplementary systems in and around Seattle, Washington state and beyond.