Tag Archives: potable

Commercial Rainwater Harvesting

2015 Rainwater Harvesting Highlights

banner-1050601_640

As we close the books on 2015, the team at RainBank would like to thank our colleagues, customers, suppliers and strategic partners for a year that exceeded our expectations for residential and commercial interest in rainwater harvesting for potable and non-potable applications. We’d like to share with you some of our highlights for the year:

In March we shared how architectural and engineering firms are including rainwater collection systems in their designs. Government agencies are beginning to understand the connection between stormwater management and rainwater collection. Read more…

As such, we wrote about how building designers and owners are showcasing their commitment to conservation, and incorporating functionality with aesthetics, in turn, this practice furthers customer and general public interest in conservation and rainwater collection, creating even more public awareness of the need for conservation and sustainable living practices. Read more…

RainBank has completed so many steel tank builds, we’ve created a gallery of these beauties. Click here to view.

Whether you’re considering a potable, or non-potable system, storage is always a big decision in the design and installation of a rainwater harvesting system.  Click here to read more about the types of storage vessels available.

We get so many inquiries about whether or not rainwater collection is legal in the Seattle area, so we shared this post to help clear up confusion.

As RainBank grows, we have added services to make us your one-stop-shop for quality advice and products for and about rainwater harvesting systems. Here is our blog post announcing the launch of our shopping cart. We will be adding more products in 2016.

As we say goodbye to 2015, RainBank will continue developing strategic relationships with colleagues and suppliers. We want to be YOUR go-to expert for consulting, design, installation and high quality rainwater harvesting products that will keep your system running for many years.

Water is a basic human right; we value that. We wish you a happy, healthy and safe 2016 and we look forward to working with you in the future.

Commercial Rainwater Harvesting, Rainwater Catchment, Residential Rainwater Collection

RainBank Rainwater Harvesting Systems in Seattle

SeaScoutBase_Galveston_RainBank_projectRainBank Rainwater Systems of Seattle is an ARCSA accredited designer, consultant, and installer of rainwater harvesting systems for both potable, and non-potable demands. Commercial and residential systems are designed and constructed to meet our customers’ specific needs.

RainBank will design, install and package systems from 2,500 gallons to 50,000 gallons.

RainBank’s customers are

  • Eco-friendly homeowners seeking to add rainwater collection or integrate into plans for a new premium or custom built residence
  • Architects developing plans for premium residential projects
  • High-end building contractors specializing in custom builds
  • Commercial contractors where rainwater harvesting is a component to the scope of the project

RainBank provides customers with an integrated, progressive and modern approach to sustainable, premium water systems.

RAINBANK SERVICES INCLUDE:

DESIGN: complete systems with performance specifications.

ENGINEERING & PERMITTING: to meet all legal requirements from county and state agencies; cost effective, faRBRWC917152st & hassle free.

INSTALLATION: includes onsite management & the “soup to nuts” installation of rainwater harvesting and storage systems.

PRODUCTS:  A rainwater system designed with WISY products requires minimal maintenance and never needs replacing.  Never clean a filter basket or a tank again.  Ever.  (Come back often; we’re adding new product lines for 2016!)

CONSULTING : is available throughout the US Including Hawaii, for all rainwater harvesting & Class B water systems.

PACKAGING: Customized kits & blueprints for do-it-your-selfers, those in remote locations, tract housing developers and large companies. Use the form below to contact us about customized kits or other services.

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.