Tag Archives: rainwater harvesting

Rainwater Catchment, Residential Rainwater Collection

How to Hire a Contractor or Designer for Your Rainwater Collection System


Snow-covered round shed in a winter forest setting.Rainwater collection is becomingincreasingly popular, driven by centralized water and sewer systems unable to meetdemands, incentive programs offering rebates (much like solar), water quality, availability, and cost increases from our municipal sources.

Decentralized water systems design and implementation need to be regulated for public safety. ARCSA (American Rainwater Catchment Systems Association) has helped to write code, along with ASPE (American Society of Plumbing Engineers) and ANSI (American National Standards Institute) to insure that strict guidelines are met.

RainBank Rainwater Collection Systems recommends that when hiring a designer or contractor for your rainwater harvesting system, ask if they are an ARCSA accredited or certified professional. Members have been trained and are required to have continuing education in order to provide a SAFE source of water. Be sure the designer has experience in the field of water systems and that your contractor has knowledge and experience in Large red cylindrical structure outdoors near water and trees.installation.

A well designed and installed potable system will provide your household with quality, safe, and reliable water for years to come. Non potable systems alsoneed to be designed with use in mind. Proper sizing and components will be essential in the system’s performance.

Commercial Rainwater Harvesting, Rainwater Catchment

Rainwater Harvesting Cuts Costs & Reduces Stormwater Runoff

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Modern commercial building with greenery and pedestrian pathways.RainBank Rainwater Collection Systems is pleased to announce completion of two 5,300 gallon rainwater collection tanks for the new Kirkland Public Safety Building. Both tanks will collectwater from a segment of the building’s roof and divertto irrigation for new plantings. The Safety building was a former Costco building remodeled for the city of Kirkland to be usedasthe new courthouse, police station and jail.

New landscaping will be wateredautomatically by the rain tanks via a computerized controller which will regulate how long and what times watering will take place. With 10,600 gallons of storage and a roof collection area of approximately 20,000 sq. ft., even a small amount of rain in the summer should supply the new plantings with rainwater.

Infiltration ofTwo large metallic grain silos standing side by side.the soil during watering will reduce the building’s stormwater runoff and save money by not using city water.

RainBank Rainwater Collection Systems is proud to be a part of this and other commercial projects making the Seattle area a better place to live.

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Rainwater Catchment

Can Rainwater Provide Clean, Safe Drinking Water?


Close-up of a green leaf with water droplets on its surface.Here in the Seattle area we are fortunate to have enough rainfall to sustain a rainwater collection system year-round. Whether a rainwater catchment system is designed to supplement city water usage, or a larger system designed at the sole source of water for your home, a rainwater collection system will save money on water bills and provide good clean drinking water for your home.

Do you know that with 36 inches of annual rainfall a year, an average home with 2,000 sq ft of roof can produce over 44,000 gallons of water?

In rural areas of the Pacific Northwest, where there is enough room for larger amounts of storage, rainwater storage of 10,000 gallons or more can be constructed to get a household through the summer months.

Row of rain barrels connected to a gutter system for water collection.In urban areas, or within Seattle city limits where space is more of an issue, smaller volumes of storage can be used with buried water tanks or slim line design water storage tanks. As little as 3,000 gallons of storage can supplement a house as much as 70 to 80%.

With more concerns of water quality from our municipal water supplies, rainwater can provide clean, safe drinking water for your family. Rainwater, unlike surface water is relatively free of contaminants to start with. With proper storage, filtration, and treatment, clean, safe drinking water can be achieved for your household for years to come at a cost that is affordable.

RainBank Rainwater Catchment Systems has been providing designs and installation of sustainable water systems for more than 10 years in Washington State and is now designing and installing systems in the Seattle area.

“Drop On Leaf” courtesy of winnond / www.freedigitalphotos.net