Tag Archives: residential rainwater harvesting

Infrastructure, Residential Rainwater Collection

Skagit County’s First Residential Building Permit With RWC as Sole Source of Water

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skagit-river-looking-east_medSkagit County Planning Department issues its first residential building permit with rainwater collection as sole source of water.

Property owners affected by the in stream flow rule in the Skagit Valley river basin now have a viable solution for residential development of their properties.

Last week, Skagit County Health Department issued a “water availability” based on rainwater collection, allowing construction of a single family residence using rainwater as the sole source of water.

The system design collects rainwater from the roof, which is pre-screened and conveyed to 10,000 gallons of storage adjacent to the house. The water is pressurized, then filtrated using sediment and carbon filters and disinfected by ultraviolet light for whole house, potable use. With an average annual rainfall of 33.2 ” and 3,500 sq. ft. of roof, 72,392 gallons are available for collection. After household use. the water is returned to the soil through the septic system and leach field just like a well system with no ill effects on the in stream flow rates.  

Simple, routine maintenance conducted by the homeowner will supply this 3 bedroom, five occupant home with a safe, reliable, clean source of potable water while benefitting “in stream flow” and salmon habitat.

Skagit River Looking East

How-to, Rainwater Catchment, Residential Rainwater Collection

How to Maintain a Rainwater Collection System

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How to Maintain a Rainwater Collection SystemWhether your rainwater collection system consists of simple rain barrels or whole house potable usage, maintenance of your system is essential to its successful operation. Simple tasks will keep clean water flowing for years to come with little effort.

Here are tips for how to maintain a rainwater collection system:
  • Gutters should be kept free of leaves and pine needles so as not to create tannins or discoloration of the water.
  • If possible, cisterns should be placed in a shady area so as not to promote algae growth. A screen basket at the entrance of the cistern to keep debris from entering should be cleaned as needed.
  • If a sump tank is used for transferring water to cisterns, periodic cleaning will help keep the water in the cistern cleaner.
  • Any PVC pipe should be painted for UV protection and protected from freezing.
  • Filtration elements should be changed as needed with canisters cleaned at time of changing elements.
  • If the system is for potable use, the UV bulb should be changed per manufacturers recommendations.
  • Shocking the system with chlorine during UV change will help keep the plumbing lines disinfected.
  • Finally, keeping a log of maintenance will help keep a schedule of your tasks.

You can Click Here to download a free copy of RainBank’s recommended maintenance schedule.

Rainwater Catchment, Residential Rainwater Collection

Seattle Homeowners Save Money With Rainwater Collection

Seattle Homeowners Save Money With Rainwater CollectionAs many commercial buildings are finding out that rainwater catchment can save money, Seattle homeowners are discovering that a well designed-rainwater collection system for potable usage can save money for them as well.

With storage of a few thousand gallons of rainwater and its proper filtration and disinfection, the average home in Seattle can provide good, clean, potable water for their household regardless of roofing material. You no longer need to have a metal roof to collect rainwater for household use.

RainBank has recently designed potable systems in Seattle for single family homes with asphalt shingle roofs by using deionization – a process that is proving to provide ultra pure water. The deionization process can remove all toxins from the roofing material. Samples from raw water from the downspouts are taken and the deionization filtration is designed specifically to remove the specific toxins. A custom deionization filtration system along with UV disinfection is allowing Seattle homeowners with asphalt shingle roofs to collect and use rainwater for potable use.

Seattle Homeowners Save Money With Rainwater Collection2Buried tanks allow a homeowner to store a significant amount of rainwater without taking up any of the yard area or having tanks alongside the house, leaving landscaping to be the focal point not water storage. RainBank is a leader in innovative designs to fit customers’ wants and needs for residential and commercial water use of rainwater collection.