Tag Archives: runoff

Rainwater Catchment, Rainwater Harvesting Education

Washington State Drought Emergency

Governor InsleeOn May 15, Washington Governor Jay Inslee declared a statewide drought emergency.

In his announcement, Governor Inslee states, “We’re really starting to feel the pain from this snowpack drought. Impacts are already severe in several areas of the state. Difficult decisions are being made about what crops get priority water and how best to save fish.”

With the snowpack at 16% of normal, the runoff is expected to be the lowest in 64 years. The Department of Ecology has requested 9.5 million in drought relief. Much of the drought relief will be spent on agriculture and department of fish and wildlife in the way of emergency drought applications for farmers and funding action now for fish passage.

A small amount of emergency relief will through conservation education. To little to late? While the response from the Governor’s office has been timely for the current drought, RainBank Rainwater Systems president Ken Blair, along with the American Rainwater Catchment Systems Association (ARCSA) have been providing education about water conservation for years.

“We have experienced pretty much normal rainfall amounts this year, it is the lack of snowpack that will be the issue this summer”, explains Blair. Storage and use of roof runoff helps reduce the demand on our local reservoirs and aquifers 100 % of the time, leaving more available water during dry periods. With the use of rainwater collection, both for residential and commercial application, demand is lowered and storage is increased. This does not do much for irrigation in agriculture but it does supplement domestic use and enhances in stream flow rates. A simple rainwater collection system can yield enough water from the roof to supplement or fully support a residence with its water demand. Commercial application can be used for non potable usage and mitigate much of the building’s water demand.

RainBank Rainwater Systems applauds Governor Inslee in being proactive in his delegation of this water emergency, but encourages more education in conservation methods for future water shortages. Education and implementation will help assure water for the future.

Rainwater Catchment, Residential Rainwater Collection

Utah Launches Rain Harvesting Program        

glen-canyon-139942_1280Utah Launches Rain Harvesting Program

Cheers to Utah, which has been dubbed the second driest state in the country (WaterWise Utah), for recently introducing a new rain harvesting program for homeowners and small businesses.

RainHarvest, initiated by The Utah Rivers Council, hopes to inspire small businesses and homeowners to capture rainwater. Since the collected water is free, homeowners and businesses can save money. Rain harvesting program participants will assist in improving water quality in rivers, lakes and streams by helping to reduce runoff. Another positive outcome is that the program will lower Utah’s per person water use, which is the highest in the US.

Rain harvesting, according to the Utah Rivers Council, “Saving water keeps our rivers and streams healthy which is essential for fish and wildlife species which need water to survive Utah’s dry summers. Saving water is everyone’s responsibility because if we don’t save water now, new water sources will force mandatory increases in water rates in the future.”

Tell us where and how rainwater collection has caught on in your state, city or neighborhood. Feel free to leave a comment or contact RainBank.

Commercial Rainwater Harvesting, Rainwater Catchment, Residential Rainwater Collection

Benefits of Rainwater Collection

1 Comment

drops-plant-leaves-43481_1280Significant, economic, social, and environmental benefits can be achieved by collecting, storing, and using rainwater. According to the Texas A&M AgriLlife Extension and the American Rainwater Catchment Systems Association (ARCSA), rainwater harvesting benefits individuals and communities in many ways:

CONSERVES WATER: Rainwater harvesting provides an alternative water source to well water and public water supplies. About 50 to 70 % of all household water is used for landscape irrigation and other outdoor activities.

CONSERVES ENERGY: Because rainwater harvesting bypasses the centralized water system, it conserves energy. Many household systems require only a small pump to create water pressure in the pipes, and many non potable systems operate by gravity.

PREVENTS FLOODING AND EROSION: Part of the local rainfall is diverted into collection tanks or passive harvesting methods, leaving less storm water to manage. Stormwater problems are turned into water supply assets by slowing runoff and allowing it to soak into the ground.

DECREASES WATER CONTAMINATION: Captured rainwater does not cause immediate runoff. Limiting runoff helps decrease the contamination of surface water by sediments, fertilizers, and pesticides in rainfall runoff.

REDUCES PERSONAL WATER BILLS: Rainwater can be used in landscaping, for toilets, and for washing laundry. With more filtration and treatment, it can be used for cooking and drinking as well.

SUPPLIES NUTRIENTS TO PLANTS: Rainwater often contains nitrogen which provides a slight fertilizing effect for plants.

PROVIDES NATURALLY SOFT WATER: The use of rainwater can significantly reduce the amounts of detergents and soaps needed. It also prevents soap scum, hardness deposits, and the need for water softeners.

Rainwater collection has many advantages over well water, surface water or city water that the homeowner or business can be rewarded with. A well thought out system will provide many years of quality, reliable, safe water.