Tag Archives: Seattle rainwater collection

Rainwater Catchment, Residential Rainwater Collection

When is Permitting Required for a Seattle Rainwater System?


When is permitting required for a rainwater collection system in Seattle?

Ripples spreading on water with reflections of tree branches above.According to Department of Ecology, State of Washington, collecting rainwater is nothing new. Humans have been doing so for thousands of years. Washington State Department of Ecology began allowing rainwater collection without a water rights permit in October 2009.

In January 2011, King County Department of Health adopted rainwater collection for potable use for detached single-family dwellings. The policy applies to systems intended to capture and store rainwater from surfaces for supply to plumbing fixtures. Systems that supply untreated rainwater to serve non-potable fixtures may be used for both residential and nonresidential occupancies. Systems that treat rainwater for potable use may be used only in detached single-family dwellings.

Rainwater systems are subject to plan review and applicable fees by the Department of Health and the Building Department. Harvested rainwater that is not treated to potable standards may only be used for water closets, urinals, hose bibs, industrial applications, domestic clothes washing, irrigation and water features.

Rainwater collection systems require a water use permit by King County Department of Heath. A non-pressurized stand-alone irrigation system does not require permitting. All pressurized systems do require review and permitting by King County Heath.

Systems for residential, potable use must be designed by a licensed engineer with experience in water systems design, an individual with a group B water systems designer licensed by King County Health, or an American Rainwater Catchment Systems Association (ARCSA) accreditation.

Rainwater Catchment, Residential Rainwater Collection

Seattle Residents are Serious About Rainwater Collection


Workers installing large blue septic tanks in a trench.Seattle residents want their rainwater catchment systems to make a positive impact on the environment, as well as the quality of their water and rely on professionals to design and install their systems to meet these requirements.

An ARCSA accredited professional, ARCSA lifetime member, and ARCSA regional representative, RainBank’s founder and presidentKen Blairhas been designing and installing rainwater systems for residential potable usage since 2004.

Ken started his business in the San Juan Islands when it was the only county in the state that had an exception to the water rights law. 100 % of the systems RainBank installed in the San Juans were for potable usage because of salt water intrusion or low producing wells.

Ken moved operations to the Seattle area in 2010, shortly after the statewide change in the law allowing rainwater collection throughout the state, and has met the challenge of design and installation that works within the urban environment. Click here for more info on Seattle rainwater.

A series of large water tanks with connected pipes along a pathway.Whole house usage requires enough storage to be a viable sustainable system. Buried tanks and slim line tanks make storage requirements possible in restricted areas.

A non potable system used for toilet flushing and laundry facility requiring little space for storage can be designed to supplement city water. As much as 49% mitigation of city water usage can be achieved when used with dual flush toilets and water saving washing machines.

For potable or non potable use, a rainwater catchment system must be safe, reliable, and easy to maintain for the customer. Rainwater collection system designs for household usage, potable and non potable are regulated by King County Health DepartmentGeneral Department Policies and Procedures for Rainwater Harvesting: before permitting is awarded. Storage, conveyance, filtration and disinfection must be designed and installed in accordance with plumbing codes for public safety. “Rain water systems that are intended for potable uses must include plans prepared by a licensed professional engineer licensed to practice in Washington AND who is experienced in designing drinking water systems, a group B water system designer licensed by Public Health holding a valid certificate OR accreditation issued by American Water Catchment System Association.”

We all are aware of the commercial building boom in Seattle. With larger roof areas and increased demand on our centralized water systems, many projects are turning to rainwater harvesting to meet the new requirements of retention of runoff water on site. Irrigation, toilet flushing, and wash down systems are being designed with rainwater collection being the source of water as a practical use of this runoff.

RainBank Rainwater Systems meet these projects needs with the most experience in metal tank construction and consulting in design in the Seattle area.

Rainwater Catchment, Residential Rainwater Collection

Seattle Homeowners Save Money With Rainwater Collection


Home water filtration system with multiple filters and tanks.As 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.

Home water filtration system with multiple filters and tanks.Buried 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.