Tag Archives: underground

Sustainability

Underground Containment at USC


Close-up of a worn, metallic fountain pen nib on a black surface.In a move toward more sustainable practices, a new village on the campus of University of Southern California (USC) will host an underground rainwater collection and containment system.

According to anarticlein the Daily Trojan, “Water conservation at the new Village is an important lesson beyond the lecture hall,” said Vishnu Ratnam, an engineering graduate student. “It’s a good example to look at how you can put what you’ve learned to good use.”

Close-up of a worn, metallic fountain pen nib on a black surface.The 15 acre property will have six underground wells and will be able to capture 200,000 gallons of water. The system will capture stormwater before it enters the Los Angeles River or the ocean, conserving water and promoting sustainability.

RainBank has designed and installed underground systems, which work particularly well in urban areas where space is at a premium.Click hereto read more about a RainBank underground system.

Rainwater Catchment, Residential Rainwater Collection

Underground Rainwater Storage

2 Comments


Close-up of a worn, metallic fountain pen nib on a black surface.More urban customers are inquiring about underground storage for rainwater catchment systems. With limited space in a typical city backyard and the desire to keep what little space there is unobstructed by large cisterns, buried tanks are the solution.

Close-up of a worn, metallic fountain pen nib on a black surface.The decision to choose underground storage comes with added costs.

Below grade cisterns require considerations and costs that are not typical with above ground storage. Structural requirements, added excavation, and drainage are factors in costs. The costs of engineering and materials add to the manufacturing costs of below grade cisterns. Added labor, such as excavation, more than likely will include the need to export soil off the site and the import of drain rock. Buried tanks require cement hold-downs and proper drainage of tank placement to eliminate possible floatation of the tank when water levels in the tank are low and ground water levels are high. Below grade cisterns can be 2 to 2.5 times more expensive than above ground to design, purchase and install properly.

Close-up of a worn, metallic fountain pen nib on a black surface.Experience in below grade cistern design and installation is the key factor in the success and costs of the project. Understanding the added costs before hand will help ease sticker shock.