Tag Archives: urban rainwater collection

Rainwater Catchment, Rainwater Harvesting Education

U.S. Water Supply Challenges

ARCSA conferencelogoSeattle based RainBank Rainwater Collection Systems to attend ARCSA conference addressing U.S. Water Supply Challenges.

This year marks ARCSA‘s 20th anniversary, and its annual conference will put the focus on Rainwater Harvesting: Solutions to U.S. Water Supply Challenges.

The annual rainwater collection conference, to be held in Phoenix, AZ this November, will offer presentations from educators, industry professionals, and keynote speakers, with topics including legislative action, codes and standards, guidelines, along with panel discussions, and workshops centered around rainwater collection.

Ken Blair, RainBank LLCRainBank’s president Ken Blair was tapped to present a session on Urban Rainwater Collection and its effects on stormwater runoff mitigation.

Additionally, Ken will participate in an advanced continuing education course to attain the designation of Inspection Specialist (IS), augmenting his already achieved, Accredited Professional (AP) qualification and lifetime member status.

Adding the IS accreditation to its list of qualifications solidly identifies RainBank as the leader in rainwater catchment systems design and installation for commercial and residential customers, especially for Seattle area customers and classifies RainBank as the most qualified, up to date, professional Rainwater Collection company in the industry.

Rainwater Catchment

Rainwater Collection Helps Mitigate Urban Storm Water Runoff

Federal Way Washdown_RainBankLLC_webWith less vegetation, more square footage of impervious surfaces, and more population density, cities contribute to the bulk of storm water runoff. Rethinking how we control storm water in our urban environments is essential to the health of our bodies of water.  During large rain events, a sewer system can be overwhelmed with runoff, causing intentional releases, with pollutants entering our rivers, lakes, bays, and estuaries.

The use of on site infiltration is mandatory for new construction, along with other practices such as swales along our roads rather than raised medians.  Green roofs, green areas within our cities and the use of rainwater collection all have a positive impact on storm water runoff. Common sense approaches to storm water within our cities is crucial to the health of our environment.

Rainwater collection for commercial construction and residential not only helps mitigate storm water run off, but also helps protect our water supplies by using rain water for irrigation, toilet facility, and other uses. The city of Federal Way in Washington state implemented rainwater collection for its new school maintenance facility by using rainwater for school bus wash down during the school year, and during the summer uses the collected water for irrigation.

Rainwater Catchment, Residential Rainwater Collection

How Can Rainwater Harvesting Benefit our Cities?

How Can Rainwater Harvesting Benefit our Cities?

Storm water runoff is a major cause of water pollution in urban areas, which is why  we ask the question: How can rainwater harvesting benefit our cities?

When rain falls in undeveloped areas, the water is absorbed and filtered by soil and vegetation. Not so in urban environments. Streets, parking lots and buildings are impervious surfaces and do not allow the natural process of infiltration. In most urban areas, storm water is drained through collection systems and discharged into our waterways. This storm water carries oils, bacteria, heavy metals and other pollutants into the receiving water. The storm water overwhelms the sewer system and intentional releases of sewer into our waterways is conducted to prevent a spill onshore.

Seattle is mandated by the federal government to address its storm water and sewage releases into the Puget Sound. With higher density development, the “Green Stormwater Infrastructure” (GSI) was mandated to address storm water runoff with infiltration techniques such as bio swells, green roofs, infiltration planter boxes, including green parking areas and streets using permeable pavers. While these techniques are helping to reduce run off they do not address the increasing demands on our water resources.

Rainwater that is harvested collects and stores rainfall for future use. When designed and installed properly, it, too, helps reduce runoff while providing a viable source of water for irrigation, toilet and laundry facilities, and when filtrated and disinfected can be an alternative to city water for potable use.

With increased demands on centralized water systems from population growth, aging infrastructure, and increased costs to upgrade and maintain, rainwater harvesting for commercial and residential use is a viable and economical solution.

Mt. Rainier and the Puget Sound photo courtesy of Andrew E. Larsen.