Rainwater Harvesting

Sustainability and Green Building

Managing our resources and protecting our environment are more important than ever. Harvesting rainwater from the roof of your commercial building or home is easier than its ever been. Supplementing, or even completely replacing, your primary water source is both safe and fulfilling.

Concept highlights

Can be used for toilet flushing, car washing, laundry, irrigation or even full domestic (yes, potable) water. Check your local codes and regulations.
Above or below ground storage options
Compatible with both commercial and residential applications

Rainwater Harvesting Primer

Rainwater harvesting involves the collection, storage, treatment and distribution of rainwater that falls on the roof of your building. It is entirely different from greywater or reclaimed water systems. It is a simple concept, used with effective results. Rainwater is usually free of many of the pollutants found in groundwater, surface water and the disinfection chemicals in municipal water.

Provided certain precautions are taken, rainwater can be a safe, sustainable water source to supplement or entirely replace your existing water source.

By collecting and using rainwater you are reducing your reliance on a municipal or private water supply, both of which are under tremendous stress in many areas. You can directly contribute to living a sustainable lifestyle, while reducing the taxing effects on water infrastructure and overuse of tradtional sources.

Rainwater can be used anywhere that your primary water source is being used today, provided it is handled properly. Simple applications are to replace the use of your non-potable water now such as washdown, toilet flushing, irrigation, cooling water, fire protection, etc. Check your local regulations before embarking on a rainwater harvesting project.

Most jurisdictions have caught on to the fact that rainwater is a viable water source for any and all uses, and allow its use. Some currently allow it for potable use, and many more are slowly moving in this direction.

There are a wide range of products available to build and manage your rainwater system. Note, as each rainwater system is custom built to suit the layout of your building, we recommend you contact our office for assistance in desiging your system.

Rainwater Components

Rainwater harvesting systems are generally categorized as follows:

Prefiltration

Rainwater collected on a roof will typically have some level of physical contamination such as leaves, pine needles, sticks, and whatever debris birds and small animals may leave behind
There are a variety of pre-filtering devices to remove the "large" debris from the water stream before it enters your system
We recommend choosing a version that has some element of self-cleaning to it, to minimize hands-on maintenance and maximize water collection
Your roof will also collect dust, pollen and other air-borne contamination that can be removed with a first-flush device (also called a roof washer). These devices will discard the first batch of rain to fall after a dry period

Storage

Water storage tanks are the heart of any rainwater system. They provide you with the ability to store your water for use whenever you need it
Water can be stored above ground or below ground, each with its own pros and cons such as space requirements, visual impacts, costs, location, freeze-protection, etc.
There are a variety of tank materials to choose from, also with various pros and cons. The most common is a potable-rated HD polyethylene but fiberglass, lined steel, or concrete cisterns are also available.

Treatment

Treatment requirements will vary based on what you are using the water for
Common treatment steps may involve sediment removal, pH control, and disinfection (UV, Ultrafiltration or Chemical Treatment).
Treatment systems may be integrated in a number of different ways, and we can help you design the best setup for your rainwater system.

Distribution

Distributing your harvested rainwater might be as easy as taking advantage of gravity, but usually pumps will be needed to get the water into a distributed piping system.
"All-in-one" pumps are a simple approach to pressurizing your water with minimal installation headaches