What Is Rain Water Harvesting ?

PRODUCTS 2009
Rain Water Harvesting
Getting Started
What Is It?
How To Start
Things To Consider
Design And Install
Rain Barrels & Tanks
Pumps & Accessories
Complete Packages
Gutter Protections
Downspout Chains
Weather Vanes

What is it?

Rain water harvesting, in its essence, is the collection, conveyance, and storage of rainwater.

Rain water harvesting systems can be as simple as a rain barrel for garden irrigation at the end of a downspout, or as complex as a domestic potable system or a multiple end-use system at a large
corporate campus. The scope, method, technologies, system complexity, purpose, and end uses vary.

Why is rain water so good?

Rain water is FREE and everywhere!

Rain water is valued for its purity and softness. It has a nearly neutral pH, and is free from disinfection by-products, salts, minerals, and other natural and man-made contaminants.

Plants thrive from stored rain water. Appliances last longer when free from the corrosive or scale effects of hard water. Users with potable systems prefer the superior taste and cleansing properties of rain water.

6 Main Componets

1. Catchment surface: the collection surface from which rainfall run off

• Metal Roof - Good (0%Rain loss)
• Clay/Concrete - Good- When painted may leech out toxins (10% Rain loss)
• Asphalt or Compisite shigles - Good for Non- Potable uses only (10% Rain loss)
• Wood shingle, tar, and gravel - Good for Non-Potable uses only
• Slate - Good - Only if toxic free sealant was used(0% Rain Loss)

2. Gutters and downspouts: channel water from the roof to the tank

• For potable systems lead cannot be used
• Most common are seamless aluminum, PVC, vinyl, and galvanized steel

3. Gutter protection, first-flush diverters/gravity filters, and debris filters: components which remove debris and dust from the captured rainwater before it goes to the tank

• All should be used on every rain harvesting system
• Most common set-up is gutter cover, with a debris filter, and a first flush diverter/gravity filter
• Gutter protection is a product which protects your rain gutters from becoming clogged with debris
• Debris filters are used to remove large and small debris that make it past the gutter protection
• A roof can be a natural collection surface for dust, leaves, blooms, twigs, insect bodies, animal feces, pesticides,
  and other airborne residues. The first-flush diverter/ gravity filter routes the first flow of water from the catchment surface away from the storage tank. The flushed water can be routed to a planted area. The first-flush diverter gives the system a chance to rid itself of the smaller contaminants, such as dust, pollen, and bird and rodent feces.
• Diffrent options available

4. One or more storage tanks

• The size of storage tank or cistern is dictated by several variables: the rainwater supply (local precipitation), the demand, the projected length of dry spells without rain, the catchment surface area, aesthetics, personal preference, and budget
• Storage tanks must be opaque, either upon purchase or painted later, to inhibit algae growth
• For potable systems, storage tanks must never have been used to store toxic materials
• Tanks must be covered and vents screened to discourage mosquito breeding
• Tanks used for potable systems must be accessible for cleaning
• Storage tanks should be protected from direct sunlight, if possible
• Tanks should be placed on a stable, level pad
• Tank overflow must be equal or greater than inlet capacity

5. Delivery system: gravity-fed or pumped to the end use

• Water gains 1 psi of pressure for every 2.31 feet of vertical rise. So for gravity flow through a 1-inch pipe at 40 psi, the storage tanks would have to be more than 90 feet above the house
• The laws of physics and the topography of most homesteads usually demand a pump between water storage and the house or end use.
• The typical pump-and-pressure tank arrangement consists of a ¾- or 1- horsepower pump, usually a shallow well jet pump or a multistage centrifugal pump, the check valve, and pressure switch.
• These pumps are noisy and bulky, with many parts, making hard for the average homeowner
• We offer the new on-demand SMART Rain pumps, made in Italy.
• The new on-demand pumps eliminate the need for a pressure tank. These pumps combine a pump, motor, controller, check valve, and pressure tank function all in one unit. They are self-priming and are built with a check valve incorporated into the suction port
• Unlike conventional pumps, on-demand pumps are designed to activate in response to a demand, eliminating the need, cost, and space of a pressure tank. In addition, some on-demand pumps are specifically designed to be used with rainwater.

6. Treatment/purification: Filters and other methods to make the water cleaner

• For a nonpotable system: Gutter protection on gutters, debris filter, and a First Flush diverting 10 gallons for every 1,000 square feet of roof is sufficient.
• For irrigation protection a 5 Micron Cartridge filter is used after the pump, removing all particals down to 5 microns
• For potable water systems, treatment is necessary to remove sediment and disease-causing pathogens from stored water. Treatment generally consists of filtration and disinfection processes in series before distribution to ensure
  health and safety
• The most popular disinfection array in is two in-line sediment filters – the 5-micron fiber cartridge filter followed by the 3-micron activated charcoal cartridge filter – followed by ultraviolet light. This disinfection set-up is placed after the on-demand pump.