1. Water, Water Everywhere....
Never mind saving for a rainy day. How about saving for a dry one?

2. Archeological evidence show rainwater capture 4000 years ago
Ruins of cisterns built as early as 2000 BC are still standing in Israel.

3. Rainwater Renewable, sustainable high quality water source
It is soft, neutral in pH
Free from disinfection by-products, salts, minerals, and other natural and man-made contaminants

4. IS IT SAFE?
Absolutely -providing it is collected, stored and disinfected correctly.

5. Rainwater Harvesting System
Four main functions:
catch rainwater from the roof and gutters
transport the water through the downspouts and pipes
remove debris and clean the water
store the water

6. Rain Harvesting Systems
As simple as
capturing rain
in a barrel
for gardening

7. Or Complex Requiring input from
from architects, engineers, and filtration/water treatment specialists

8. Types of systems Full: no other source of water, total house system
Partial: back up well or city water: gardening, flushing toilets, laundry
Occasional: seasonal, gardening

9. Collection Techniques
Above ground outdoor are Simple:
reduce the amount of debris, pollen, bird droppings or organics from getting into the barrel.
Protect the barrel/tank from UV
Control access to mosquitoes

10. For Indoor Use More attention and commitment
Debris catchment devices and filters
First flush diverter
Pumps and piping
Filters and disinfectants
Maintenance and seasonal cleaning
Testing

11. How Much Water Do I Need? Start by looking at your water practices.
Are there ways to conserve water on a daily basis?

12. Indoor Water Conservation
Average Indoor Water Use
Toilet flushing - 40%
Bathing %
Laundry %
Cooking / Dishwashing - 10%

13. Water Saving Appliances
Water saving appliances pay for themselves in 1 or 2 years because they reduce the size and the capital cost of the cistern (ie. less water needs to be stored).
Water-saving appliances
Faucet aerators and efficient showerheads
Low water use dishwashers and washing machines
On-demand hot water units
Composting toilets.

14. Toilets
Low flush toilets lower indoor water use by as much as 15% & pay for themselves in a year.

15. Toilet Reuse of Grey Water

16. Summer Outdoor Water Use
1 watering can = 3.3 gal.
3 ft. shrub in hot weather (1 week) = 7 gal.
18 in. pot in hot weather (1 week) = 1.8 gal.
40 deck pots – drip water (1 week) = 50 gal
1 sprinkler full flow (for 1 hour) = 240 gal.
Car washing (1/2 hour) = 120 gal.
Pressure washing (1/2 hour) = 40 gal.

17. What do you want your system to do?
Decision #1
What do you want your system to do?

18. A few basic considerations before you get started:
Annual Monthly Rainfall
Catchment Size
Tank Size
Cost

19. Portland Monthly Average Participation
Jan 07
2.86
Jan 08
3.21
Jan Annual
Average
4.09
Feb
.96
8.06
3.14
March
3.01
5.54
4.14
April
8.97
4.47
4.26
May
2.32
1.09
3.82
June
3.33
3.88
3.28
July
4.64
3.32
Aug
3.23
3.05
Sept
3.22
3.37
Oct
6.37
4.4
Nov
4.21
4.72
Dec
3.79
4.24

20. Catchment Size How much rain will my roof collect?
Measure the perimeter of your roof then calculate the area as if the roof were a flat surface (like a floor plan)  

21. Measure the roof ignoring the angle of the roof
Measure the roof ignoring the angle of the roof. Length x Width gives us the square footage. 20’ x 50’= 1,000sq. Ft.
20’ Wide
50’ long
Bird’s eye view

22. Calculate Potential Catchment
Portland annual rainfall: in per yr
(or 3.82 ft)
Roof Area 20’ X 50’ = 1000 sq ft
3.82’ of rain/yr X 1000 sq ft= 3820 cu.ft.
3820 x .80 = 3056 cubic ft.
(assuming an 80 % efficiency of collection)

23. 7.5 gallons = one cubic foot
3056 cubic ft x 7.5 gal./cubic ft = 22,920 gallons per year

24. SkyJuice Table

25. How Much Water Do You Use?
To determine the size of the tank and how much water you will need,
you must calculate how much water your household uses in a day.

26. Indoor Water Use Most homes use 50-60 gallons per person per day.
Conservation minded households use G/P/D and some are as low as G/P/D.

27. Total Number of People in the Home
To Calculate How much your family uses, here are some of the factors:
Total Number of People in the Home

28. Bathroom
Showers: Number of showers. length of showers, flow rate (gallon per minute of the shower head)
Baths per week, amount of water in tub

29. Toilets: Number of time each person flushes, gallons per flush
Faucets: times per day to shave, brush teeth, wash hands and minutes per use

30. Dishes/Laundry
Dishes: how many dishes do you wash by hand, minutes water run with each wash, times dishes washed by dishwasher, times used per week, gallons per load (15 normal)
Laundry: loads per week, water per load (55 gal normal)

31. Outside Water Use Lawn or garden watered times a week, minutes watered
Other uses: wash Car, fill pool, rinse furniture, clean equipment minutes per week

32. Water Use Calculator Found on the web
Allows you to enter all of your data and gives you the gallons per day used by your family

33. So, let’s say you conserve water and have 4 members in your family.
4 x 30 gal per person = 120 gallons a day for the whole household. 

34. What size of tank does your family of four need?
Using rainwater as your
primary water source, you
need to consider how much of a
reserve your household will require.

35. With an average of 3 inches per month, we still need to consider the possibility of a 50 day drought.
120 gallons per day x 50 days of drought
= 6000 gallons

36. If you want the full home system, the tank needs to be 6,000 gallons.
All indoor use systems share basic components and considerations.

37. Roof Material
Gutters and Downspouts
Roof Washing
Storage tank
Distribution System
Filtration
Installation Costs

38. The Roof Non toxic and inert (non leaching.)
This is particularly true of the roof that is subject to the oxidizing affects of sun and air borne pollutants.
Avoid lead flashings around sky lights or plumbing vents.

39. Water Quality Water quality varies dependent on: Type of roof material
Climate conditions
Surrounding environment

40. Water Quantity
The quantity of rainwater that can be collected is also a function of roof texture.
The smoother the better.

41. Metal Roof
Most common roofing material used for rain catchment is galvanized metal that has been painted or enameled with a non-toxic material (lead free).

42. Other surfaces may be used if they do not contain lead, zinc coatings, or copper.
Acceptable roofing also includes slate, reinforced concrete, cement tile, and terracotta tile

43. Asphalt Shingles
Asphalt shingles produce less water and are harder to keep clean.
Beware of the shingles that contain moss inhibitors for bathing and drinking.

44. Cedar Roofs
Water collected from cedar roofs is acidic for plants and is impractical for indoor use.

45. Gutters The most common gutters are one-piece, baked aluminum gutters.
Half-round vinyl is also excellent.

46. Gutters and downspouts must be lead, zinc, and copper free

47. Areas where the water can pool collect insects, organic materials and bacteria. Think of a gutter as a river - not a wetlands or swamp.

48. Gutter Guard
+ Keeps some debris out
- Protects the debris that collects in the gutter from the sanitizing and self cleaning of sun and wind.

49. Debris Traps Clean the water before it enters storage
A small leaf trap and cleanable pipe systems to catch the larger heavier debris may be all that is required.

50. Downspouts
Anything from non-copper chains to traditional aluminum downspouts can be used to get the water down from the gutters

51. First Flush Amount of water to flush depends on: Roof and gutter slope
Roof material smoothness
End use
Rain intensity
Airborne pollutants (dust, smoke, auto exhaust)
Tree debris

52. Potable System First Flush
Flush the first 0.02 inch of rain.
Or 10.4 gal per 1,000 sq ft of catchment area.

53. First Flush

54. The WISY Vortex Underground Filter
Handles a ton of rainwater
Installed underground
Standard size for roof areas of up to 5000 sq ft.
Small size for roof areas up to 2000 sq. ft.
Self-cleaning filter
Captures over 90% of the rainwater

55. The WISY Vortex Underground Filter
Ground level
Water comes in
Filter
Water to tank
Overflow and debris outlet

56. Storage Tank Where are you putting it:
Aboveground, under ground, in home
Most common residential tanks:
Concrete, PVC, Fiberglass

57. PVC…above ground Least Expensive Easy to Install 300-3,000 gallons
Seasonal Use
Dark colors (UV protection)
Gravity flow or pump
Tank at Jackson Marine Lab
University of New Hampshire

58. Indoor PVC Tanks 300-400 gallon Fits through existing doorways
Can connect multiple tanks
Weight on cellar floor may be an issue

59. Custom Concrete Tanks
Under the deck
Under the home

60. Prefab Concrete Tanks 1000 Gal Septic Tank Remove baffles
Add one opening for water to return to house
Genest Concrete

61. Concrete Tanks for Potable H20
Solvent-Free Coatings:
Helps Waterproof the tank
Environmentally friendly
No taste or odor
No leaching
CHEMTHANE 4200PW, Enviroline & AmTec

62. Fiberglass Tanks Underground Four Season
Safe, long-term storage of potable water
Large capacity
Expensive

63. WISY Floating Suction Filter
Fine Gauge Particulate Filter Mesh
Float
Ensures water is extracted where it is the cleanest.
Back Flow Preventer

64. Distribution System Recommended by Texas Guide to Rainharvesting
Grundfos MQ3 Pump
Recommended by Texas Guide to Rainharvesting
Compact, easy to install and operate.
Pressure switch and tank built in
Self priming and water-cooled, low noise level.
User-friendly
auto reset, alarm if dry running or overheating.
Anti-cycling feature prevents the pump from repeatedly starting and stopping in the event of a dripping tap or a minor leak.
Stops when the tank is dry, and restarts automatically when water is available again.

65. Treatment of Rainwater
Simpler than treating water from wells
Remove parasites, bacteria, and virus from bird droppings, as well as insects, and wind blown materials that are carried onto the roof.
Toxins leached from the roofing system can include heavy metals, petroleum products, algae, moulds, and yeast.

66. Filtration Types Chlorination Particulate Carbon UV Reverse Osmosis
Distillation

67. Chlorination
Shock chlorination consists of mixing sufficient chlorine-based chemical with the tank water to create a solution containing 200 parts per million (ppm) of chlorine
Kills algae

68. Sediment/Particulate Filter
Different micron sizes
Removes:
Dirt
Sediment
Rust Particles

69. Sediment Filters Improve Water clarity Taste Odor
Protects plumbing system and
charcoal filters from sediment build-up

70. Carbon Filter Derived from coconut husk Easy to Install
Relatively inexpensive
Removes:
chlorine, chloramine, chlorine disinfection by-products (trihalomethanes - THMs),
Bad Taste and odors
many organic contaminants
fine sediment

71. Carbon Filter Does not change pH of water
Pre-treatment for Reverse Osmosis and UV systems
0.5 micron carbon block filters remove cysts ( Giardia and Cryptosporidium)
.01 filter inhibits Viruses

72. Change filters regularly:
Susceptible to mold…
Filter collects “garbage” in your water
Taste change means change the filter…
Reduced efficiency the longer they are used

73. Minerals Minerals in solution can still permeate a charcoal filter.
Are essential for health.

74. Ultraviolet Light Purification
Non-chemical approach
No harmful bi-products or chemicals
Does not alter the taste, pH or other properties of the water
Not harmful to your plumbing or septic system
Removes some volatile organic chemicals,
Low Maintenance
Easy and cost effective to install and maintain

75. UV System Stage 1 .5 micron carbon block Removes Sediment
Reduces chlorine, herbicides, pesticides, benzene
Removes odor and taste
Removes Cysts (cryptosporidium, giardia)

76. Stage 2: UV Disinfectant
Bacteria: E-coli and fecal
Coliform Viruses
Viruses
Mold spores
Algae
Yeast
Protazoa

77. Reverse Osmosis Systems
Ultrafiltration: Extremely fine membrane allow water molecules, but not larger compounds.
The contaminated water is put on one side of the membrane and pressure is applied to stop, and then reverse, the osmotic process. Takes a lot of pressure, is fairly slow, but results is extremely finely filtered water.

78. Reverse Osmosis Reduces Calcium Deposits
Improves Taste, Odor, and Quality of Water
Removes Existing Scale
Reduces the Need for Household Chemicals
Requires No Chemical or Salt Regeneration

79. Reverse Osmosis Requires high water pressure
Water pressurization system may be required.
Plumbing work necessary
More costly replacement membranes
Removes Minerals

80. Water Distillers
There is a growing awareness of distilled water's effects on the balance of minerals in the body, plus the acidic result that a typical distiller creates.
Dissolved minerals in the water are more natural than pure water, and serve an important function in supporting the body's immune system and metabolism.
Water without minerals can be a health problem. According to the U.S. EPA, "Distilled water (which is identical to RO water ~Ed), being essentially mineral-free.

81. Installation Costs
Roof Material
Excavation
Tank
Plumber