What is "rainwater harvesting?"

Rainwater harvesting is simply the collection and distribution of natural rain water for irrigation applications. The simplest systems consist of little more than plastic barrels or drums to store the water. Add a spigot at the bottom and screen the top to prevent insects from intruding and you've got yourself a nice rain barrel. Some manufacturers might use durable hardware and heavy-duty fittings in their rain barrels, but the basic idea is simple.

Rain barrels are great for collecting small volumes of water for use in residential gardens or for watering plants around the home. However, to fully reap the benefits of the huge amounts of rain that runoff your roof during a storm, a professionally designed rainwater irrigation system should be considered. With such a system, rain water passes from a roof, through a gutter system, into large cisterns (water tanks) and gets distributed through common underground sprinklers. Because a rainwater harvesting system connects between components that are already part of most properties (gutters and sprinklers), installation is relatively simple. More importantly, since a properly designed system does not rely on any groundwater resources, most installations can be EXEMPT FROM WATERING RESTRICTIONS!!

Why rainwater harvesting?

Irrigation of traditional landscaping requires a LOT of water. For example, turfgrasses (sod) often require THOUSANDS OF GALLONS of water per month (depending of course, on the size of a lawn). In fact, in the southwest region of Florida (home of Rainwater Services, LLC), up to 50% of the public water supply is used for irrigation. When considering this kind of usage in the context of a densely populated metropolitan area, such watering requirements can have dramatic effects on municipal water resources. To ensure there is adequate water supply for all residents, water management officials impose strict watering restrictions. As populations in metropolitan regions continue to grow, it's not hard to imagine that conditions will only get worse.

Experience

Rainwater Services, LLC was founded by an engineer with broad experience in the design of automated fluidic systems and an environmental consultant well-versed in project permitting and variance issues. With it's talented and experienced leadership, Rainwater Services, LLC is well positioned to provide the irrigation industry with innovative and unique rainwater harvesting systems that are intended to exempt a property owner from local watering restrictions. The company works closely with experienced builders, plumbers and other trades to custom design an irrigation system that meets the clients' specifications.

We are currently working on residential rainwater harvesting projects for private homeowners and innovative "green-minded" builders. We are actively seeking additional projects throughout Tampa Bay and look forward to large-scale commercial and municipal partnerships.  We welcome inquiries from homeowners, project managers and trade professionals interested in learning more about our ecologically responsible irrigation solutions.

Free estimates

Interested in a rain water collection system for your residential or commercial property? Contact us today to schedule a free estimate.

Overview

Rainwater harvesting is a technology used to collect, convey and store rain from relatively clean surfaces such as a roof, land surface or rock catchment for later use. This is water that would otherwise have gone down the drainage system, into the ground or been lost to the atmosphere via evaporation. The water is generally stored in a rainwater tank or directed into mechanisms that can recharge groundwater. Rainwater harvesting can provide water for human consumption, reduce water bills and lessen the need to build reservoirs which may require the use of valuable land.

Rainwater harvesting has been practiced for over 4,000 years throughout the world. It has provided drinking water, domestic water, water for livestock, water for small irrigation and a way to replenish ground water levels. Traditionally, rainwater harvesting has been practiced in arid and semiarid areas. It has become an integral part of societies in remote places where piping water and reliance on wells is not an option.

Rainwater harvesting in urban areas and cities can have diverse benefits. Providing supplemental water for the city’s requirements, increasing soil moisture levels for urban greenery, increasing the ground water table through artificial recharge, mitigating urban flooding and improving the quality of groundwater are a few of the many benefits. In homes and buildings, collected rainwater can be used for irrigation, flushing toilets and washing laundry. In hard water areas rainwater is superior to city water for non-potable use. With proper filtration and treatment, harvested rainwater can also be used for showering, bathing, or drinking.

Rainwater harvesting is also effective in reducing stormwater runoff pollution into the watershed. When rain falls, it is clean, but it immediately picks up pollutants from rooftops and pavement. This pollution is carried into storm drains and then into streams. Collecting stormwater from rooftops and directing it to storage tanks so it can be used in and around a building decreases the volume and rate of stormwater runoff.

Sustainability

Rainwater harvesting is one of the most promising alternatives for supplying water in the face of increasing water scarcity and escalating demand. The pressures on water supplies, greater environmental impact associated with new projects as well as deteriorating water quality in reservoirs already constructed, constrain the ability of communities to meet the demand for freshwater from traditional sources. Rainwater harvesting presents an opportunity for augmentation of water supplies allowing for self-reliance and sustainability. Sustaining the environment contributes to the overall conservation of our precious natural resources.

Simple rainwater harvesting systems, such as rainbarrels, are great for collecting small volumes of water for use in residential gardens or for watering plants around the home. However, to fully reap the benefits of the huge amounts of rain that run off a roof during a storm, a fully-integrated rainwater irrigation system should be considered. With such a system, rain water passes from a roof, through a gutter system, into large cisterns (water tanks) and gets distributed through common underground sprinklers. Since a properly designed system does not rely on any groundwater resources, most installations can be exempt from certain watering restrictions. In fact, many local and regional water resource officials encourage the harvesting of rainwater as part of responsible conservation practices.

Interested in a rain water collection system for your residential or commercial property? Contact us today to schedule a free estimate.

Irrigation of traditional landscaping requires a LOT of water. For example, turfgrasses (sod) often require THOUSANDS OF GALLONS of water per month (depending on the size of a lawn). In fact, in the southwest region of Florida (home of Rainwater Services, LLC) up to 50% of water consumption is used for irrigation. When considering this kind of usage in the context of a densely populated metropolitan area, such watering requirements can have dramatic effects on water resources. To ensure there is adequate water supply for all users, water management officials impose strict watering restrictions. As populations in metropolitan regions continue to grow, it's not hard to imagine that conditions will only worsen.

The incorporation of rain water collection and distribution as part of a responsible landscape design can help ease the burden on municipal and regional water resources. Since rainwater harvesting systems are not connected to municipal water supplies, it's likely that monthly utility bills will decrease substantially. More important for residential lawns, however, is that most installations may be eligible for EXEMPTION FROM WATERING RESTRICTIONS! Rainwater Services, LLC works closely with district and local water resources personnel to apply for necessary variances and permits.

Interested in a rain water collection system for your residential or commercial property? Contact us today to schedule a free estimate.

Rainwater harvesting technology is simple to install, operate, and maintain. It is convenient in the sense that it provides water at the point of consumption and operating costs are negligible. Water collected from the roof catchment is available for use in non-potable applications such as toilets and urinal flushing, laundries, mechanical systems, custodial uses, and for site irrigation. Since rainwater is collected using existing structures, i.e., the roof, rainwater harvesting has few negative environmental impacts compared to other water supply project technologies.

Benefits of Using Rainwater

• It is free; the only cost is for collection and use.
  
• It lessens demand on the municipal water supply.
  
• It saves money on utility bills.
  
• It makes efficient use of a valuable resource.
  
• It diminishes flooding, erosion, and the flow to stormwater drains.
  
• It reduces the contamination of surface water with sediments, fertilizers and pesticides from rainwater run-off resulting in cleaner lakes, rivers, oceans and other receivers of stormwater.
  
• It can be used to recharge groundwater.
  
• It is good for irrigation and plants thrive because stored rainwater is free from pollutants as well as salts, minerals, and other natural and man made contaminants.
  
• It is good for laundry use as rainwater is soft and lowers the need for detergents.
  
• Potential EXEMPTION from watering restrictions.  Many localities allow (and some require) irrigation with rainwater harvesting to be exempt from watering restrictions.
  
• You receive credits under the Water Use Reduction category of the LEED Green Building Rating System™.

Interested in a rain water collection system for your residential or commercial property? Contact us today to schedule a free estimate.

The LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environment Design) Green Building Rating System™ was devised as a voluntary, consensus-based national standard for developing high-performance, sustainable buildings. LEED was initially created by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) to establish a common measurement to define “green building.” It has since grown into a program aimed at raising awareness of and promoting integrated “green” building projects.

How does a building become a “green” building?

Through design and construction that concentrates on:

• Conserving water;
• Reducing energy consumption;
• Reducing the depletion of natural resources and materials;
• Creating a sustainable site;
• Use of innovative design; and
• Improving indoor environmental quality.

To become LEED™ certified, the building is rated by these six categories. Within each category, points are awarded based on the LEED Green Building Rating System™.

LEED™ awards points to building designs for a variety of energy-efficient and environmentally friendly features, from the installation of radiant heating to reduction of energy consumption, to grey water recycling, to the use of local building materials that require less energy to transport.

The green building movement is an essential part of the solution to the energy, resource, and climate issues our country faces. In the United States, buildings annually account for 39% of the U.S. primary energy use; 70% of the U.S. resource consumption; consume 40% of raw materials globally; and use 12.2% of all potable water, or 15 trillion gallons per year.

LEED™ points are not given to individual products, but to an aggregate of the building system that saves water, energy, and contributes to a healthy indoor environment. An example of this is Wal-Mart’s use of green building designs on a prototype store in Dallas, Texas, one feature of the design is the capture of rainwater for use throughout the building and grounds; i.e. rainwater harvesting.

On average, a LEED™ certified building uses 30% less water than a conventional building, which translates to more than 1 million gallons of water saved per year. Reducing the amount of water that needs to be conveyed to and treated by municipal wastewater treatment facilities also reduces pumping and process energy required to these systems. LEED™, through practices like rainwater harvesting, promotes on-site storage and use of rainwater to lower water consumption cost, and it reduces the impact on storm drainage and municipal treatment systems.

Interested in a rain water collection system for your residential or commercial property? Contact us today to schedule a free estimate.

Commonly rainwater harvesting systems are constructed of three primary segments; (1) a collection method, (2) a conveyance component and (3) a storage facility. Rainwater harvesting collection, conveyance and storage systems can be incorporated into almost any existing site or building, although it is often easier to incorporate a rainwater harvesting system into new construction.

1. A suitable catchment surface: generally a simple structure such as hard roofs and/or gutters that direct the rainwater through a conveyance component into storage. Roofs are ideal as catchment areas as they easily collect large volumes of rainwater. The amount and quality of rainwater collected from a catchment area depends upon the rain intensity, roof surface area and type of roofing material. For a 1,000 square foot roof, about 623 gallons can be collected, per inch of rainfall, regardless of pitch. Water quality from the roof catchment is a function of the type of material used on the roof, climate conditions, and the surrounding environment. If the collected rainwater is for potable use, select and use materials that will not leach toxins into the rainwater under normal or acid rain conditions. The roof material should be both non-toxic and inert.
2. Conveyance components: required to transfer the rainwater from the roof catchment to storage. Conveyance is usually accomplished by connecting roof drains and piping from the catchment area (or roof top) to one or more downspouts that transport the rainwater through a filter system to storage in tanks for reuse or recharge.  Also includes any screening devices to prevent debris and other material from entering the storage tank(s); see 3-6 below
   
3. Gutter filter (optional): especially useful where excessive tree coverage might lead to rapid accumulation of debris and clogged gutters
   
4. Rain heads (optional): combine with gutter filters/screens to minimize debris accumulaton
   
5. Water diverters (optional): also known as first-flush devices, used to divert the initial flush of water to waste, to help minimize contamination of stored water
6. Tank screen: additional debris screening and serves to prevent mosquitoes and other pests from breeding or entering the storage tank(s)
   
7. Storage containers or cisterns: store rainwater so it will be available when needed. Depending on the space available these tanks can be constructed above grade, partly underground, or below grade. Various types of rainwater storage containers can be found in use. They include cylindrical ferrocement tanks (reinforced steel and concrete), mortar jars (large jar shaped vessels constructed from wire reinforced mortar), single and battery (interconnected) tanks made of either galvanized steel, concrete, ferrocement, fiberglass, or polyethylene, or they could be made of wood, metal, or earth. The polyethylene tanks are the most common, and easiest to clean and connect to the piping system. Storage tanks must be opaque to inhibit algae growth. They should be located as close to supply and demand points as possible to reduce the distance the water is conveyed.
8. Overflow fittings: should be screened to prevent insect entry; proper engineering of overflow can also allow multiple tanks to be filled and drained as a single unit; hose or drainage pipe can be connected to direct water to a suitable location away from a building's foundation
9. Make-up water (optional): automatically fills tank to a predetermined level if they become empty during prolonged droughts; adequate cross-connection prevention devices MUST also be installed according to local building codes

10. Pump system: for efficient distribution, should be sized for the expected water demand

11. Filtration: Fit a purpose designed RAINWATER FILTER after the pump to help reduce residual sediment, color and odor.
12. Water Level Monitor (optional): Install a level indicator to help monitor water usage. Wireless systems are most convenient and display a reading inside the home.
    

Rainwater Services, LLC specializes in the design and construction of complete rainwater harvesting packages. Although we have primarily focused on the residential sector, we seek collaborations with large commercial and municipal developers and project managers. For smaller projects we provide total turnkey solutions, from design to installation and variance applications. For large projects, we will work closely with builders, contractors and architects to ensure seamless integration of a rainwater harvesting system into the clients’ project. A portfolio of recent installations is available upon request.

Interested in a rain water collection system for your residential or commercial property? Contact us today to schedule a free estimate.

Rainwater harvesting systems can be designed for nearly any application, ranging from large municipal development to small residential landscape irrigation.  In all cases, the core components are the same.  Think of the rainwater system as a hybrid of sorts that combines principles of stormwater management as well as irrigation.  The parts of a complete system include the following:

• Collection: comprised of the catchment area (i.e. roof) and conveyance system (i.e. gutters and downpipes)
• Holding vessels: cisterns or other suitable storage container
• Roof-wash system (optional): usually the first 10 -20 gallons of rain are diverted from the cistern to improve water quality and minimize debris build-up
• Delivery system: From an engineering and construction standpoint, the delivery system is virtually identical to that of a traditional irrigation system (i.e. pumps and sprinklers); water is withdrawn from the source (i.e. cistern) by a pump that delivers the water to sprinkler heads for irrigation of landscaping.
• Filtration (optional): to remove particulate and contaminants for downstream application.  Can be simple or complex depending on the requirements and applicable health and/or environmental regulations.

Because our rainwater harvesting system connect between components that are already part of most structures (gutters and sprinklers), installation is relatively simple.  As such, installation costs are not much more than you would expect for a traditional well-water systems.  However, well-water irrigation is subject to watering restrictions.  Since most properly installed rainwater harvesting systems are eligible for exemption from these restrictions, you'll likely be free to water your lawn on a schedule that suits your personal needs.

Interested in a rain water collection system for your residential or commercial property? Contact us today to schedule a free estimate.