THE RAINWATER CONNECTION
Designing, building and servicing rainwater systems since 2002. R&D time averaging 350 hrs/year Developing and sale of locally manufactured components. Actively promoting rainwater use (public presentation, workshops, demonstration projects).
1 The Rainwater Connection is active in: The Southern Gulf Islands; Dry Sections of Vancouver Island, Howe Sound and the Sunshine Coast.
2 SEVEN CASE EXAMPLES Initial Motivation Why They Chose Rainwater? System Features & Costs
GOOD DESIGN + MAINTENANCE = GOOD QUALITY WATER3 VICKERS RESIDENCE – THETIS ISLAND Initial Motivation Case Examples Slow, poor quality well. A desire to be part of the solution in their ground water poor neighbourhood.
4 VICKERS RESIDENCE – THETIS ISLAND
Case Why Choose Rainwater? Examples
Fire protection reserve.
Converted from a garden watering system “Why should the garden get all the good water?”
“Spend money this year on good water – renovate the bathroom next year.”
5 Will Rainwater Work for Me?
How Much How Much How Much Do I Need Can I Water do To Store Collect? I Need? For Summer?
6 Monthly Rainfall Variations How Much Can I Collect?
Our Mediterranean climate requires storing up water to get through the summer.
7 How Much Do I Need To Store For Summer?
2 Person Conserver Household 35 G/P/D Roof Area 1,650 sq. ft. Cistern 9,700 Gals. 8 How Much Do I Need To Store For Summer?
2 Person Household 45 G/P/D Needs 25% larger roof area ($3,000) Needs 1,800 gal. more storage ($2,700)
9 VICKERS RESIDENCE – THETIS ISLAND
System Features Case Examples Old, but healthy asphalt shingle roof. Treed site requires seasonal gutter guard (adds $200/yr to maintenance costs). Aluminum downspout to leaf trap and standpipe. Catchment pipe underground.
10 VICKERS RESIDENCE – THETIS ISLAND
System Features Case Examples Final gravity filter and flow past roof washer box. Rainwater surge tank (800 gals) – provision for a manual topping-up with well water.
11 VICKERS RESIDENCE – THETIS ISLAND
System Features Case Examples Standard ½ hp Jet pump from surge tank. 50 and 25 micron filters (replace 4-5 times/yr). To 12,000 gal. polypropylene lined steel cistern 200 ft. up the property (50 ft. vertical).
12 VICKERS RESIDENCE – THETIS ISLAND
Summary Case Examples Retrofit. 1,470 sq. ft. roof area and 11,500 gal. steel cistern. Gravity to surge / pump to cistern / gravity to house supply tank. Simple particle filter and UV disinfection. Cost $19,000 (in 2003). Operation and Maintenance - Owner operated. - Rainwater Connection monitors, and cleans in the spring and fall ($1,000/yr).
13 CHAPMAN RESIDENCE – SOUTH PENDER ISLAND Case Initial Motivation Examples Poor quality well with moderate but seasonal output.
Predisposition to green technologies.
Chemist with knowledge of rainwater quality.
Why Choose Rainwater? A sustainable alternative to expensive water treatment. Increased supply as house is expanded. Fire protection storage.
14 CHAPMAN RESIDENCE – SOUTH PENDER ISLAND
System Features Case Examples Simple wall hung system. All-in-one debris pails and cleanable piping.
Roof washer pipe, mesh filter and surge/pump tank (before backfill). 15 CHAPMAN RESIDENCE – SOUTH PENDER ISLAND
System Features Case Examples Small automatic oil free submersible transfer pump. To 12,000 gallon steel cistern (before backfill).
16 CHAPMAN RESIDENCE – SOUTH PENDER ISLAND
Summary Case Examples
Partial retrofit and part new. 2 buildings with 1,200 sq. ft. roof area and 11,500 gal. cistern. (House will add 1,100 sq. ft.) 1st building gravity to surge tank and pumped, and 2nd building gravity to cistern. Provision for controlled addition of well water. Bio sand, particle filter and U.V. disinfection. Catchment system cost: $4,000 + $2,000 (owners parts & labour) Cistern and winterizing: $17,000.
17 MACNAB RESIDENCE – GALIANO ISLAND Initial Motivation Case Examples “Awful” well water (iron, magnesium, sulfur and salt). Increased seasonal use. Increased B&B use.
18 MACNAB RESIDENCE – GALIANO ISLAND Why Choose Rainwater? Case Examples Desalination from Active Pass – similar capital cost and much higher operating cost. Preference for natural vs. technical solution. Large roof catchment area.
19 MACNAB RESIDENCE – GALIANO ISLAND
System Features Case 50% asphalt shingle and Examples 50% flat torch-on roofing (water quality challenge).
Small leaf traps and sealed standpipes to carry the water under the deck. 20 MACNAB RESIDENCE – GALIANO ISLAND
System Features Case Examples “Miles” of catchment/ transport pipe under the decks incorporate debris pigtails and clean-out plugs.
Roof washer box rejects first flush of over 3/4 mm. (.05 inch).
21 MACNAB RESIDENCE – GALIANO ISLAND
System Features Case Examples Water pumped 400 ft. (60 vertical feet) in shallow trench (winter drain back prevents freeze-up).
Stored in 15,000 gallon cistern (17’6” diameter and 10 ft. tall). 22 MACNAB RESIDENCE – GALIANO ISLAND
System Features Case Examples Gravity flow from cistern to Bio Sand filter, and 600 gallon “Day Tank”. Electronics to control flows, protect pumps and limit amount of well water supply.
23 MACNAB RESIDENCE – GALIANO ISLAND
Summary Case Examples Retrofit. 2,500 sq. ft. of roof area and 15,000 gallon cistern. Gravity to surge/pump to cistern/gravity to house supply tank. Bio sand, particle filter and U.V. disinfection. Cost: $31,500 (including Electrical) in 2003 plus $4,500 for water treatment.
Operation and Maintenance - Full monitoring and maintenance contract: $1,200 year 1 and $800 year 2.
24 SWANSON VIEW DRIVE – NORTH PENDER ISLAND Initial Motivation Case Examples
Water metering and use restrictions of the Trincomali Water District. Site conditions facilitating construction of a 20,000 gallon cistern under the garage.
25 SWANSON VIEW DRIVE – NORTH PENDER ISLAND
Case Why Choose Rainwater? Examples Toilet and outdoor use to reduce total household demand. Relatively low cost ($2,500) for catchment system, filter and roof washer box in vacant basement area.
26 DOGWOOD LANE – SALT SPRING ISLAND Initial Motivation Case Examples
Healthy rammed earth house – healthy water.
27 DOGWOOD LANE – SALT SPRING ISLAND Why Choose Rainwater? Case Examples More confident in its quality than the piped water supply (12 boil orders last year). Long term cost saving as piped water rates increase.
28 DOGWOOD LANE – SALT SPRING ISLAND System Features Case Examples Custom designed all-in-one “debris pails” ($250 - $550 each).
29 DOGWOOD LANE – SALT SPRING ISLAND System Features Case Examples Double ended underground roof washer during and after construction.
30 DOGWOOD LANE – SALT SPRING ISLAND System Features Case Examples 2x8 cedar roof structure on 12,000 gallon cistern (cistern price $15,000, plus excavating/backfill costs).
“Landscaped” to disappear.
31 DEER RUN FARM – SALT SPRING ISLAND Case Initial Motivation Examples An active retired man looking for challenging do-it-yourself project. Concern that piped water rates are rising. To be a good ecological neighbour. Why Choose Rainwater? To use “his own water” for his extensive garden. To protect his plants from the chlorine in the The snow rail is to make 32roof piped water. and gutter cleaning safer. DEER RUN FARM – SALT SPRING ISLAND System Features Case Examples Self built (with 6 hours of design and construction supervision). 2,350 sq. ft. catchment from house and barn. Leaf traps and pipe debris traps (no filters or roof washing). 6,600 gallons in 3 poly cisterns. Jet pump and pressure tank for distribution. Total cost approximately $7,000.
33 RUBY ALTON HOUSE DEMONSTRATION PROJECT (Islands Trust Fund) Case Examples Initial Motivation
Old stream water supply provided low volume in summer and unsafe to drink. Limited volumes made traditional water treatment methods impractical.
34 RUBY ALTON HOUSE DEMONSTRATION PROJECT (ISLANDS TRUST FUND) Case Examples Why Choose Rainwater?
Sustainability is a Trust Fund mandate. No guarantee of good well water in that area. Received grants from the VanCity Foundation and others.
35 RUBY ALTON HOUSE DEMONSTRATION PROJECT (ISLANDS TRUST FUND) Case Examples System Features
Rainwater gravity flow to surge tank. Debris traps, cleanable piping and roof washer pipe.
36 RUBY ALTON HOUSE DEMONSTRATION PROJECT (ISLANDS TRUST FUND) Case System Features Examples
Rainwater pumped to cistern. Overflow at surge tank. Controlled supplemental stream water by gravity. Gravity from cistern to Bio Sand. Day tank to pump, filters and U.V.
37 RUBY ALTON HOUSE DEMONSTRATION PROJECT (ISLANDS TRUST FUND) Case Under Construction Examples
Northwest Corner. Southwest Corner. Roof washer and All-in-one debris pail 3” catchment pipe, overflow pipes. and pipe to surge tank. cleanout plug, Water lines into house. leaf catcher and 38 debris trap. RUBY ALTON HOUSE DEMONSTRATION PROJECT (ISLANDS TRUST FUND) Case Under Construction Examples
Digging the trench and cistern pad.
Running the pipe.
Help with backfilling.
39 RUBY ALTON HOUSE DEMONSTRATION PROJECT (ISLANDS TRUST FUND) Case Under Construction Examples
Compacting and leveling the pad.
Completing the roof on the 6,000 gallon cistern. 40 RUBY ALTON HOUSE DEMONSTRATION PROJECT (ISLANDS TRUST FUND) Case Under Construction Examples Tidying up the mess.
System Electronics Team - Two electricians, a plumber and the rainwater crew. 41 RUBY ALTON HOUSE DEMONSTRATION PROJECT (ISLANDS TRUST FUND) Case Examples
42 Overall a pretty interesting project! SUGGESTIONS TO SUPPORT RAINWATER HARVESTING
43 Suggestions to Support Rainwater Harvesting Case Technical: Examples - In depth water quality testing; - Increased product testing, e.g. roofing materials; - Economic feasibility studies for commercial buildings.
Policy: - Official policy statements; - Locally relevant – Rainwater Harvesting Guide; - Public education programs (demonstration projects and resource centre)
Regulatory: - Supportive OCP’s; - Changes to subdivision By-laws; Construction guidelines to provide “comfort blanket of quality”; - Water metering and variable water rates; - Tax rebates and capital cost subsidies; - Operation and maintenance guidelines. 44 FIVE YEAR OUTLOOK
45 5 Year Outlook Case Experience: Examples - Quadrupled over last 4 years. Forecast: - Expect similar growth rate.
Why? - Building and population boom in region - Larger house sizes - Increasing public awareness and government support - Decreasing fear of quality - Reducing water supplies (ground and piped) - Increasing costs of water treatment - More water restrictions (local government and Water District) - Higher commitment to green and sustainable practices - Desire to be off grid.
46 RAINWATER, a clean, sustainable alternative
Prepared by Bob Burgess The Rainwater Connection47 SUPPLEMENTARY SLIDES
48 Canadian urban areas considering it
Who is catching the rain?
49 Canadian urban areas considering it
Who is catching the rain?
50 Rainwater Harvesting System Schematic
51 GRAVITY FLOW SYSTEMS System Components
Gravity Direct to Tank
52 GRAVITY FLOW SYSTEMS System Components
Gravity Down and Up
53 LEAF and DEBRIS TRAPS System Components
4” High Capacity Debris Trap 54 LEAF and DEBRIS TRAPS System Components
55 LEAF and DEBRIS TRAPS System Components All-in-One Debris Pails
56 DEBRIS TRAPPING IN System CATCHMENT PIPING Components
Clean-Outs on Horizontal Pipes and Debris Pigtails 57 GARDEN WATERING SYSTEMS Case Examples
Direct Gravity Flow to Tank is Commonplace for Garden Quality Water
58 AUTOMATIC DRIP WATERING SYSTEMS Case Examples
59 “G&S” IRRIGATION SYSTEM Case Examples
60 “G&S” IRRIGATION SYSTEM Case Examples
61 “DAWSON” IRRIGATION SYSTEM Case Examples
62 “SMITH” IRRIGATION SYSTEM Case Examples
63 “HENDERSON” Case IRRIGATION SYSTEM Examples
64