creative commons photo courtesy of gildas_f
Hello, and welcome to rainwater harvesting version 2.0! If you
missed our first article, which explains these concepts, Grey Water Reuse vs. Rainwater Harvesting is a short introduction. As promised, this article includes
some do-it-yourself resources.
Please note, in the state of Colorado there are serious limits
to the residential collection of rainwater.
Essentially you cannot collect your rainwater unless you match ALL
of the following criteria:
- The collection property is residential
- The landowner uses a well for water supply, and there is no water supply available in the area from a municipality or water district
- The roof from which the rainwater is collected is used primarily as a residence
- The water is used only for the uses that are allowed by, and identified on, the well permit
Please check the fact sheet
for more details. It is very important to check with the Colorado Division of
Water Resources and your local building, zoning, and environmental departments
before you develop a rainwater harvesting system to determine what plumbing
requirements, local restrictions, neighborhood covenants, or other regulations
or guidelines might apply to your project (see a list for contact info at the
bottom of the article).
So you match the criteria, or you have a home elsewhere, and
you’re thinking that you want to harvest rainwater, but where do you begin?
First off, you’ll need to decide on a vessel to collect your rainwater, as well
as the best place to put it. Choose a spot near a gutter or roof spout to place
your vessel. The spot that you choose then needs to be leveled. Follow this
YouTube link for a video that shows how to use gravel as a leveling tool: http://youtu.be/x1VLAJ0kXP4. Cinder blocks are also a popular option for leveling.
In
order to get the water from your gutters into your vessel, use PVC piping.
Measure and install your piping as the bridge from your gutters into your
vessel. Cover your vessel, or storage tank, with a tight mesh or a ventilated
lid to avoid mosquito breeding, reduce evaporation loss, and avoid
contamination, and algal growth (full instructions at Grow
NYC ).
Once
captured, there are a few different ways to purify your rainwater. Here we’ll
discuss first-flush devices. A first flush device takes the first water from your roof and
diverts it so that it can be filtered before it enters your storage tank. Since
rainwater rinses your roof, if you do not use a first flush device, the first
of the rainwater will carry most of the dirt straight to your tank.
More information on
first flush devices can be found:
For more detailed instructions including materials, specs, and
diagrams, grownyc.org
has put together a very in-depth manual on rainwater harvesting that can be
viewed here: http://www.grownyc.org/files/osg/RWH.how.to.pdf. Your system can be as simple or as complex as you want it to
be. Just take some time and see what other people have done before you make
your first moves!
Rainwater DIY
The Colorado State University Extension Office has a very
up-to-date fact sheet on Graywater Reuse and Rainwater Harvesting. This fact
sheet can be found here: http://www.ext.colostate.edu/pubs/natres/06702.html.
Additional Information
Additional
information, including frequently asked questions (FAQs), is available by
visiting the Colorado Division of Water Resources at http://water.state.co.us/. Or call:
303.866.3581
For
more information, contact your local county health or planning department or
visit:
●
Water resources division
website water.state.co.us
Yes, you can think of many things on how you can help in conserving water.
ReplyDeleteround tank