| Everyone makes an impact on the future of water...what is yours? |
catchrainwater.com
| Rain Catchment Systems, Inc. 800-721-8564 |
Frequently Asked Questions >
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How does rainwater catchment work?
By it's very definition catchment means the action of catching water. Rainwater
catchment is the process used to capture, store and filter rainwater to utilize as an
alternative future water supply. The simplified version: Rain falls onto a roof, runs
through gutters into a storage tank then pumped though a filtration system and is,
at that point, ready for it's intended use.
Is rainwater safe to drink?
This is the main area where the advancements in technology are realized. The
finished rainwater product is one of the purest sources of water available for human
consumption far exceeding most city, municipal and water well standards.
Rainwater catchment eliminates ground impurities by capturing rain before it
touches the ground. Once captured, it is sent through a series of superior filters to
produce a final product very close to a sterile grade. We do recommend that any
water source used for human consumption be tested periodically to assure safety.
How do you filter the water?
We have worked very diligently in researching and adapting new, more advanced
options in this area. In the past, this portion of rainwater harvesting required a very
frequent and wasteful maintenance program. We believe strongly in filtering the
water prior to being stored in the tanks and recommend using a pre-filter to eliminate
most organic matter build-up and any "sour" water as a result. For potable
(drinkable) water purification we use a 5 micron filter, a 1 micron filter and a 15
gallons per minute (gpm) ultra violet light that eliminates bacteria to ensure the
highest quality drinking water.
Is is necessary to have another water supply?
No. We specifically design each system to function independently but do have the
ability to connect a rainwater system to an existing water source or irrigation system.
What type of roof works best?
While any roof surface catches rainwater the most effective tend to be smooth
surfaces such as metal sheeting, clay and slate tiles. Composition shingles are
safe to use but you may be changing your filters more often depending on the age of
the roof. Rain Catchment Systems, Inc. also installs professional roofing and gutter
systems.
What components does a basic system need? What will my system include?
Although we individually design each system to meet the water needs and requests
of our clients, there are basic components common to most systems, all of which
can be installed by Rain Catchment Systems, Inc.
1) roof surface
2) gutter system
3) storage tank(s)
4) pressure pump to move the water from the tank to the desired location
5) filtration system - depending on the intended water use
How do I know how much storage I would need?
The average daily household consumption is 50 gallons per person. We utilize the
following information to calculate the tank storage space you will need and what type
of tank will best suit your situation. We take into consideration the purpose of the
system (whole household supply, landscaping only, commercial supply etc.), the
square footage of the catchment surface and either the lowest recorded yearly rainfall
amount or longest consecutive days without measurable rain for your area. With this
information we can formulate how much water storage you will need to be able to
sustain your normal water usage for an extended amount of time.
What do you do in a drought condition?
Our systems are designed to sustain normal water consumption for the minimum of
20% longer duration than the longest time without measurable rainfall recorded for
that area. Say for example that a city or county's records show that 100 days was the
longest consecutive duration without measurable rain. Our system would be
designed to sustain normal water usage for 120 days, more if conservation was
exercised. We have also designed our systems to work in conjunction with existing
water sources in the unusual condition of severe or unexpected drought.
By it's very definition catchment means the action of catching water. Rainwater
catchment is the process used to capture, store and filter rainwater to utilize as an
alternative future water supply. The simplified version: Rain falls onto a roof, runs
through gutters into a storage tank then pumped though a filtration system and is,
at that point, ready for it's intended use.
Is rainwater safe to drink?
This is the main area where the advancements in technology are realized. The
finished rainwater product is one of the purest sources of water available for human
consumption far exceeding most city, municipal and water well standards.
Rainwater catchment eliminates ground impurities by capturing rain before it
touches the ground. Once captured, it is sent through a series of superior filters to
produce a final product very close to a sterile grade. We do recommend that any
water source used for human consumption be tested periodically to assure safety.
How do you filter the water?
We have worked very diligently in researching and adapting new, more advanced
options in this area. In the past, this portion of rainwater harvesting required a very
frequent and wasteful maintenance program. We believe strongly in filtering the
water prior to being stored in the tanks and recommend using a pre-filter to eliminate
most organic matter build-up and any "sour" water as a result. For potable
(drinkable) water purification we use a 5 micron filter, a 1 micron filter and a 15
gallons per minute (gpm) ultra violet light that eliminates bacteria to ensure the
highest quality drinking water.
Is is necessary to have another water supply?
No. We specifically design each system to function independently but do have the
ability to connect a rainwater system to an existing water source or irrigation system.
What type of roof works best?
While any roof surface catches rainwater the most effective tend to be smooth
surfaces such as metal sheeting, clay and slate tiles. Composition shingles are
safe to use but you may be changing your filters more often depending on the age of
the roof. Rain Catchment Systems, Inc. also installs professional roofing and gutter
systems.
What components does a basic system need? What will my system include?
Although we individually design each system to meet the water needs and requests
of our clients, there are basic components common to most systems, all of which
can be installed by Rain Catchment Systems, Inc.
1) roof surface
2) gutter system
3) storage tank(s)
4) pressure pump to move the water from the tank to the desired location
5) filtration system - depending on the intended water use
How do I know how much storage I would need?
The average daily household consumption is 50 gallons per person. We utilize the
following information to calculate the tank storage space you will need and what type
of tank will best suit your situation. We take into consideration the purpose of the
system (whole household supply, landscaping only, commercial supply etc.), the
square footage of the catchment surface and either the lowest recorded yearly rainfall
amount or longest consecutive days without measurable rain for your area. With this
information we can formulate how much water storage you will need to be able to
sustain your normal water usage for an extended amount of time.
What do you do in a drought condition?
Our systems are designed to sustain normal water consumption for the minimum of
20% longer duration than the longest time without measurable rainfall recorded for
that area. Say for example that a city or county's records show that 100 days was the
longest consecutive duration without measurable rain. Our system would be
designed to sustain normal water usage for 120 days, more if conservation was
exercised. We have also designed our systems to work in conjunction with existing
water sources in the unusual condition of severe or unexpected drought.