Sam Angima & Bill Biernacki

Introduction
Rain water is (if collected

from tin roofs)

Pure
Soft
Neutral pH
Salts
Minerals
& other man-made

products

Introduction
Rain water is
Free (cost = collection
and use)
No costly distribution
costs
Flushes salts off garden
soils
Reduces flow of storm
waters
Reduces your water bills

What is Rain Water Harvesting?

Rainwater harvesting is

the capture, diversion,

and storage of rainwater
for a number of different
purposes including
landscape irrigation,

drinking and domestic

use, aquifer recharge,
and storm water
abatement.

How Much Water Can You Capture?

About 0.62 gallons/sq ft of surface per 1-inch of rain
Potentially, for our av. 100 inch rainfall/year, one sq ft

roof will collect 62 gallons per year

Of this, assume 75 % collection efficiency (47 gal/yr)
Then find how much water you need (~ 3 months
period) and how much you need to collect

How do you calculate roof area for different roof

styles?

Catchment Areas of Three roof

Styles

Components of RWHS
Catchment surface (usually a roof)
Gutters and downspouts
Leaf screens
First flush diverter (plus filtration)
Removes debris and dust before going to tank
Storage tanks (cisterns)
Delivery system
Gravity fed or pumped
Treatment or purification if needed

The Catchment Surface

Usually roof
Metal: commonly Galvalume 55%
aluminum & 45% alloy coated steel sheet.
Clay/concrete tiles: have ~10% loss due to
texture
Composite or asphalt shingles: most
common

They leach toxin do not use for potable water

systems
Good for irrigation water gardens
10% loss of water compared to metals roofs

Wood shingles, tar, gravel: use only for

irrigation

Gutters and Downspouts

Capture rain

water running off

eaves of building
Drop outlets
downspouts

Leaf Screens
Remove debris to get high quality water
Mess screens work well need to be cleaned regularly
Or leaf screens inch mesh screens
Funnel-type downspout filter: easy accessibility for

cleanup
Strainer baskets slip into drop outlet of downspout

First Flush Diverters

Routes first flow of water away from storage tank

dust, pollen, bird & rodent feces.

Simplest is a PVC stand pipe
Drains continuously via pinhole
One rule of thumb for first-flush diversion is to divert
a minimum of 10 gallons for every 1,000 square feet of
collection surface
OR always turn of collection system during first
rainfall event to wash the roof

How Long Should The Standpipe Be?

If using
3 diameter PVC, allow 33 length of pipe/gallon
4 diameter pipe allow 18 of length/gallon
6 diameter pipe, allow 8 length/gallon

Roof Washers
Pre-filters water before

storage
Especially for drip
irrigation
Filter is usually 30micrometer pores about
of human hair

Storage Tanks
Many types
Must be opaque to discourage algae formation
Have not contained toxic chemicals
Must be vented and screened bugs/mosquitoes
Cleanable
Have an overflow that does not run into septic system
drainfields
Stable ground

Water weighs 8 lbs/gallon

So a 1500 tank will weigh over 6 tons full

1. Fiberglass Tanks (50-15,000 gallons)

2. Polypropylene (plastic) 50-10,000gallons

Metal
Galvanized

Concrete Tanks

Rain Barrels
Food-Grade Plastic Barrels

Gravity or Pump?
You need at least 20 psi for sprinkler irrigation of your

lawn/garden
Water gains 1 psi of pressure for every 2.31 feet of
vertical rise
So to get 20 psi you need 43 feet of drop or just use a
pump
A solar panel & pump can run the system and pay back
in time
You can add household laundry bleach to kill
bacteria/algae at 1 oz per 500 gallons or 0.1 oz/barrel

Newport

Screens Help
Reduce Roof
Dirt

Home-made
Strainer/filter

Rain Barrels
Food-Grade Plastic Barrels

Water Rules

Dirty Water

Newport