The capacity of a rainwater harvesting system depends on the amount of rainfall, size of collection area, storage capacity, and the household’s level of demand for water. This table indicates the gallons of water produced annually for different size roof areas and rainfall amounts. To determine the square footage of catchment area of a house, use only the house’s footprint. (The actual area of roof material will be greater due to the roof slope. However, the amount of rainfall on the roof is not affected by the slope.)
Source:
http://rainwater.sustainablesources.com/ 39
Flexible systems, such as The Original Rainwater Pillow shown here, can be set up and dismantled quickly.
This novel solution for rainwater storage is useful for properties where space is at a premium (see photo page 40). The 50-gallon unit’s relatively small size allows it to fit in tight places, and the system is modular, so its capacity can be increased bit by bit and in multiple locations around a house. The narrow profile works well along side walls, down narrow passages, and underneath decks. A unit can sit flat, on its side, or upright.
If above-ground catchment isn’t suitable for your purposes, there are many below-ground rainwater catchment systems to chose from. The Cultec system (see its diagram on page 37) is cost eff ective from a material standpoint and contractor friendly because the “nested” units can be transported in a standard pickup truck. (Other systems use large solid tanks made of concrete or plastic, which need to be transported with special equipment.)
“In many cases, rain water recovery systems are retrofitted and installed on existing properties, so moving heavy equipment may be difficult and potentially damaging to those residences,” says DiTullio. The system costs approximately $3,000.
Another underground option is Graf Rain Harvest Systems’ RainMaster 1700-IG Rainwater Collection System, which retails for about $3,300.
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03.2011
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