Rainwater Harvesting: An Overview and Implementaion at the Local Level

8/9/2019 Rainwater Harvesting: An Overview and Implementaion at the Local Level

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RAINWATER HARVESTING:A FORGOTTEN PRACTICE

Thomas Jefferson Soil & WaterConservation District

434-975-0224

www.tjswcd.org

Ancient, pre-Islamic water-cisterns in Aden

(http://www.aridlands.co.uk/ar-overseas.htm)


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Thomas Jefferson Soil and WaterConservation District

200 cubic feet of water

= 1500 gallons(50 gallons/day for a month)

2 RAIN STORM

30x40 ROOF (1,200 sq. ft.)


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3,200 showers or,

> 1,000 loads of laundry or, > 10,000 commode flushes or, > 250 1-inch waterings of a 1/4 acre lawn or, any combination of the above water uses

Virginias average annual rainfall = 42.70

In one year, 32,000 gallons of rain runs off

a 1,200 sq. ft. roof -->


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RAINWATER SUPPLY WATER USEAGE (2004)

Total Roof Area = 130,000 ft.2

43 rain/yr. = 465,830 ft.3 =3,500,000 gallons/year =

292,000 gallons/month

Total = 1,665,000 gallonsfor year

Range: 75,000 - 226,000

gallons/monthAverage: 138,750gallons/month

MONTICELLO HIGH SCHOOL


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BENEFITS OF USINGROOFTOP RUNOFF COLLECTION

Reduces demandon groundwater or municipalwater supplies Serves as a stormwater managementalternativeby reducing the volume, velocity, and peak flows of

stormwater runoff As stormwater is controlled, floodingandstreambank and channel erosionare reduced Less stormwater runs over hard surfaces,

decreasing the impuritiesin stormwater runoff


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January 3.13February 3.08March 3.86April 3.29May 3.99June 3.69

July 4.31August 4.14September 3.50October 3.36

November 3.21December 3.18

Virginia Long-Term Average Precipitation (1895-1998)

(from University of Virginia Climatology Office)

ANNUAL 42.70

32,000 GALLONSFROM 1200 SQ.FT.

ROOF

AVG. 87 GALLONSPER DAY


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WHERE DO WE BEGIN?

(Photos - courtesy of American Rainwater Catchment

Systems Association)


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START SMALL . . .

. . .

Full after < 1/10of rain on 1,200

sq.ft. roof


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. . . EVOLVE TO SOMETHING BIG

(Photo - courtesy of American Rainwater Catchment Systems Association)


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filling bird baths, fish ponds,childrens pools

watering plants washing cars

Outdoor uses for rain barrel water:

Homemade rain barrels:

simple attractive economical


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11 rain barrelsprovide over 600gallons of water

storage (.8 rain on1,200 sq.ft. roof).


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Chesapeake BayFoundation OfficeBuilding, Annapolis MD


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Chesapeake Bay

Foundation OfficeBuilding, Annapolis MD


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WHAT NOW?

1. POLICY

2. EDUCATION

3. COMMUNICATION


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32.1-248.2. Use of rainwater and reuse of gray water.

A. The Department shall develop by January 1, 1999, guidelinesregarding the use ofgray water and rainwater. The guidelines shalldescribe the conditions under which gray water and rainwater mayappropriately be used and for what purposes. The guidelines shallinclude categories of used water, such as types of used household

water and used water from businesses, which are appropriate for reuse.The guidelines shall include a definition of gray water that does notinclude used toilet water.

B. The Department, in conjunction with the Department of EnvironmentalQuality, shall promote the use of rainwater and reuse of gray water as

means to reduce fresh water consumption, ease demands on publictreatment works and water supply systems, and promote conservation.

(1998, c. 155.)

WHAT NOW?

1. POLICY


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Enforce Code of Virginia 32.1-248.2 for development ofguidelines

Provide incentives (tax credits, credits towards stormwater

management requirements )

Develop two levels of technical criteria and sizing standards:

Stormwater Management

Water Conservation

WHAT NOW?1. POLICY (cont):


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WHAT NOW?2. EDUCATION:

3. COMMUNICATION:

Local Level: Health Department & Building Officials

(plumbing permits and water system permits) State Level: DEQ, DCR, VDH

Educate public regarding distinction between use of gray

water and rainwater harvesting Educate public regarding relative raw water quality of roof

runoff vs. reservoir water (runoff from roads, farms, parking

areas, etc.) and degree of treatment needs


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TJSWCD

434-975-0224www.tjswcd.org

IT DOESNT HAVE TO BE

COMPLICATED!

Documents

Rainwater Harvesting: An Overview and Implementaion at the Local Level