Jim@rainwaterpillow.com

As a horticulturist for 25 years, I believe in the benefits of organic gardening for myself and my clients whether for fruits, vegetables or flowers.  No one who has gardened with organics would argue the benefits.  My personal garden has been pesticide free for 17 years.  The insect populations of predators and prey reached a balance after about 3 years. Since that time, I have observed a substantial reduction in the insect populations.  Weeds will always be a problem but the loose organic soil makes them easy to pull.  Our organic garden has afforded me and my family the piece of mind to walk on the lawn in bare feet and eat vegetables right from the garden.

That being said, I have another area of my environment that concerns me.  I design and manufacture a rainwater harvesting system called The Original Rainwater Pillow.  This business venture has required a deep study of water.  I am often asked “Why should we harvest rainwater in areas where water is plentiful?”  The fact is the more developed an area is, the more pollution there will be in the water sources. Impervious surfaces create storm water run-off that pollutes our ground water, streams and rivers.  Rain is the cleanest water on earth before it touches a surface, but once it hits an impervious surface it washes the surface of debris and dumps the pollutants into our drinking water sources.

Atlanta and the surrounding metropolitan areas require over 500 million gallons of fresh water per day.(1)  Most of the water is supplied from surface water ( rivers and reservoir ) and requires extensive treatment to insure that it meets EPA standards before it reaches the tap.  The incredible quantity of water required daily impedes the municipal water treatment system’s ability to removal a variety of pollutants in our drinking water.  It is well cited that these pollutants are on a very small scale and should have no affect on a healthy individual. Some of the common pollutants are pharmaceutical drugs(2) and a long list of industrial chemicals(3). These chemicals mainly enter our water system through storm water run-off and raw sewage overflow creating challenges for Atlanta’s water quality.

My concern with using municipal water in organic vegetable gardening is the fact that plants are basically water filters.  As a plant grows it absorbs water and pollutants. It then transpires pure H2O into the atmosphere and the pollutants collect in the plant tissues. This filtering continues as long as the plant grows.  The older the plant are the more pollutants present in the plants tissue.  The efficiency of absorption varies with plant species and the size of the molecules of the pollutants. (4)

The premise of growing vegetables organically is to produce the cleanest healthiest vegetables possible.  But irrigating with municipal water and it’s associated pollutants reduces the quality of the organic produce.  The degree of contamination is dependent on many factors but the biggest issue is that we have no idea what the pollutants are and how they will affect us over long periods of time. It could be many years before we know or understand the long term affects of the chemical accumulation of pollutants in our drinking water and in our organic gardens.  Our bodies might simply not be affected or evolve to assimilate these pollutants.  But the fact remains that pollutants in our produce are measurable and steps should be taken to reduce or eliminate these pollutants.

The easiest way to overcome this issue is to collect rainwater. Water that falls from the sky has been pre-filtered thus making rainwater the cleanest water on earth.  A well designed rainwater harvesting system will provide the highest quality water for potable and non-potable uses. The first consideration in selecting a rainwater harvesting system is to determine where and how you are going to store the water. A large variety of different catchment vessels are available from pillows to in ground cistern to various shapes of above ground tank. The size of a system is based on your collection potential  (average annual rainfall ) and your water use needs. The other necessary components of a rainwater harvesting system include a collection area (usually a roof), a pre-filter prior to storage and a pump. For potable water systems, minor additional filters and UV light can provide the cleanest drinking water readily available.

Rainwater harvesting is a proven technology with the direct benefits of source point collection and use, which almost eliminates the energy cost necessary to provide water from any other source. Equally as important is the benefit of reducing storm water run off which is polluting other water resources. Rainwater Harvesting is one more option available to make our organic gardens simply more organic.

(1) http://www.northgeorgiawater.org/files/2010_Water_Metrics_Report_FINAL.pdf

(2) http://www.wcponline.com/column.cfm?T=T&ID=2199

(3) http://ga.water.usgs.gov/nawqa/publications/pdf/henderson.pdf

(4) http://www.mendeley.com/research/uptake-heavy-metals-vegetable-plants-grown-contaminated-soil-bioavailability-human-gastrointestinal-tract/

A High School in Atlanta Ga. is leading the way in sustainability by harvesting rainwater. The 3,100 gallon custom Original Rainwater Pillow is stored in the crawl space under a classroom building. The collected rainwater will be used to irrigate the organic garden and for other non potable uses around campus.

www.rainwaterpillow.com

The construction of the Sunshower SSIP Models designed by architects Judith Kinnard and Tiffany Lin, winners of the 2010 REOSE Sustainable Design Competition, is underway in New Orleans. “This design stood out as a model that was both attractive in appearance, but also smart and functional in terms of energy efficiency and ability to weather the toughest storms and conditions,” said Joseph Basilice, President of Oceansafe. OceanSafe, the premier manufacturer of durable and energy-efficient Steel Structural Insulated Panels, The ReGen Group, sustainable design consultants, C&G Construction, a leading green residential and commercial contractor, and Woodward Design+Build, the largest Design + Build contractor in Louisiana and the Gulf Coast Region have entered into a strategic partnership to produce this winning model, REOSE’s first sustainable prototype in New Orleans. The four associated companies are poised to begin to manufacture, package, sell and market fully functional sustainable building kits in the US and abroad.

The REOSE Sunshower SSIP Model is located at 222 Harrison Avenue in the Lakeview Neighborhood of New Orleans, LA. The rapid construction of this model will take place over the next several weeks and will be the premier example of green and sustainable construction. Builders, local and international dignitaries, green building organizations, media and people from around the world will be provided opportunities to tour the project and be present for building milestones. The public will experience the latest in green technology, materials and building design.  With the help of preferred vendors, everyone will see what a truly sustainable home looks like and experience what it would be like to live in one. Onsite property tours are available by appointment.

Each REOSE home building kit includes all the materials required to achieve a safe, healthy, comfortable and enduring level of building performance, while meeting all of its energy and water needs, even in extreme environments. Sponsoring companies have agreed to donate the materials and equipment for the interior and exterior of the dwelling, and to also collaborate as to renewable energy components, rainwater harvesting, HVAC, lighting, decking and interior framing, windows, doors, furniture, cabinets, appliances, flooring, and home décor for the project.

Positioning Pillow under Trailer

Pre-Filter

The Tiny House movement has introduced the idea of space as a resource to the forefront of the sustainability debate. The movement focuses on reducing the size of living spaces in order to reduce carbon footprint.

Designed to be fully independent and operate off the grid, the Tiny House will have everything a person needs to live comfortably in 128 sq ft : a living room, kitchen, bathroom, sleeping loft, storage area, an awning for shade and even a fireplace. The very tiny, zero net-energy house — with a toilet in the shower — will produce its own electricity using solar panels and also collect all of its water.

“I think the most interesting aspect of our house really is our systems, both electrical and plumbing. The rainwater system is the most interesting to me because it is not used as often as photovoltaics (solar panels), but is just as easy to implement. Especially our “water pillow” because it can be designed to fit any space needed. Since our home is so small, it was designed to fit underneath the trailer but still will be able to hold the amount of water we need. It can hold up to 400 gallons” says Kaycee Overcash, a recent graduate of Northwestern University who is the co-project manager of the project.

A four-stage filtration process cleans the rain water.  The system includes a sediment pre-filter, granular activated carbon pre-filter, carbon block pre-filter, and a UV light disinfection chamber. The pillow and all accessories are placed in an insulated box to prevent freezing and damage to pumps and pipes. During travel, the pillow is drained and taken out of an insulated compartment. The pillow is disconnected from the pipes and folds up for travel.
Read More about The Project…

With a Cistern Liner ! Our liners fold up, are easy to handle and economical to ship worldwide. Check out our most recent installation profiled below.

St Croix US Virgin Islands

This residential remodel included incorporating a state of the art rainwater harvesting system to provide all the potable water and irrigation needs for the home. Three concrete cistern vaults existed under the home. Custom cistern liners were built to hang in each cistern providing a total water storage capacity of 31,600 gallons. The liners were chosen as the preferred storage container primarily because they provide water quality control, water security in this earthquake prone area, are sealed and will eliminate the common problem of humidity caused by open cisterns in the home environment.

The cistern liners are specifically designed to fit the existing cisterns perfectly with all fill ports and overflow ports custom installed. The liner’s man-way is used to access the interior as necessary for pump maintenance and cleaning.

Positioning Liner Inside the Cistern

The liners are rolled into a tight cylinder and worked through the cistern access hole in the home’s floor. They are then unrolled and positioned in the cistern.

The liner is hung and attached to the appropriate fittings ( fill, drain, pump, and overflow). The three cistern liners are connected and operate as one large system.

13,790 Gallon Liner installed in Cistern #2

Contact Us if you are interested in learning more about rainwater harvesting, cistern liners or The Original Rainwater Pillow. We believe education is fundamental and are here to answer all your questions. Our services include complete system design, installation and turn key solutions for potable & non-potable applications.

Presented by: Jim Harrington, Rainwater Collection Solutions, Inc

The course will include an overview of water quality issues including pesticides, pharmaceuticals and sewage contamination. We will take an in depth view of our available water sources and energy needs required to obtain them. A presentation of the future outlook of water availability and how rainwater harvesting systems are a necessary component of water management

This course offers: 1.0 GBCI CEU – 1.0 AIA LU – 1.0 PDH

USGBC-GA Savannah Branch’s 3^rd Annual Expo for Green Building Products & Education

April 28^th and 29^th, 2011

Charles Morris Center

10 East Broad Street

Savannah, Ga

Rainwater collection systems are becoming more popular throughout the country as shown by a recent installation of a 14,000 gallon system in a state-of-the-art, multi-family, green residential project in downtown Santa Barbara, California.  The goal of this system is to collect and conserve enough rainwater to drip irrigate the landscape for a nine month long dry season.

A custom 14,000 cistern liner ( 20 ft  x 10 ft x 7 ft ) was built and installed in a cement vault  in the basement of the condo building.

Installation area

The liner hangs from the ceiling of the vault. The installation is designed to manage humidity, reduce the footprint of storing a large volume of water,  and additional security during an earthquake. 

 The rainfall is collected off an 1,800 square foot roof which has the potential of catching approximately 16,000 gallons of water from an average annual rainfall of 14 inches in Santa Barbara.  The six downspout filters divert the water via gravity to the liner. The excess water overflow is piped to outdoor infiltration chambers.  All the water that falls on the property is retained on the property. The collected water is then distributed to the drip irrigation system through a submersible pressure pump located inside the liner.

The building is applying for LEED Platnium certification and the cistern liner contributes to the required points.

We custom build  liners for new construction and repairs. 

Contact Us:

Rainwater Collection Solutions, Inc.

The Original Rainwater Pillow

www.rainwaterpillow.com

Jim@rainwaterpillow.com

770-853-9918

In our home in Atlanta, The Original Rainwater Pillow system initially installed for irrigation has now been adapted to supply water to flush toilets. The plumbing code in Georgia requires that the rainwater be of potable water standards. This is accomplished by adding a second filtration system as described below.

The first step was to determine how much water flow is required to flush the toilets. We upgraded our pump to an on demand pump that will provide 2.5 gallons of water per minute. A demand pump is necessary because toilets are designed with float valves that control filling the tank.

Once the water flow of 2.5 gallons per minute was determined as sufficient, we were able to specify an Ultraviolet Light disinfection system. UV systems are rated by flow requirements.

As the water is pumped from the pillow, it flows through a series of filters prior to exposure to the UV light. The first filter is 20 microns which removes the larger debris thus extending the life of the second 5 micron filter. Cleaning the water down to 5 microns is required for most UV light disinfection systems. Biological agents will be removed by this filtration, followed by UV light treatment thus creating potable water.

Lastly, often a charcoal filter is added to help reduce any odors and chlorine. In our system, we will not be including a charcoal filter. I am pre-treating the water with an aeration system to remove any odors. This is alternative process for water that will not be consumed.

The filters and UV light need to be replaced once per year. The glass tube on the UV light will need to be cleaned 2 -3 times per year.

By diverting rainwater from our collection system for use in flushing our toilets, we will save approximately 25,000 gallons per year!

For more information on rainwater harvesting or using it for toilet flushing, visit: www.rainwaterpillow.com.

The first component is the collection system.  Water is typically captured from a roof, but it can also be collected from permeable pavement or a dry creek bed.  Cleaner water leads to less filtering and maintenance.

Once water is captured, it is directed into the second component, a filtration system, prior to entering the storage vessel.  There are a variety of filters available on the market. The Original Rainwater Pillow system uses a debris pad filter. The benefit of a pad filter is that the water is cleaned to a greater extent. The filter pad needs to be cleaned once or twice per year and replaced annually. The second type of filter is a screen which removes materials larger than the screen size. Screen filters are often on metal roofs because there are no asphalt granules that need to be removed. The screen filters are also self-cleaning.

The next element of a rainwater harvesting system is the storage tank.  There are three types of storage vessels: below ground, above ground and horizontal pillows. In choosing the right vessel the user must consider both its planned location and cost. The Original Rainwater Pillow is designed to be installed in horizontal wasted space such as a crawl space or under a deck.  The Pillows are custom built to fit the available space.  Above ground tanks are simply installed next to the collection area and can vary in size as small as a rain barrel to many thousands of gallons.  Lastly, there are underground storage tanks and systems.  These can be either rigid tanks or crate systems surrounded by a liner.

Typical crawlspace installation

The final part of a rainwater collection system is the pump which is required to move the water.  There are numerous pump sizes and capabilities from which to choose.  The lower cost pumps must be manually turned on and off and will pump about 10 gallons per minute at 25 PSI.  As prices increase, the options may include fully automatic demand pumps with sensors that can determine if water is available and which will monitor the system for leaks.  In selecting a pump it is important to match the pump size with the anticipated water volume and use requirements

Additional add-ons are available to maintain water levels, to flush toilets, roof washing, aeration and drinking water processing.

A basic rainwater harvesting system for hand watering irrigation can cost as little as $2,500, with upgrades, such as providing for toilet flushing, beginning at approximately $1,000. Of course prices will vary depending upon the specifics of your individual circumstances and needs.

Jim Harrington

770-853-9918

Jim@rainwaterpillow.com

www.rainwaterpillow.com