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December 2015
A Rainwater Harvesting Hero in Vienna - Agrawal is one of CNN’s Top Ten Heroes of 2015 and has a chance to be the CNN Hero of the Year and win $100,000. He was nominated in 2013 by, he suspects, his daughter Nayna. After a thorough check by CNN, the network contacted him and informed him that he was in the top 25 and that they would like to go to India with him to film the work he is doing. With his Fairfax-based NGO Sustainable Innovations, he delivered Aakash Ganga, River from the Sky in Hindi. Aakash Ganga provides safe drinking water to vulnerable people and rural communities. Ten thousand people in six villages have been provided regular access to clean water. >> more
How to Install a Water Storage Tank - For the average homeowner who’s looking to cut down on their water expenses, a water storage tank may be just the thing. Perhaps the most obvious application is rainwater harvesting: You’d be surprised by how much water you can collect during the rainy seasons, which can provide you with just about all the water you’d need for gardening and lawn watering. >> more
Eagle Mountain prepared to invest $1M in water-wise improvements - “We are looking at how can infrastructure generate and create multiple values and multiple opportunities for potential,” Lancaster said. “So looking at a lot of Eagle Mountain’s street medians, they tend to be hill-like shaped; so since water runs downhill, the irrigation water that is imported to water the street medians and the turf that is in them very often ends up in the street, and that leads to more rapid degradation of the street.” >> more
Department asked to explain about damning report - WATER Minister Mark Bailey has sought a departmental briefing on the findings of a report that warns south-east Queensland households face massive increases in their water bills following the dumping of sustainable building regulations late last year. The report headed by former Victorian chief scientist Peter Coombes warns that the loss of requirements for rainwater harvesting and water-efficient fittings would add $7.3 billion to the cost of water by 2050. >> more
Catch some rain - In our dry climate, harvesting rainwater is now essential as the drought deepens in the West. Keeping in mind that ours is a Mediterranean climate with months of hot dry conditions in the summer, preserving some of the rain that falls during our wet season helps us be more water-efficient. >> more
Harness the life giving and free power of rainwater - Our world is running out of fresh water. Water conservation and the development of fresh water supplies is the only solution to being able to meet the growing demand for fresh water. This is especially true in Texas. In some cities and communities of Texas, more than fifty percent of our water usage is to irrigate our lawns and landscapes. A way of reducing this usage is “rainwater harvesting.” >> more
October 2015
Rainwater Harvesting Conserves Mother Nature's Resources - Many people across the South Plains are using the rain water in a smart way, by collecting it for later use. This water conservation is known as rainwater harvesting."Rainwater harvesting is the basic concept of collecting water from a down spout, gutter, or something of that kind and putting it into some kind of container to save it for later use," says Adeline Fox, with the High Plains Water District. >> more
Rainwater harvesting rebate program coming to San Marcos - Citizens are going beyond merely turning off the faucet while brushing their teeth in order to conserve water. Rainwater harvesting is the collection and storage of rainwater before it runs into streets and gutters as a sufficient way to conserve water. Customers who have purchased their non-pressurized systems through the city with the $0.50/gallon rebate program can pick up rain barrels on Oct. 31 between 9 a.m. and noon at the San Marcos City Hall Complex. >> more
Rainwater capture, routing, storage and purification in 5 steps - It really is amazing how much water can be collected from your roof. A formula exists that reveals that even a half inch of rain falling on a 2,000-square-foot roof (40 by 50 feet) can generate about 625 gallons of relatively fresh, nearly potable water. This water — direct from the sky and pure until it hits a hard surface — can be the cheapest, most viable way to get water for gardens, various cleaning needs — and, yes, even for drinking and bathing in a pinch — next to having it piped and delivered by the Community Services District. >> more
Brackish water, wastewater reuse seen for future - The future of water in Texas is likely to shift from lakes and lawns to conservation, recycling and technology to use nearly every drop — from rain to salty groundwater. In recent years, San Antonio has developed six alternative water sources to the Edwards Aquifer. New sources planned for the future include a brackish water desalination plant, set to go into operation in about a year, and a 142-mile pipeline from Central Texas, to be put to use by 2020. Alyssa Burgin, executive director with the nonprofit Texas Drought Project, said builders could help avert water shortages and rigid regulations by installing xeriscapes, hardscapes and drip-irrigation and rainwater-collection systems in new construction. Texas must expand use of recycled wastewater beyond parks and golf courses to entire municipal systems, she said. >> more
With a few precautions, it’s safe to use harvested rainwater on the veggies - A question that I have fielded numerous times this year is whether it is safe to use harvested rainwater to irrigate a vegetable garden and other edibles. The short answer is yes, it is safe, but certain factors and application practices should be considered. >> more
August 2015
The three wonders of the ancient world solving modern water problems - Ancient rainwater harvesting practices in India, Peru and Kenya are re-emerging to adapt to the changing conditions. >> more
How to Beat the Drought by Hoarding Water (If It Ever Rains Again) - Rainwater harvesting sounds simple, right? People have been setting out containers to catch rain for thousands of years, but collecting rainwater in our thirsty modern world is a messy business. Here's what you need to know if you're hoping to stick a bucket under a gutter to conserve water and cut down your water bill. >> more
College teaching water preservation design - Although El Niño is raising the hopes of forecasters for a wet winter, California is still in the grips of a historic drought and those on the cutting edge of sustainable water development are working to create drought- friendly environments for local homeowners and a program and curriculum for a water certification program at Mendocino College. >> more
Consider using swales in your landscaping to save water - Is there a "swale" in your future? Human-created artificial swales are becoming more popular in our arid region as landscapers and others recognize the water-saving benefits they can provide. Sometimes described as "water-harvesting ditches," swales are shallow, sculpted depressions in the ground that follow the contour of the land. True swales collect rainwater (running from a roof gutter, for example) and slow it to a standstill allowing water to better infiltrate the soil and support nearby plant life. >> more
Rainwater harvesting saves water, gardens and rivers - Weatherwise, it’s been a summer of sharp contrasts in Atlanta. Weeks of hot, dry weather have been punctuated by torrential rain storms that have kept the plants in my yard sporadically happy and local lakes and rivers mostly full. While a portion of northern Georgia was considered “abnormally dry” in July, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor, our water supplies are in pretty good shape this year for most of the state.>> more
July 2015
How to harvest rainwater for desert landscapes - Have you ever noticed how plants appear greener and brighter after a good rain? It's not just because the dust and dirt get washed off. Rainwater is a clean, salt-free source of water that contains many beneficial ingredients for plants.You may not think we get enough rain here to bother, but the rooftop of a typical home can collect more than 400 gallons from ½-inch of rain, making water harvesting well worth the effort. >> more
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June 2015
Solutions to water storage and storm water run-off problems - Housing development has overtaken the natural processes of water storage in aquifers, deposit of topsoil, and establishment of forests. A major function of the slowing down water run-off over plants and open ground was that most of the water slowed enough to be absorbed into the ground and filter through it into underground aquifers, resulting in clean water stored in vast underground cisterns, some in limestone and others in saturated soils. >> more
Here Is What We Can Do to Convert Rainwater Into a Useable Water Source - Known as “the Scientist” at the design-build firm Aquascape, in St. Charles, Illinois, Ed Beaulieu has dedicated his practice to implementing and restoring freshwater ecosystems. Beaulieu, a member of the Nat Geo Wild channel’s Pond Stars team, makes rainwater harvesting more efficient through innovations such as his RainXchange filtration and collection system, versions of which he has implemented in Ghana, Uganda, and Colombia. Beaulieu shares his expertise to highlight new conservation initiatives and meaningful changes we can all make. >> more
May 2015
Rainfall Soaks San Angelo, No Progress Made on Runoff Harvesting Research - Water conservation has been a grave concern in San Angelo, particularly over the past few years. Councilmember Rodney Fleming requested research be done on rainwater harvesting via curb cuts on residential streets some time ago. Since then the city department that was in charge of the research has experienced some change, and Russell Pehl is now the Assistant Director of Water Utilities for the city. Pehl has been in that position for about a month. >> more
Innovations Stop Rainwater from Going Down the Drain - More than half the world’s population lives in metropolitan centers. The built environment of a city is very different from that of rural and natural areas. When it rains over a rural landscape, much of the rainwater sinks into the ground or is evaporated or transpirated by trees, crops and other plants. >> more Colorado state water law leaves gardeners high and dry on rain barrels - Let me get this straight. According to Colorado law, a person can legally possess and use marijuana. However, it’s still against the law to possess and use a rain barrel. Why are rain barrels so dangerous? When are we going to decriminalize water conservation? >> more April 2015Tucson’s rain-catching revolution - In the mid-1980s, Brent Cluff lived in a low-slung four-bedroom house on a quiet street in Oro Valley, an upscale suburb northwest of Tucson. Saguaro and prickly pear, mesquite trees and shrubs filled his front yard and most of the others on the street. His backyard, however, stood out, with peach, plum and apricot trees, and a vegetable garden overflowing with cucumbers, tomatoes, carrots and okra. It was completely irrigated by stormwater, captured from the street by an eight-inch pipe and used to fill a figure 8-shaped 100,000-gallon concrete pond. The pond was stocked with trout from northern Arizona; periodically, Cluff let Cub Scouts fish there.>> more Harness rainwater and save money - The long rains have hit most of Kenya so much that places like Bondo have endured floods that sadly took away lives. Water is life, so when it results in death, something is extremely wrong. Kenya receives sufficient rainwater for every homestead in the entire country. Tragically, most of this water is wasted. >> more March 2015 Rainwater harvest more than a drop in the bucket - Tymn Combest popped a sample bottle of rainwater into a pocket chlorine reader and, after a minute, looked at the screen. “Looks like I’m going to have to add more chlorine,” he said. From just the 0.8 of an inch of rain that fell over San Angelo on Friday, Combest caught 1,800 gallons of rainwater off his house and his garage by the afternoon. >> more Let Colorado residents use rooftop runoff - It is hypocritical for the state's water providers to demand citizens conserve water while a state law on the books prohibits people from doing just that in one notable way — collecting runoff rainwater from their roofs. Thankfully, legislation has been introduced to do away with this outdated prohibition >> moreRainwater harvesting reduces demand on existing water supply - Did you know that the average roof (1,000 square feet) collects 600 gallons of water for every inch of rain? So let's not let all of that water go to waste! Rainwater harvesting systems provide distributed stormwater runoff containment while simultaneously storing water, which can be used for plant irrigation and other uses. There are two types of rainwater harvesting systems - active and passive. >> more Harvest rainwater runoff for dry summer - If you haven't gotten around to getting that rain barrel you've been wanting, this winter's rainy weather has likely caused you some regret. Another hot, possibly dry summer is approaching, so it is never too late to increase your water conserving efforts.A simple process, rainwater harvesting captures, diverts and stores the water. Recent years of extended drought and increasing demand from the state's growing population, have renewed interest in this conservation practice. >> more ASPE releases two new draft standards for public review - The American Society of Plumbing Engineers (ASPE) recently announced that it has released two new draft standards for public review -- the ARCSA/ASPE 78: Stormwater Harvesting System Design for Direct End-Use Applications and the WQA/ASPE 1201: Electrochemical Drinking Water Treatment Systems. ARCSA/ASPE 78, developed with the American Rainwater Catchment Systems Association, covers on-site, single-property stormwater catchment systems that collect and use precipitation or rain from non-rooftop and other impervious surfaces at, below, and above grade. WQA/ASPE 1201, developed with the Water Quality Association, covers point-of-use or point-of-entry treatment systems that utilize electrochemical technology to treat water meant for human consumption as well as water used in certain commercial and industrial applications that have water quality needs similar to drinking water. >> moreFebruary 2015 Cushioning impact of water crisis through rainwater harvesting - The hot and dry spell Malaysia is currently experiencing, which is expected to last until end-March, is causing the public to become jittery.It is worth pondering why most urban Malaysians are totally dependent on their supply of treated water to carry out daily activities like washing their toilets, floors and cars and watering their gardens. Why don't they consider performing these tasks using rainwater?>> more January 2015Water Catchment on the Suburban Frontier - Transformation work started on this quarter-acre suburban property in 2,000. The site is flat, good soil with good solar access. It's in a suburban neighborhood; the house was built in 1956. The intention from the start was to do a permaculture makeover to take care of more needs closer to home.Catch and store rain in the Pacific Northwest? That's right. Its dry here in the summer. We can go two months with, essentially, no rain. The reasons for the system are partly for irrigation, drinking if I need to and “green preparedness..” The plastic for all these tanks is polyethylene and is food grade, made without chlorine. >> more Entrepreneurial alum helps everyone harvest rainwater - Six years after graduating from the Conway School, through a fortuitous series of twists and turns, Jesse Froehlich ’08 is entering her fourth year as an entrepreneur with her rainwater harvesting business. BlueBarrel, LLC (or BlueBarrel Rainwater Catchment Systems as it is known) is an online business selling customized kits for building multi-barrel rainwater collection systems using recycled food-grade, fifty-five-gallon barrels. >> more Tucson a model for planning for drier future, author says - Internationally recognized food and farming activist Gary Paul Nabhan says Tucson gardeners do a good job recognizing the importance of harvesting rainwater to grow crops in the desert climate. But on the heels of Tucson’s warmest year on record, Nabhan feels more can be done.“There’s been a lot of emphasis on things like harvesting water, but not much on the other ways that deal with scarce water and cooling crops,” says Nabhan. >> more >> Browse Book >> Other Water Books How to prepare for energy, water shedding - IWe know all about load shedding and we’ve been warned about water shedding. So what do we do about it? According to rainwater harvesting specialist Patrick Rosslee, a good idea is to have your own tank – the biggest your space can afford. “Get a rough idea of how much rain water you can capture. On every square metre of roof, a millimetre of rain will give you one litre,” he said. >> more >> Tank Sizing Calculator December 2014Rainwater catching systems growing in popularity, size - When rain drenches Mark Wialbut’s mountain home, it sprouts inspiration. His vast network of gutters, pipes, tanks and filters has captured more than 10,000 gallons so far this month, with more to come — enough for his family to be self-sufficient this winter in their Los Gatos aerie. “The water is used for everything,” said Wialbut, an electrical engineer at work but a water sanitation specialist, maintenance mechanic and troubleshooting technician at home. “It tastes great,” he said, triumphantly. In the East Bay, Tony Poeck of Indira Designs reports a 30 percent jump in revenue this year for sales of rainwater and “greywater” (to reuse household water) collection system equipment, design and consultation. >> moreIncredible futuristic African architecture that solves problems-- and gets you thinking - ARCHITECTURE cropping up in Africa is achieving international acclaim for some of the most innovative and sustainable building designs in the world. In some cases it is a single building that has been designed to minimise impact on the environment or cope with environmental challenges. In other cases the architecture involves a concerted effort among companies, individuals, and at times the government, to deal with certain demands such as urbanisation or climate change or as a form of modernisation to accommodate new economic aspirations. >> moreRainwater offers potential savings for homeowners - The UK consistently faces annual water shortages caused by the increased demand on supplies and changes in our climate. Sporadic long dry spells throughout the year cause water companies to enforce hose-pipe bans across the country, meaning customers are left without full access to a service they pay for. The environment also suffers because of the extra strain on resources. Rainwater harvesting is an excellent way of ensuring the continuation of your water supply as well as offering a saving on water bills and helping safeguard the environment. Rainwater harvesting can also be used to prevent flooding at times of heavy rainfall. >> more Catching rainwater from the sky eases drought's grip for Bay Area innovators - When rain drenches Mark Wialbut's mountain home, it sprouts inspiration. His vast network of gutters, pipes, tanks and filters has captured more than 10,000 gallons so far this month, with more to come -- enough for his family to be self-sufficient this winter in their Los Gatos aerie. For Wialbut -- and the growing number of collectors like him -- rainwater systems are elaborate enough to weaken drought's fierce grip. >> more Why gutters matter in a desert - Gutters? Who needs gutters? Many Arizona homes have none at all, particularly homes in newer subdivisions in central and southern Arizona. Perhaps the builder didn't bother to put gutters on your house as a way of keeping down construction costs. If you're living in a desert that only gets 8 inches of rain a year, gutters might seem as unusual as 50-foot redwood trees. When that big monsoon hits, you only have to sit it out for a few hours with water pouring off the roof in sheets. Then it's over, and you forget about most drainage issues until the next time. >> more Swales offer DIY rainwater catchment options - In these years of drought, rainwater catchment makes more sense than ever. Rain costs nothing and is free of hard minerals and chlorine. Plants love it. “The best storage for rainwater is the ground,” said Rishi Kumar of the Growing Home in Diamond Bar.A healthy soil, preferably with lots of organic material like compost, can hold several inches of rainwater in the first few feet. And the more stored in the ground, the less you have to add later, particularly for trees and shrubs. >> moreNovember 2014 St. Paul Saints ballpark will be green, includes RHW System - The $65 million project is following state sustainability guidelines, which officials say are similar to LEED standards. The $450,000 rainwater system will collect rainwater from the roof of the adjacent light-rail operations and maintenance facility, pipe it to a 27,000 gallon tank at the ballpark, filter it and then deliver it to the field or restrooms. >> more Water harvesters that blend into the scenery - Some rainwater harvesters like the look of a plastic tank or a silver metal culvert cistern that announce that they are saving water. Others want to be less obvious. Kay Baumann is one of them.“I was a little shy to have two big plastic tubs in my backyard,” says the north-sider. Instead, she took the advice of permaculture designer Justin Bramhall and covered two plastic tanks, which store a total of 2,185 gallons, with gabions. A gabion is a metal cage filled with rocks. >> more Rainwater will be used to top up university swimming pool - The 1.3 million litre holding tank will harvest rainwater from the aquatic centre's roof to replenish evaporated pool water as well as help manage extreme storm water run-off and flooding. "To the best of our knowledge, this is the first use of a rainwater harvesting system to top up pool water lost to evaporation in a public indoor swimming pool in North America," said Mark Ostry, principal of Acton Ostry Architects Inc. in Vancouver. "Because of the warm interior and the powerful ventilation system, the pool loses one-and-one-half to two inches of water per day. The cistern is integral to the sustainability of the pool." >> more Right as Rain - This year, California was hit by a serious drought, with more dry spells predicted in coming decades. It’s time to get creative and save water for a non-rainy day by building our own tower of showers. The water tower in Santa Fe’s historic railyards doubles as a rainwater harvester and local landmark. >> more September 2014Rainwater harvesting: a niche for plumbing contractors - When one thinks of rainwater harvesting, the typical image that comes to mind is rain barrels and cisterns. However, there is so much more in the world of water reduction strategies — today rainwater harvesting and other conservation strategies can be looked at as a business niche for plumbing contractors. >> more July 2014No rebate at end of rainbow when rain harvesting - Sibley drinks rainwater. Just like his plants.This makes him free — independent, in keeping with the day — of San Antonio Water System's drought restrictions. “I have lived through droughts. I understand what that's all about really well,” he said. “My main desire here was I didn't want the city of San Antonio telling me I couldn't irrigate during the summer.” >> moreJune 2014First Eduational Institutional to Accredit Rainwater Harvesting Nationally - The American Rainwater Catchment Systems Association (www.ARCSA.org, 501(c)3 tax-exempt nonprofit) is the preeminent national educational and technical organization offering accreditation for rainwater-harvesting professionals. Today, ARCSA proudly announces its first partner in that effort—Santa Fe Community College (www.sfcc.edu)—whose 16-week course, "Active Water Harvesting and Distribution Systems” surpassed the curriculum requirements, including lessons on the latest design and installation standard - ARCSA/ASPE/ANSI Standard 63-2013. To formalize the occasion, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed by Interim SFCC President Randy Grissom and ARCSA’s President David Crawford.. >> moreMay 2014Rainwater harvesting can help in water security, conservation - A former chief of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) encouraged the public to practice rainwater harvesting to aid in water conservation and improve water security in the country. “Seventy percent of our water needs in the household level can be met by rainwater,” said Elisea Gozun, former environment secretary and presently USAID (United States Agency for International Development) Contractor working as Climate Resiliency Team Leader under the Be Sure Project. >> moreSan Marcos adds rebates for rainwater tank systems - San Marcos officials have expanded their rebate program to help city water customers with the cost of purchasing and installing rain barrels and large rainwater tank systems. “Conserving water is more critical than ever right now,” said Jan Klein, the city’s conservation coordinator, in a statement. “Capturing rainwater off your roof and using it instead of treated water is a great way to conserve our valuable water resources. Rainwater is also better for your plants, and capturing it onsite helps to reduce stormwater runoff.” >> more Concrete House Doubles as Rainwater Filter System - The RAINHOUSE is a building that collects rain and turns it into high quality drinking water. The building is made with IVANKA’s bio-concrete, a material that has a PH neutral orientation and is bio-compatible with water. What makes the technology built into the RAINHOUSE different from other filtration technologies is that the system filters raw rain water physically and in a natural way, without the need for additional chemicals, to produce sun-distilled drinking water of the highest quality. >> moreHarvesting Rainwater on your Boat - Water is vital to life and a precious commodity these days. In the Caribbean – despite the vast amounts of rainfall we seem to experience – water supplies can often dwindle or even become contaminated after the passing of a hurricane, so it pays to have your own backup supply. >> more April 2014How to create a rainwater harvesting system - Rainwater collection is a way to conserve water that can be adopted by both private homeowners and businesses. Harvesting water during peak times of precipitation ensures water will be on hand during drought or when water restrictions are implemented. Making use of rainwater reduces reliance on underground wells or municipal water systems. Harvesting rainwater also can help prevent flooding and soil erosion. The average homeowner can collect thousands of gallons of rainwater each year. To learn just how much water can be harvested, as well as how many natural resources can be produced from that rain, visit www.save-the-rain.com, where men and women can calculate their rain collection potential by geographic location and average rainfall. Afterward, homeowners may be inclined to establish their own rainwater harvesting systems. Here is how to get started. March 2014 Officials seek water solution from above: Rainwater harvesting viability explored - Yavapai County officials are studying the benefits of rainwater harvesting equipment in new construction.The Yavapai County Board of Supervisors and its planning commission discussed the idea at length Wednesday during one of their two annual joint meetings."In some cases, we have to lead by example," Supervisor Craig Brown said."We need to look at this," agreed Planning and Zoning Commission Chair Tom Reilly, a local architect. He noted it would conserve groundwater. The Prescott region has been depleting its groundwater supplies for more than a decade.Rain barrel strategy for home gardeners - Gardeners for centuries from Mediterranean climates have long used the rain barrel as a conservation method for storing roof runoff water for later use. A rain barrel collects water directly from a roof downspout. When every drop counts, rainwater harvesting can be a simple way for a home gardener to reduce water consumption from a piped-in supply.April Showers? Make use of Rainwater Harvesting - April showers may bring us May flowers, so the saying goes. But they also bring out green homeowners. As the snow and ice-covered rooftops melt with Spring temperatures warming the Northern Hemisphere, all of the water run-off has to go someplace.If you’re a green home owner, you’ve already got your rain barrel or other rainwater harvesting system in place to capture all that run-off, to save water and your wallet.Rainwater as a Disaster Risk Reduction Tool - In a nation where a pot of water is seen as sign of good luck and punkalasa (which is mimicked by the rain water harvested tank) is the sign of prosperity, I find it very difficult to comprehend how rain water harvesting is perceived as the poor man’s option.Presentation to city council touts benefits of harvesting rainwater - SWith an average of only 9 inches of annual precipitation in this area, water is a precious commodity in Moab. However, with the right setup, at least some rainwater can be harnessed to provide irrigation to gardens and lawns, rather than draining into the city’s stormwater system or flowing into ditches. Roslynn Brain, an associate professor with Utah State University, and Jeremy Lynch, a sustainable communities intern with the USU extension program, are trying to teach people how to make that happen.Local Man Seeks to Harvest Rain Via Curb Cutting - San Angelo resident Ty Williams, who lives on the south side of town, presented an idea on capturing rainwater that could alleviate some water woes in the private sector. The plan involves “curb cutting” to divert rainwater flow into a storm drain that would be built on his property. Santa Monica seeks water independence in wake of California drought - Drops of rain fell on Josephine Miller’s 1920s bungalow — a watery relief in the midst of a punishing drought. Instead of flowing into storm drains and washing out to sea, an oversized tank harvested the precious resource to keep her thirsty citrus trees and vegetables from shriveling up on dry days.
Rainwater Harvesting; What’s the Payback? - This weekend I installed a thousand gallons of rainwater storage tanks in my side yard. I found some very nice Bushman Slimline tanks that are only 25” wide, fit neatly in my side yard, and still allow me to get by with the trashcans and the wheelbarrow. They collect roughly half of the water from my roof, and with a thousand square feet of roof area I can fill the tanks with 1 3/4 “ of rain. >> more Californians Willing to Pay for Drought Solutions - By a margin of 74% to 17%, Californians think the best way to deal with the drought is to develop local supplies of water rather than expand water imports. Furthermore, 77% of voters would be willing to pay more on their water bill in order to increase sustainable local water supplies. >> more Pima town manager talks low impact development - Low impact development includes shaping roadways to try and catch as much rainwater runoff as possible, directing it toward bioretention cells made up of native vegetation, where it can filter out pollutants and allow the water to seep into the aquifer. >> more The Water Efficiency Improvement Act of 2014 - U.S. Rep. Jerry McNerney (D-Stockton, Calif.) on Friday introduced legislation that would provide a tax credit toward the purchase of WaterSense-certified products. H.R. 4117, “The Water Efficiency Improvement Act of 2014,” proposes amending the IRS Tax Code to provide a 30 percent tax credit (up to $2,000 per taxpayer) on the purchase of products “tested by an American
National Standards Institute (ANSI) accredited third-party certification body or laboratory in accordance with the Environmental Protection Agency’s WaterSense program.” >> more West Virginians Harvest Rainwater in Wake of Chem Spill - The quality of the water remains in question, but residents aren't satisfied with a choice between expensive bottled water from the store and possibly polluted water from the tap. Increasingly, they're going for a sustainable and self-sufficient alternative: rainwater harvesting. >> more City Encourages Rainwater Harvesting During Storm, for Non-Potable Use - With considerable rainfall in the forecast for the upcoming week, the City of Sierra Madre would like to encourage residents to think about opportunities to collect rain water and use it to supplement their potable supply. >> more February 2014 New buildings must comply with criteria to get approval - New developments, be it commercial or residential, must fulfil a list of green criteria set by the Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) before the green light is given. This is all part of MBPJ’s plan to make the city a sustainable one come 2030, by kicking off with a low carbon city framework programme this year.Developments including semi-detached structures and bungalows will have to be fitted with a rainwater harvesting system. >> more Rain Harvesting Solution to Drought - The heavy rains sweeping across Zimbabwe have created and, in some cases expanded opportunities for rainwater harvesting. This is a concept still in its infancy here although critical in view of the growing water shortages across the globe.The grandmother of four started collecting rainwater in 1993 after receiving training from the Intermediate Technology Development Group, now known as Practical Action, a global non-governmental organisation bent on improving urban and rural livelihoods. >> more Rain: Heavens-sent pollution solution? - Sarah Smith hopes to collect enough rainwater to wash her vehicles, do laundry, shower in, fill her aquarium and maybe supply her drinking water one day.She was one of about 60 people that attended a free rainwater-harvesting workshop Saturday at Rock Lake Presbyterian Church in South Charleston. "I started thinking about [collecting rainwater], but knew I needed more information," Smith said. "I'm here today to figure out how to do that.">> more Days of Desiccation - The bathtub rings in the reservoirs that hold California’s liquid life have never been more exposed. Shorelines are bare, brown and bony. Much of the Sierra Nevada is naked of snow. And fields in the Central Valley may soon take to the sky. A Dust Bowl? Not yet. Though this drought will surely go down as the worst in the state’s recorded history. Until next year.>> more Victorians urged to use the Right Water - Minister for Water Peter Walsh has today launched Right Water, a new campaign to encourage Victorian households to make greater use of rainwater.Right Water is a new household-focused initiative to help Victorian families make greater use of alternative water sources around their home and garden, helping to reduce the use of drinking water supplies for non-drinking purposes,” Mr Walsh said.>> more Many look to rainwater after chemical spill - The Freedom Industries chemical leak has led many to find creative ways to avoid using tap water. Most are relying on bottled water, but a growing number of people are looking to the sky for a clean -- and free -- water source.Rainwater harvesting is the process of collecting rainwater in containers, then storing it for later use. The practice is popular among gardeners and in desert areas where water is scarce. >> more Relearning the Words of a great King - Water is vital for all known forms of life and is considered a basic need for us humans. Ironically though, while over 71 percent of the Earth’s surface is covered by water, only 2.53 percent of the Earth’s water is fresh water and two thirds of the fresh water is locked in glaciers and permanent snow making only 0.01 percent of the Earth’s water readily available for human use. In Sri Lanka water has become a major issue at present due to over use, poisoning, misuse and mismanagement of this precious natural treasure. >> more
California drought: A run on rain barrels - With California facing dire water shortfalls after the driest year in recorded state history, Gov. Jerry Brown has called on residents of the Golden State to conserve water "in every way possible. Next on the list: rain barrels! It's not raining right now, but when it does, wouldn't it be great to capture as much rain as possible that falls from the sky? >> more
January 2014
Turning curse into blessing: ‘Rainwater harvesting possible in 80% of city’s land’ - Do not waste your rainwater because rainwater harvesting is possible in about 80 per cent of the land of Karachi, said Indian geologist Dr Amar N Joshi.“We don’t give much importance to the natural resource – water,” endorsed WWF-P technical adviser Muhammad Moazzam Khan. “A large quantity of water is wasted. Its importance is acknowledged only in terms of agriculture. Yes, it is the need of the hour to use rainwater in cities like Karachi.” >> more
Make use of rainwater with a harvesting system - Rainwater collection is a way to conserve water that can be adopted by both private homeowners and businesses. Harvesting water during peak times of precipitation ensures water will be on hand during drought or when water restrictions are implemented. Making use of rainwater reduces reliance on underground wells or municipal water systems. Harvesting rainwater also can help prevent flooding and soil erosion. >> more
All new buildings to have rainwater harvesting systems - All new buildings including houses, apartments, offices and schools will be obliged to install rainwater harvesting systems to reduce consumption and help drive down utility bills. The Government plans to change planning regulations next year to require all new buildings to be fitted with systems that divert rainwater from gullies into storage tanks, after which it is pumped through the plumbing system to reduce consumption of mains water. The move could help reduce average household consumption by up to 50%, leading to lower bills. >> more 2013 Water News2012 Water News2011 Water News2010 Water News2009 Water News2008 Water News2007 Water NewsTOP
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