American Rainwater Catchment Systems Association www.arcsa.org Introduction to Rainwater Harvesting 100 Level
Welcome!! Doug Pushard - ARCSA Instructor Jeffrey Adams ARCSA Instructor
Level 100 Agenda Morning Introduction Definitions Local Water Rainfall Passive Catchment Afternoon Collection from roof to container For Outdoor Use For Indoor Use Sanitation Maintenance Questions
The mission of ARCSA To promote sustainable rainwater harvesting practices to help solve potable, nonpotable, stormwater and energy challenges throughout the world
ARCSA Education courses are structured into three levels "Introduction to Rainwater Harvesting," Level 100, is geared to those who are new to the concept of rainfall capture 5
ARCSA Education courses are structured into three levels Level 200: "Rainwater Harvesting Accreditation" course is designed for industry professionals or for those individuals desiring to pursue a career in rainwater management. The completion of the Level 200 course is a requirement for attaining accreditation as an ARCSA Accredited Professional. 6
ARCSA Education courses are structured into three levels ARCSA offers a variety of Level 300 special courses. They are designed to provide specialized knowledge on various industry topics such as piping design, sanitation, pumps and controls, water ecology and other topics. Design and Construction Workshops for all but required to become a Certified Professional 7
Fresh water is an infinitely replenishable resource, but at a finite and variable rate 8
Why Harvest Rainwater? Reduces the amount of storm water. Reduces the reliance on potable water. Renewable and sustainable. Ground water over pumping. Saltwater intrusion. Drought - manmade or naturally occurring. 9
World Population 10
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NM precip map 13
Where are the sources of water? Water Supply Surface Buckman Well Field Groundwater Recycled Water Conservation QWEL Buckman Direct Diversion (2011) Treated Effluent (Reuse) City Well Field Wastewater Treatment Plant 285 Santa Fe McClure Res. Canyon Rd. Water Treatment Plant Water rights, infrastructure constraints and seasonal variability determine ability to use these supplies Upper Santa Fe Watershed 25 Nichols Res.
Average (inches) 20 Average Annual Precipitation Ave. Monthly Precip 18.11 16 12 13.7 9.84 12.3 8.67 13.2 8 4 0 Various Towns in NM Place Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Annual Santa Fe 0.63 0.54 0.88 0.75 1.15 1.18 2.02 2.09 1.62 1.28 0.98 0.61 13.7 Los Alamos 0.9 0.76 1.06 1.01 1.21 1.34 2.95 3.7 1.8 1.52 0.93 0.93 18.11 Albuquerque 0.37 0.4 0.52 0.54 0.63 0.61 1.38 1.46 0.96 0.88 0.46 0.46 8.67 Data from: www.wrcc.dri.edu/summary/climsmnm.html
Definitions Rain is liquid precipitation, as opposed to nonliquid kinds of precipitation such as snow, hail and sleet. Rain requires the presence of a thick layer of water vapor in the atmosphere to have temperatures below the dew point that causes condensation. On Earth, it is the condensation of atmospheric water vapor into drops of water heavy enough to fall as rain, often making it to the surface. 17
Rainwater Harvesting Rainwater harvesting is the accumulating and storing, of rainwater collected from the roofs of houses, tents, local institutions and other above ground impervious surfaces. It has been used for potable and non-potable in-home use, livestock, irrigation, wildlife, firefighting or to refill aquifers in a process called groundwater recharge. Water runoff from the ground, roads, parking lots impervious areas is called Stormwater harvesting. 18
Impervious Surfaces Impervious surfaces are mainly constructed surfaces that are impenetrable by water and contribute to storm water runoff and the heat island effect. Pervious or porous surfaces allow some water infiltration, thereby reducing runoff. - USGBC 19
Runoff Runoff is a term used to describe when soil is infiltrated to full capacity with water, from rain, snowmelt, or other sources. This is a major component of the water cycle. When runoff flows along the ground, it can pick up soil contaminants such as petroleum, pesticides (in particular herbicides and insecticides), or fertilizers that pollute water sources. USGBC 20
Stormwater Stormwater is water that accumulates during precipitation rather than soaking into the ground. Stormwater runoff is a cause of pollution; water running off of impervious surfaces accumulates pollutants such as gasoline, fertilizers, pesticides, etc.) and brings them into water bodies. Stormwater runoff also erodes soil and waterways. 21
Stormwater Reduction Pervious surfaces, stormwater detention systems, or rainwater catchment systems reduce stormwater runoff. Stormwater detention systems regulate and control runoff by slowing the rate of discharge to reduce impacts downstream. Stormwater retention systems store water indefinitely, until it is lost through percolation, evaporation, or is taken up by plants. 22
Stormwater Issues Stormwater is one of the greatest threat to the health of surface water. Stormwater is not treated. Stormwater is directly related to Impervious Surfaces up stream. 23
Residential Wastewater Blackwater is wastewater from toilets and urinals and wastewater from preparation sinks. Depending on local codes, water from kitchen sinks, showers, and bathtubs may either be considered blackwater or graywater. 24
Residential Wastewater Graywater or Greywater or Gray Water is untreated household wastewater that has not come into contact with toilet waste, including water from: Showers Bathtubs Hand washing lavatories Sinks (not used for disposal of hazardous or toxic materials) Sinks (not used for food preparation or disposal) Clothes-washing machines (excludes diapers and other human excreta) 25
Reused, Recycled or Reclaimed Water The WateReuse Association defines reused, recycled or reclaimed water as water that is used more than one time before it passes back into the natural water cycle. Thus, water recycling is the reuse of treated wastewater for beneficial purposes such as agricultural and landscape irrigation, industrial processes, toilet flushing, or replenishing a groundwater basin (referred to as groundwater recharge). 26
Non-Potable Water Non-potable water is not fit for consumption without treatment that meets or exceeds EPA drinking water standards. Graywater and rainwater (not disinfected) are non-potable waters that can be used in toilets, for washing cars, etc. and the use of either reduces the demand for potable water, conserving this vital resource. - USGBC 27
Potable Water Potable water is water suitable for drinking and supplied from wells or municipal water systems. USGBC And rainwater. 28
Pervious or Porous Surfaces Pervious or porous surfaces allow water infiltration, which reduces runoff. One example is an open-grid paving system, which allows space for vegetation the vegetations evapotranspiration reduces the heat island effect caused by pavement. - USGBC 29
1. Conservation & Efficiency First Ancient Practice - renaissance Conservation - change habit patterns Efficiency - same habits with less waste It makes little sense to invest in RWH to augment supply if conservation and efficiency opportunities have not been fully exploited.
Rainwater systems have been used for centuries 31
Hadrian s Wall, England 32
Hadrian s Wall - Dr. Bill Hunt, NCSU BAE 33
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To Conserve Toilets #1 inhouse water fixture Low flow No flow Irrigation accounts for 44% of summer water use in Santa Fe Native plants Don t over water ET controllers and rain detectors Harvest the rain 35
2. Drought - Demand versus Supply
Lake Jordan, near Apex, NC, September 2007 37
University Lake, Chapel Hill, NC, October 2007 38
Lake Lanier, Cumming, GA, September 2007 39
Tucson, AZ 1904 2007 40
Hill Country, TX 41
Flooding 42
3. Reduce Stormwater Runoff 43
Improve Water Quality NPS (non point source) Stormwater Runoff Pollution is the greatest threat to the health of our aquatic systems. Urbanization Effects on Hydrologic Cycle Impacts of Impervious Surfaces. 44
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Pre Development 47
Post Development 48
Why is Stormwater a concern? 49
Silt and Sediment 50
Chemical Contaminants 51
Industrial NPS Runoff 52
Animal Waste 53
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Stream Degradation Impacts due to urbanization: changes to stream geometry such as stream widening, bank erosion, down cutting, loss of canopy and increase in the floodplain elevation. 56
Stream Degradation Impacts to aquatic habitat Degradation of habitat structure Loss of pool riffle structure Reduction in base flow Increased stream temperature Decline in abundance and biodiversity 57
Urban Watersheds Increased stormwater peak flow Increased stormwater volume Higher nutrient and contaminant loading Reduced ground water recharge Stream degradation Pollution in lakes 58
4. Passive Collection Design landscapes to reduce runoff - hold the water - LID Water diversions Permeable paving Bog Gardens Green roofs Stormwater ponds Rain gardens - bio retention
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LID - Low Impact Development LID is increasingly being adopted as an alternative to traditional water management systems. LID includes practices such as bio-retention, green roofs, rainwater harvesting, and permeable pavements. 61
Decentralized Urban BMPs Best Management Practices that are applied at the source of the stormwater rather than at the outlet of the conveyance system. Why? To reduce stormwater volume, flow rate and pollutants such as animal waste, fertilizer, oils, etc.
RWH - Soil Infiltration Systems 63
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Components - System Design 73
Permeable Pavement rvtravel.com 74
Bog Gardens 75
Green Roofs 76
Stormwater Ponds QuickTime and a decompressor are needed to see this picture. NCSU BAE 77
What is a Rain Garden (Bioretention)? A rain garden is a beautiful landscape feature consisting of a planted shallow depression that collects rainwater runoff from roofs, parking lots and other impervious surfaces. 78
thepleatedzucchini.com 79
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Rain Garden - Texas Style Menard, Texas 83
Rain Garden Resources www.lowimpactdevelopment.org/raingarden_design/links.htm How to Design a Rain Garden American Horticultural Society Heat Zone Map - www.ahs.org/pdfs/05_heat_map.pdf American Horticultural Society USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map - www.ahs.org/pdfs/usda_map_3.03.pdf Georgia - Athens/Clarke County - Rain Garden - www.accstormwater.com/publicinfo/build_a_rain_garden.pdf Georgia - Clean Water Campaign - How to design a rain garden - www.cleanwatercampaign.com/html/636.htm Michigan - Rain Gardens of West Michigan - www.raingardens.org North Carolina - Cooperative Extension www.bae.ncsu.edu/topic/raingarden Rain Garden Network - www.raingardennetwork.com Tennessee - The Harpeth River Rain Gardens for Backyards - www.harpethriver.org/backyard_raingardens.html Wisconsin - University of Wisconsin Extension - http://clean-water.uwex.edu/pubs/home.htm 85
Rain Barrels and Rain Gardens Two strategies Use both together or Use one 86
Lots of Barrel Options www.ne-design.net 87
Rain Barrels - Make it Right! 5 basics to make your own: 1. Dark - minimize UV 2. Locking lid - safety 3. Food grade barrel or new barrel 4. Screen ports and openings 5. Adequate overflow 88
Lots of Barrel Options www.ne-design.net 89
www.ne-design.net 90
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Questions? 93
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