Harvesting Rain: System Design for Strategic Rainwater Capture
Conserving water through rainwater harvesting saves natural resources, providing water for use in buildings and for site irrigation
Sponsored by WATTS Water Technologies, Inc.
While developing Detroit's new Sugar Hill district renovations, Diane Van Buren, project planner and sustainable design coordinator at Zachary and Associates, has shown concern about the environment. Her focus has been on developing housing that will meet today's needs while still planning for the city's sustainable future. In order to meet her environmental targets, she has volunteered to be part of a new Detroit Water Sub-committee (WSC), a unit of city council member Ken Cockerel's Green Task Force. This committee has a framework of key issues that include developing community outreach, water conservation strategies and best management practices. The WSC is currently proposing downspout disconnection as an amendment to the City code in order to reduce the burden on the city's aging infrastructure that still has a combined stormwater and sewer system.
Graphic courtesy of BRAE
Diagram of a residential above-ground rainwater system
Watts is a global leader in the design and manufacture of innovative water solutions for residential, commercial and institutional environments. Products include an extensive line of flow control, filtration and treatment products for water quality, and residential plumbing & heating. Founded in 1874, Watts is headquartered in North Andover, MA.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
- Discuss the basics of rainwater harvesting as a renewable resource.
- Specify the many interior and exterior uses of rainwater in buildings.
- Identify the components of an integrated rainwater harvesting system.
- List community benefits of rainwater harvesting systems.
