Date ant Time: July 26, 2011 6:30pm
Presenter: Matt Reed
Whiz-Q Stone
Matt made a strong case for rainwater harvesting. 1 inch of rain on 1 acre generates 27,000 gallons of water. Unfortunately, harvesting is not economically feasible in DFW due to the low cost and availability of water. However, it is feasible in locations such as El Paso and areas where digging wells is not feasible due to the quality of water in the water table. The current draught conditions have also caused some farmers to look at providing their livestock with water from water harvesting. In Austin you will see many rainwater harvesting systems in suburban residences.
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| Matt demonstrating the Design Calculator |
More and more we are seeing that there is a limited supply of fresh water and in many cases demand is outpacing supply. Water conservation is becoming a key in many municipalities such as Tucson where water rights have been curtailed and where rainwater harvesting is necessary. Rainwater harvesting can be used for:
- Landscape irrigation for your lawn and flower beds
- Topping off swimming pools and hot tubs
- Toilet and laundry water supply (where allowed by code)
- Washing your car, patio or deck.
Water storage tanks are available in metal, plastic and concrete. Matt showed us the ‘Aquablox’ Tank Storage Module which is a lightweight structural catchment system which can create almost any shape and size reservoir. It is also a structural box that can withstand car loading up to 38 psi. It is manufactured from 85% recycled Polypropylene and is unaffected by molds, algae, soil-bourne chemicals and bacteria. The system can be used along with a permeable patio paver. Installation instructions for this system can be found at: http://www.rainxchange.com/downloads/aquablox-water-matrix-manual.pdf
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| the Aquablox Tank Storage Module |
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| Aquablox 1,500 Gallon System |
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| Aquablox System Installation |
Storm water runoff is the #1 cause of coastal pollution. Aging infrastructure in many cities cannot handle large storm surges; therefore, managing storm water becomes a high priority. In Chicago, mitigation of storm water runoff has become a high priority due to the fact that Chicago does not have separate storm and sewage drain piping. One piping system serves both which can cause overflow at sewage treatment plants and has resulted in release of sewage into rivers and Lake Michigan. As a result of this the EPA has fined the City. There are now strict storm water retention and harvesting requirements there. Chicago has installed 9 Million square feet of permeable pavers in the last 5 years to control runoff.
Matt also demonstrated a Design Calculator which gives you the projected rainfall in your area by month and then calculates your rainwater storage requirements based on your water use. This is available at: http://www.rainxchange.com/calculator.php
Following is a link to their web page:
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