Rain Tech Inc.

Los Angeles Puts The LID On Stormwater Pollution

2011-10-25T10:31:00.000-07:00

The Los Angeles City Council has unanimously passed a landmark Low Impact Development Ordinance (LID).

Developed by the Bureau of Sanitation in collaboration with community members, environmental organizations, business groups and the building industry, LID calls for development and redevelopment projects to mitigate runoff in a manner that captures rainwater at its source, while utilizing natural resources including rain barrels, permeable pavement, rainwater storage tanks, infiltration swales or curb bumpouts to contain water. Reports have shown that LID is the most effective and cost-efficient means of managing stormwater and abating water pollution. LID practices are designed to address runoff and pollution at the source. Other low impact development benefits include water conservation, groundwater recharge and greening communities.

Read entire article here.

Is a 'green' idea discredited by a Seattle drainage project gone awry?

2011-09-14T09:12:00.000-07:00

When Seattle was planning its first extreme-green makeover of a city block, residents competed for the honor. And in 1999, the winning street in the Broadview neighborhood got a gorgeous facelift complete with new sidewalks and verdant roadside rain gardens with shrubs and grasses.

But when the city recently tried going green in the Ballard neighborhood, homeowners there felt like they got stuck with the booby prize.

Read entire article here

Successful Rainwater Harvesting Systems Combine New Technology With Old Social Habits

2011-09-14T09:10:00.000-07:00

As a crippling drought grips much of the Southern and Southwestern United States, the population continues to grow and water resources become scarcer. One way to address the problem is by a combination of modern engineering and ancient social principles, outlined in a new paper on rainwater harvesting that will be presented at the 2011 ASME International Mechanical Engineering Congress and Exposition.

To read the complete article, please click here:

Run out of water?

2011-08-18T10:28:00.000-07:00

ROBERT LEE, Texas — Ranchers in pickup trucks here stop to ladle up puddles of street water after underground pipes crack, and wilting trees are quenched with dirty bathwater hauled from tubs to front yards. An April storm teased Robert Lee, but instead of rain, a lightning strike started a wildfire that chewed up 169,000 drought-starved acres.

"We can't catch a break," said Eddie Ray Roberts, the city's water superintendent.

The worst Texas drought since the 1950s has this ranching town of nearly 1,110 residents, and a handful of other cities, facing a prospect they've never encountered before: running out of water. One city outside Dallas, Kemp, already experienced a dress rehearsal this month when every faucet was shut off for two days to fix pipes bursting in the shifting and hardening soil.

Read the entire article on msnbc.com

Texas Town's Water Shut Off

2011-08-09T16:09:00.000-07:00

KEMP, Texas (CNN) -- Food, water, shelter, the necessities of life, right?

An entire town in Texas is now going without the most important of those basics in 100 plus degree heat.

Kemp suddenly shut off water to its 1,100 residents.

The city says it had no choice.

The heavy demand during the record heat taxed the aging pipes and drained the town's water supply.

"I had two grandkids in there I had to bathe in the sink!" said Kay Bloomfield.

"We're in pretty bad shape, to be honest with you we are. We're in pretty bad shape," said Mayor Donald Kile.

Many of the pipes date back to the 1930s, and the town only recently began its first pipeline repair project.

The mayor has shut off the water until the town's water towers can be refilled.

reposted from http://kdrv.com/page/220531

High-Stakes Battle Over Water

2011-06-21T10:55:00.000-07:00

On the cliffs surrounding Lake Buchanan in Central Texas, a white ring extends some 13 feet above the shoreline, marking where the water reaches when the lake is full. At nearby Lake Travis, staircases that once led to the water’s edge now end well above it.

These two lakes serve as key water sources for dozens of cities and hundreds of farmers, as well as for several power plants. With Texas gripped by drought, water levels have fallen sharply. Combined, the two lakes now hold 28 percent less water than their long-term average.

“This is scary,” said Janet Caylor, who owns two marinas on Lake Travis, the larger of the two lakes, and has had to move her docks as lake levels drop.

The current drought, drier than any other October-through-May stretch in Texas history, has heightened the stakes in an already contentious long-term planning battle over water from these lakes, which feed the lower Colorado River as it runs southeast to the Gulf of Mexico. It has pitted fast-growing cities like Austin, which depend on the water for drinking and recreation, against rice farmers near the Gulf, who need vast amounts of water for irrigation.

Lakeside residents and business owners like Ms. Caylor, frustrated by dropping water levels, want to keep the lakes as full as possible.

Read entire article here.

Impacts of California's Drought Yield Surprising Outcomes

2011-06-17T13:27:00.000-07:00

California's three year drought had complicated and serious impacts that have been poorly understood and reported. Some of the impacts were expected; others were surprising. The Pacific Institute has just completed and released a nine month assessment of data from California's agricultural, energy, and environmental sectors to evaluate actual consequences of the drought for the state.

EPA: Upgraded Water Quality Standards needed for portions of Chicago area waterway system

2011-05-12T08:00:00.000-07:00

Chicago (May 12, 2011) -- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency today notified the State of Illinois that water quality standards for portions of the Chicago and Calumet Rivers must be upgraded to protect the health and safety of people who recreate in these waterways. The changes are necessary because an increasing number of people are coming into direct contact with the water through kayaking, canoeing, boating, jet and water skiing and other forms of recreation.

To attain the new water quality standards, the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago will likely be required to disinfect sewage discharged into the waterway system from its North Side and Calumet treatment plants. MWRDGC ceased disinfection at these facilities in the mid-1980s.

"The Clean Water Act requires water quality standards that protect people who use the river," said U.S. EPA Regional Administrator Susan Hedman. "A decade of investments in walkways, boat ramps and parks has provided people with access to the water - and now we need to make sure that the water is safe."

Read entire article here.

The President’s Water Plan

2011-05-11T14:00:00.000-07:00

The Obama Administration announced a clean water strategy. Among the recommendations is a proposal to expand the number of rivers and streams that fall under the regulatory domain of the Clean Water Act. There is a 60-day public comment period. Comments can be emailed to owdocket@epa.gov, with “EPA-HQ-OW-2011-0409″ in the subject line.

Cleaner Water

2011-05-11T13:58:00.000-07:00

The Environmental Protection Agency released a strategy for improving stormwater discharges by investing in green infrastructure. In addition, the agency will partner with ten cities that have already started such programs.

Curbing Stormwater Pollution

2011-05-02T11:19:00.000-07:00

One Coho salmon does a flopping dance of death atop the creek’s surface. Another
swims in dazed circles, then limply drifts downstream. A third lies on its side, mouth gaping open and shut, fins splayed. In Seattle’s Longfellow Creek, researchers at the Northwest Fisheries Science Center found that nearly four out of five female fish died with a belly full of eggs, perishing before they could spawn.

The culprit in this story is the most mundane of villains: the rain. As rainwater
streams off roofs and over pavement, it mixes a toxic cocktail of oil, grease, antifreeze,and heavy metals from cars; pesticides lethal to aquatic insects and fish; fertilizers that stoke algal blooms; soap; and bacteria from pet and farm-animal waste. A heavy rainfall delivers this potent shot of pollutants straight into streams and water bodies— threatening everything from tiny herring to the region’s iconic orcas.

Stormwater doesn’t match the traditional image of pollution. There are no factory smokestacks belching waste, no pipes with a steady trickle of noxious effluent. Despite appearances, stormwater packs a wallop. Runoff from streets and highways long ago surpassed industry as the number one source for petroleum and other toxic chemicals that wash into the Northwest’s rivers, lakes, and bays.Today, scientists fear that if runoff pollution continues unchecked, it could wipe out some of the region’s urban and suburban salmon runs.

In addition to this environmental toll, stormwater runoff carries a steep price tag. Stormwater triggers flooding and landslides, causing millions of dollars worth of property damage. Cities and counties in Washington spend more than a quarter billion dollars a year trying to control and clean contaminated runoff.5 Stormwater threatens to make drinking water undrinkable and vast beds of shellfish unsafe to eat.

Fully addressing the region’s stormwater woes will require significant investments, a modernization of building codes, and tougher restrictions on sprawling development.

Read entire article here.

Reigning in the Rain: Why Harvesting Rainwater is Worth Every Cent

2011-04-29T12:59:00.000-07:00

At a frightening rate, the fundamental ingredient for life – water – is becoming a global scarcity.

Due in part to poor planning and development, soil depletion, strained water tables and groundwater contamination, shortages of usable water have begun to plague historically water-abundant areas. As a result, increasing numbers of people are turning to the rain for help.

In some US states like New Mexico, Arizona and Texas, rainwater harvesting is mandated or incentivized on a municipal level. In the past, states that have relied heavily on rainwater harvesting were those in which water was rare and expensive, creating a void for collecting any water available. Today, however, residents of even water-rich areas are identifying a need for this ancient practice.

Rainwater has been collected and stored for thousands of years as one of the purest sources of water on earth. Indeed, until it hits an object, it is as potable (ingestible) as any filtered source. Once it comes into contact with the ground or a container it becomes somewhat contaminated but is still fit for many uses. It can be stored indefinitely for non-potable means including bathing and washing, flushing toilets (mandatory in Australia), and widely for irrigation. If filtered, it is fit for consumption.

Rainwater is an incredible, free resource that many cultures relay heavily upon to sustain life.

Average water bills in the US can range from $50 to $200. Because an inch of rainfall on a 1000 square foot roof produces over 620 gallons of water, saving and using this water can greatly reduce costs. Most rainwater harvesting systems are so cost-effective that they pay for themselves in less than a year. Such systems are also improvements to property that can increase value.

Besides cost savings, rainwater harvesting is wonderful for the environment. Pumping water to homes from a municipal system consumes massive amounts of energy. The less demand for municipal water, the more resources saved, as well as drought likelihood reduced.

Furthermore, because rainwater harvesting puts water back into the soil gradually over time there is less topsoil runoff, which reduces storm drain contamination and keeps soil healthy.

This same, slow release recharges groundwater more efficiently, which promotes the health of local wells, streams and foliage, and ultimately helps to maintain the municipal source as a whole. For these reasons, harvesting rainwater has a “trickle down” effect for an entire community.

Another vital factor every property owner should consider is foundation safety. Diverting water away from the foundation of a building helps to control moisture, rot, pests and mold. Most home gutters empty directly near the side of the house, which can be a dangerous threat to the longevity of the structure. The preventative nature of this practice alone is desirable to many homeowners.

Rainwater harvesting can be as simple as using rain barrels (appx. 50-300 gallons) under gutter downspouts. However, many people find that they could use more water than a barrel can collect.

A well-designed rainwater harvesting system consists of the following:

•A network of gutters all connected to a central downspout
•A leaf and insect screen that is fed by the downspout
•A first flush diverter that separates the initial dirty roof runoff from the cleaner, more useful water
•A water tank. HDPE high-grade polyethylene tanks are most popular because of the low cost, ease of repair, and durability. Since rainwater can be stored indefinitely for non-potable use, it is best to get a dark colored/UV inhibited tank to reduce algae growth. Above ground tanks are less expensive than below-ground cisterns, though the trade-off of paying for excavation is a more aesthetically-pleasing system
•1-2 outflow use points, which can be a spigot with hose threads and/or an irrigation line. If the irrigation is a drip system, it is best to install a valve so that drip can be applied during dry weather. If a pump is used, water from the tank can be connected to a sprinkler system. a filter can be attached to an outflow point for potable water. Because of this ease of use and accessibility, rainwater harvesting is very popular with avid gardeners, nurseries and landscapers.
•An overflow point is the final key element necessary to relieve pressure on the tank in the event of heavy rainfall. Most residential-sized tanks will fill up quickly in only a few inches of rain.

Warning: Before considering one of these systems for your home, consult your local and state regulations for legality and permit requirements.

For additional information about rainwater harvesting, visit www.harvestingrainwater.com and check out water guru Brad Lancaster’s book “Rainwater Harvesting for Drylands and Beyond” Vols. I and II.

Article posted By GLP Editor Melody Stanford

Los Angeles May Get Mandatory Rainwater Harvesting Law

2011-04-29T08:49:00.000-07:00

A new proposed law to go into effect in 2011 could have Los Angeles residents changing their habits when it comes to rainfall. Rather than just complaining that there's some strange wet substance falling from the sky, all new homes, large developments, and some redevelopment projects will start to appreciate those few rainy days by harvesting and redirecting rainfall. The Department of Public Works has unanimously approved the new ordinance that will require the use of several different methods to capture, reuse or redirect runoff from 3/4 inch or heavier rainstorms. Does this mean LA is becoming water wise?

Ecolocalizer reports, "Not only will Los Angeles' new ordinance help to recycle our planet's most precious resource, it will also help to keep polluted urban water out of our increasingly acidic seas. The Board of Public Works Commissioner Paula Daniels, who initially drafted the ordinance last July, explained that the new requirements would prevent over 104 million gallons of polluted urban runoff from ending up in the ocean."

This is very true, but this aspect of rainwater harvesting isn't as beneficial as making other, much larger and more expensive yet important changes - making LA's surfaces more permeable so that rainwater can filter back down to the groundwater table. One of the main reasons polluted water heads to the oceans is that it lands on concrete and pavement, then rushes straight into storm drains that lead to the ocean. It never has a chance to trickle down and replenish the groundwater supply. Making the city surfaces more permeable is an infrastructural change that has to be considered as seriously as rainwater harvesting.

Thankfully this isn't being ignored in the proposed law:

"In addition to encouraging the use of rain storage tanks, builders would be required to use other low-cost and sensible water management methods; these include simple measures, like diverting rainfall to gardens, constructed infiltration swales, mulch and permeable pavement, all of which will help to sustainably direct the rain directly where it falls. Any builders who are unable to manage 100% of a project's runoff on-site would be required to pay a penalty of $13 a gallon for the water that is not safely redirected. This fee will help to fund sustainable off-site water management projects."

Not everyone is ecstatic about the idea. The LA Times reports that some building projects in areas where the soil is high in clay are going to have a tough time with the 100% retention rule. A one-acre building on ground where runoff could not be managed on site could see fees as high as $238,000.

"The Building Industry Assn. is supportive of the concept of low-impact development and has invested a lot of time and energy in educating our members on those techniques and advancing those technologies," said Holly Schroeder, executive officer of the L.A.-Ventura County chapter of the association. "But when we now start talking about using LIDs as a regulatory tool, we need to make sure we devise a regulation that can be implemented successfully."

However, there are solutions for every problem - even clay-dense soil.

Los Angeles could also benefit from improved water management in the first place - all those lawns and swimming pools aren't doing much to help alleviate water woes. But going the route of rainwater harvesting and diversion is a much better solution than launching a new energy intensive desalination plant. We're hoping the law goes though, and it sees success.

News Flash (Not): Western Water in Peril

2011-04-27T13:49:00.001-07:00

Lake Oroville reservoir during California's recent three-year drought. (Photo: Craig Miller)

A new report from the federal Bureau of Reclamation may offer the most comprehensive forecast yet for western water in the 21st century — but few surprises.

The report, Managing Water in the West, breaks down the outlook for eight key river systems, including three vital to California. The overall message is predictably sobering.

The risks that California faces from climate change are pretty well known, says Peter Gleick of the Oakland-based Pacific Institute. He says the 200-plus-page report "doesn't offer any new surprises about those risks — but it does reaffirm those risks in an increasingly compelling way."

Some media coverage of the report seems to conclude that California gets off lightly in the study. But the section of the report covering the critical Sacramento and San Joaquin basins seems sobering at best. While it does predict a small (0.6%) increase in annual precipitation on the Sacramento, the report also foresees a drop in San Joaquin precipitation of somewhere between 4.2% and 5.3% by 2050.
Any decrease in precipitation would be significant, especially for a river system like the San Joaquin, which Gleick calls "grossly oversubscribed." He says that given the other stresses on water supply, such as rising temperatures, evaporation and demand, "Precipitation has to go up, just to break even."

The report projects a 5-6-degree rise in temperatures during this century, in California's Central Valley. And whether total precipitation rises or falls, how and when it comes down is just as critical to water supplies. The DOI report predicts that as more arrives as rain, rather than snow, we'll see more runoff occurring in the winter and less in summer, when it's most needed. And the infrastructure of dams, reservoirs and aqueducts in place in California were designed for "yesterday's climate, not tomorrow's climate," according to Gleick, who has studied the state's mountain hydrology for decades.

"It's a very comprehensive report. It really integrates the state of the science," says Gleick. "They're telling us we really need to pay attention to these problems."

'Extreme Drought' Sets Texas Ablaze and May Sprawl Over the South Until Midsummer

2011-04-27T10:35:00.000-07:00

Wildfires have burned about 1.5 million acres in Texas since January, egged on by a drought that federal forecasters say is the worst to hit the state in 45 years. Officials with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration say their weather models predict the severe drought that has parched the southern United States will continue to midsummer -- and beyond.

"Predictions over weeks to one to three months suggest the drought will continue, and even intensify, in some areas as we struggle to get any rainfall," said David Brown, director of climate services for NOAA's Southern Region.

"This really is a historical climate event affecting our region," he said, calling conditions "extreme and exceptional."

Drought has hit a wide swath of the southern United States, stretching from Arizona to Florida, with central states like Texas the hardest hit.

The map of current conditions maintained by the U.S. Drought Monitor shows more than half of the state colored red -- indicating an "extreme" drought, expected to recur every 20 to 50 years -- or maroon -- indicating an "exceptional" drought seen every 50 to 100 years.

The so-called "extreme" drought also stretches west, into southern New Mexico and Arizona, and east, into southern Oklahoma, the Oklahoma Panhandle, western Louisiana and southern Arkansas.

Read entire artile here.

Low-impact development and limiting sprawl are the solutions for stormwater.

2011-04-19T11:06:00.000-07:00

A stroll down a stretch of 2nd Avenue Northwest in Seattle is practically a walk in the park. The slightly meandering residential street is lined with wide strips of native grasses, small shrubs, and trees. Along the shoulder, interspersed among parking spots, are ponds and swales – gentle depressions – that fill with water during a downpour. What you won’t find are sludgy gutters brimming with muddy water and trash, or deserts of black asphalt stretching from property lines to the roadway.

The street was the city’s first experiment in what it calls “natural drainage systems.” A decade ago, the block was jackhammered up and rebuilt to catch and clean stormwater the way it’s done in a forest: by helping rainstorms soak into the ground, get sucked up by plants, or captured in their branches and leaves where the water evaporates slowly. The project -- called SEA Street -- has been wildly successful, nearly eliminating stormwater runoff even during heavy rains. That's right, runoff on this street was reduced 98 percent during winter rains.

Natural drainage systems are cropping up slowly on streets across Seattle. And other Northwest cities are doing similar projects to curb runoff without pipes and holding tanks. The city of Portland even has an "ecoroof" blog site geared toward innovative stormwater solutions. Vancouver, BC, is building rain gardens at bus stops, among other projects. It’s all part of a movement called “low-impact development” or LID.

For years we’ve known that traditional infrastructure for funneling stormwater away from buildings and roads and into lakes and bays by using pipes and ditches doesn’t work. It fails for people: the systems are regularly overwhelmed, leading to flooded basements and raw sewage pouring into public waterways. It fails for nature: salmon and other species are poisoned by the polluted stormwater and quiet streams are transformed into torrents of filth.

The logic of LID is to try to replicate what Mother Nature does naturally by using engineering tricks and limiting sprawl.

Washington is at a crossroads for low-impact development. The state Department of Ecology, working with a technical advisory committee, is crafting a set of requirements specifying where and how to use LID. The stakes are high. If Ecology comes up with stringent standards that require widespread use of legitimate LID strategies, Puget Sound could reap great benefits. If it doesn't, the fight to save the Sound could be lost due to the steady drumbeat of destruction from stormwater.

"Time is not on our side," said Tom Holz, a stormwater/LID expert who's on the advisory committee. "We may lose the battle just simply through dallying."

Dealing effectively with stormwater requires a two pronged approach:

1.Stop sprawl -- In an undeveloped setting, stormwater is essentially non existent. The best way to reduce runoff is to minimize the footprint of development.
2.Use low-impact development -- When development does happen, it must be LID. Already built neighborhoods should be retrofitted over time using LID techniques.

Read entire article here.

Shortage of Storm Sewer Connoisseurs

2011-04-13T12:17:00.000-07:00

A big challenge to getting folks to care about the damage caused by polluted stormwater runoff is helping them understand what the heck it is and where it goes in the first place.

And it appears there's a lot of work to be done on that front. An informal survey by Eric Eckl at Water Words That Work, a Virginia company that works on water-related communications, sought some answers about stormwater understanding.

The survey found that people understand and prefer the term "storm drains" over "street drains" or "storm sewers." And it found that those surveyed had a vague idea about where the runoff that pours off of streets, roofs, and parking lots goes (answers included “goes into the sewer?” and “The water moves through the pipes to wherever it drains out.”).

But perhaps the most telling responses came with the third question, which asked “Do you recall ever giving this matter any thought before?”

Survey says:

•No: 54%
•Yes: 46%

Hmm. That's not so good considering polluted runoff is the No. 1 source of oil and grease and other nasty junk that's fouling Puget Sound and many other waterways. It floods homes and businesses with filthy water. Thanks to the legacy of combined sewer systems (see illustration above), it sends massive volumes of raw sewage into the Sound, the Coquille River in southwest Oregon, the harbor in Port Angeles on the Olympic Peninsula, and Portland's Willamette River.

But some municipalities and nonprofit groups are working to raise awareness. Portland has a downspout disconnection program to cut the amount of water that flows into its sewer system, Seattle touts its SEAStreets projects that control runoff by helping it soak into the ground, and Puyallup is helping homeowners build rain gardens to curb stormwater.

Read entire article here.

Putting a Price on Stormwater Pollution

2011-04-13T12:12:00.000-07:00

The mess being caused by polluted runoff in the Northwest isn't letting up, and neither are supporters of a plan to pay for stormwater cleanup.

Over a single rainy weekend this winter, Seattle Public Utilities got 700 calls about flooding and sent cleanup crews to 332 locations. In Port Angeles, the storm system was so overwhelmed after a December downpour that 15 million gallons of raw sewage and rainwater fouled the city's shoreline. Officials there recommended the public steer clear of the bay for at least a week due to health concerns.

In a move to mitigate stormwater woes like these, lawmakers in Olympia this week announced the 2011 Clean Water Jobs Act. It's the third year running that Washington's legislators have debated a plan to create a dedicated, ongoing funding source to pay for the cleanup and reduction of toxic runoff. Stormwater is created when rain hits roofs, driveways, highways, and landscaped yards, sponging off oil and grease, pesticides, and other filth, dumping it straight into the region's waterways.

The Clean Water Jobs Act would put a 1 percent fee on petroleum products, pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizers. Other products can be added to the list if the state Department of Ecology decides they're "significant contributors to the contamination of surface water runoff." The legislation, SB 5604/HB 1735, is one of the top priorities for the state's environmental coalition. It also has support from city and county government groups, as well as the labor community.

The environmental community projects the fees could raise approximately $100 million a year to pay for projects to clean up toxic runoff. There's nothing like it in other Northwest states or provinces. The fees would pay for the construction of stormwater infrastructure, with an emphasis on green solutions called low-impact development. LID focuses on natural ways to control stormwater, such as the construction of rain gardens and swales, green roofs, porous pavement, as well as planting or protecting trees and plants that capture rain drops in their branches or absorb water from the ground.

Read entire article here.

Stormwater Stomachache

2011-04-13T12:08:00.000-07:00

Stormwater obviously causes problems for the environment and infrastructure, washing away salmon eggs in torrents of runoff and flooding basements. But does it threaten human health as well? You bet it does, and in ways that might surprise you.

Polluted runoff flushes raw sewage across beaches, triggers blooms of toxic algae in our drinking water systems, and contaminates shellfish and seafood we eat with bacteria and dangerous chemicals.

Over the past three years, sewage-tainted runoff has forced the closure of 32 Washington beaches, some for a couple of days, others for weeks. The problem is caused when rainwater mixes with the sewer system -- sometimes by design and sometimes thanks to old sewer pipes that let the rain seep in. The cocktail of polluted runoff and raw sewage overwhelms the sewage treatment plant, forcing the combined sewer overflow (or CSO) to dump the waste into a nearby river, lake, or bay.

Read entire article here.

All You Need to Know About Stormwater Runoff

2011-04-13T12:00:00.000-07:00

A woman drowns when the basement of her Seattle home suddenly fills with a torrent of filthy water.

An overflow of 15 million gallons of sewage and stormwater fouls the shoreline of picturesque Port Angeles, putting the waterfront off limits to the residents and visitors of the Olympic Peninsula town due to health concerns.

Portlanders are socked with some of the nation’s highest water utility rates in order to pay for the city’s $1.4 billion “Big Pipe” projects.

Northwest scientists document coho salmon dying in urban streams with their bellies full of eggs, perishing before they can spawn.

The culprit in each of these stories is the most mundane of villains: the rain. As rainwater streams off roofs and over roadways and landscaped yards, it mixes a massive toxic cocktail. It scoops up oil, grease, antifreeze, and heavy metals from cars; pesticides that poison aquatic insects and fish; fertilizers that stoke algal blooms; and bacteria from pet and farm-animal waste. A heavy rainfall delivers this potent shot of pollutants straight into streams, lakes, and bays—threatening everything from tiny herring to the region’s beloved orcas to our families' health.

Stormwater doesn’t match the traditional image of pollution. There are no factory smokestacks belching waste, no pipes with a steady trickle of noxious industrial effluent. Despite appearances, stormwater packs a wallop. Polluted runoff long ago surpassed industry as the number one source for petroleum and other toxic chemicals that wash into the Northwest’s water bodies.

Each year, the Puget Sound is sullied by 14 million pounds of toxic chemicals and oil and grease—and that’s a conservative estimate. The amount of petroleum waste is so vast, it’s as if more than 70,000 cars pulled up to the beach and emptied their tanks straight into the Sound each year.*

Read entire article here.

The New Oil

2010-10-29T10:43:00.000-07:00

Sitka, Alaska, is home to one of the world’s most spectacular lakes. Nestled into a U-shaped valley of dense forests and majestic peaks, and fed by snowpack and glaciers, the reservoir, named Blue Lake for its deep blue hues, holds trillions of gallons of water so pure it requires no treatment. The city’s tiny population—fewer than 10,000 people spread across 5,000 square miles—makes this an embarrassment of riches. Every year, as countries around the world struggle to meet the water needs of their citizens, 6.2 billion gallons of Sitka’s reserves go unused. That could soon change. In a few months, if all goes according to plan, 80 million gallons of Blue Lake water will be siphoned into the kind of tankers normally reserved for oil—and shipped to a bulk bottling facility near Mumbai. From there it will be dispersed among several drought-plagued cities throughout the Middle East. The project is the brainchild of two American companies. One, True Alaska Bottling, has purchased the rights to transfer 3 billion gallons of water a year from Sitka’s bountiful reserves. The other, S2C Global, is building the water-processing facility in India. If the companies succeed, they will have brought what Sitka hopes will be a $90 million industry to their city, not to mention a solution to one of the world’s most pressing climate conundrums. They will also have turned life’s most essential molecule into a global commodity.

Read entire Newsweek article here.

Tigard water rates could jump as much as 30 percent next year

2010-08-30T09:52:00.000-07:00

TIGARD -- Water rates could spike by up to 30 percent for Tigard residents starting next year, city officials announced this week. That increase, which the City Council is expected to consider along with future rates in November, follows a 7 percent rate hike already set to begin Oct. 1, according to the city.

The higher water rates are intended to help pay for an estimated $200 million water project being tackled collaboratively by Tigard and Lake Oswego. The joint venture, in planning since 2008, will install a new system to draw drinking water from the Clackamas River for both cities. Planners hope to have the new system online by 2016.

Share For Tigard, higher water rates were expected. Public Works Director Dennis Koellermeier said last month the city will need its water rate revenue to jump by 35 percent annually for the next three years to cover its early costs. Both Tigard and Lake Oswego will finance the project through debt.

Tigard officials hope the new system will reduce costs in the long run as the city takes ownership of its own water system. Tigard currently purchases its water from the city of Portland. That contract expires in 2016, when the joint system is expected to be completed.

Published: Friday, August 06, 2010, 6:04 PM by Eric Florip, The Oregonian

RainTech delivers relief to Shady Cove

2010-07-19T11:08:00.000-07:00

SHADY COVE — This city might be bisected by a major river, but it is hardly flush with water, especially in the summer when wells often run dry.

Community leaders hope a new cistern project being installed this week will help provide a bit of relief for the city's water woes and set a good example for its citizens at the same time.

The idea grew out of a renovation project at Shady Cove's Upper Rogue Community Center, which has been in the works for a couple of years. When word got out that the center was considering going green, ideas began to flow.

Members of several local organizations joined together and came up with a plan to collect the estimated 44,000 gallons of water that runs off the community center's roof each year. That would limit polluting runoff into the Rogue River and put a dent in the water shortage problems that often plague the city, which lacks a municipal water system.

"Everybody's on well water here," said Dee Hawkins, chairman of the Upper Rogue Watershed Association and board member of the community center.

She described the cistern as a bladder unit that fits into a hole in the ground with tubing to circulate the water. It's lined with a form-fitting membrane that shapes to fit any hole.

Peter Mazzini, grant coordinator for the cistern project and a spokesman for the Upper Rogue Watershed Association, said the collected water runoff would be stored in an 8,000-gallon tank and used for irrigation.

Several organizations, including the Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board, the Medford Water Commission and the Upper Rogue Community Center, contributed to the $18,000 project.

The cistern will help the city of Shady Cove, also a partner in the project, both in providing needed water and by diverting storm-drain runoff and reducing the sedimentation carried into the Rogue River.

"Water that normally would go into the storm drain would go into the cistern instead," Mazzini said. "Captured roof water is better quality than street water."
Mazzini and Hawkins hope the project will serve as an example for the community so city residents might consider conserving runoff water in cisterns to increase Shady Cove's water supply.

"It's a showpiece for the community to see what they can do," Hawkins said.
The community center is behind Shady Cove City Hall on Highway 62. The project is a combined effort between four volunteer laborers from URWA, Pilot Rock Excavation and Rain Technologies, which will be taking care of materials and engineering. "It's going to be a really smooth job and everybody will be happy," Mazzini said.

Shady Cove Gets Creative Water Supply

2010-07-19T10:29:00.000-07:00

SHADY COVE, Ore. - The Upper Rogue Community Center wants to add on to their building. However; before they can start building they need to have enough water stored up in case of a fire during construction.

They have chosen to install two RainSpace water cisterns that will collect and hold 12,000 gallons, mainly for fire suppression, and the other will collect and hold 8,000 gallons for irrigation and storage.

See full story on KDRV.com

Time to get real about water

2010-06-21T13:52:00.000-07:00

California's wet winter was a pleasant surprise after three years of drought. Yet most Californians will be surprised to know that, despite the heavy rain and snowfall, our state still is not able to meet all of our water needs.

How is this possible?

Population growth, environmental protections and other issues have resulted in our water needs outstripping available supplies. Despite the healthy winter, the state is still suffering from the effects of three years of drought.

In fact, many areas of the state - including the Klamath Basin and Lake Tahoe - still will be extremely dry this year. Water managers are concerned that this could simply be one wet year in the midst of a longer drought.

California's persistent water shortage has serious ramifications for our state's economy, environment and quality of life. We might well be the first generation of water managers who can't guarantee a reliable water supply for future generations - or even for the existing economy.

That's why state and local governments have gotten together in a program to encourage Californians to make water conservation a way of life. The Save Our Water program is aimed at educating and motivating consumers to reduce their household water use. Simply put, water conservation needs to become a habit, just as energy conservation and recycling are.

Last fall, our state's elected leaders worked together to pass a historic, bipartisan water reform package. And while that effort was a huge step forward, many of the fixes will not begin to help our water supply for years, if not decades. The legislative package requires most California communities to reduce their per capita water use 20 percent by 2020.

But what does all of this have to do with you? More than you think.

We know that Californians care deeply about our environment and want to conserve our natural resources, but there is still much for us to learn about our water use. For example, research tells us that most Californians think they waste more water indoors than outdoors, when exactly the opposite is true.

Saving water needs to become more than just something we do in dry years. Saving water needs to become a daily habit.

This spring and summer, the Save Our Water program is highlighting Californians who are reducing indoor and outdoor use in a "Real People, Real Savings" campaign. It features people such as Katherine McClelland of Pleasanton, who puts a bucket in her sink to catch excess water and then uses it on her outdoor potted plants. Then there's Kelly Marshall of Clayton, who installed drip irrigation and replaced her front lawn with California-friendly plants and flowers. We hope these everyday water heroes will help encourage other Californians to increase their conservation efforts.

Now is the time for all Californians to get real about water conservation. We need to take a critical look at our consumption habits and find ways to cut our use, both inside and outside our home. If we all make small reductions, we'll see big water savings for our state.

Several simple ways to save water every day
Invest in water-wise plants: When you landscape, consider replacing some lawn with California-friendly plants. They're pretty and need much less water.

Less is more: Your lawn probably needs less water than you think. And your sidewalk doesn't need any. Water less and make sure your sprinklers only water your lawn, plants and flowers.

Watch the clock: Water early in the morning or later in the evening when temperatures are cooler.

Out with the old, in with the new: Choose water-efficient irrigation tools such as a weather-sensitive timer and drip irrigation for your trees, shrubs and flowers.

Mulch much? Put a layer of mulch around trees and plants to reduce evaporation and keep the soil cool. Organic mulch also improves the soil and prevents weeds.

Wash Me: Clean your car by visiting a local car wash that recycles its water. Or save water when you wash it at home by using a bucket, sponge and hose with self-closing nozzle - or use a waterless car wash product.

More water-saving tips at www.saveourh2o.org.

Mark Cowin is the director of the California Department of Water Resources. Timothy Quinn is the executive director of the Association of California Water Agencies, which represents 450 local water agencies. To learn ways you and your family can save water, go to www.saveourh20.org.

This article appeared on page N - 4 of the San Francisco Chronicle

Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/06/13/INSD1DREGU.DTL#ixzz0rWUjnxFb

Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/06/13/INSD1DREGU.DTL#ixzz0rWUh2LuP

Is Traditional Water Management the Future?

2010-06-01T11:12:00.000-07:00

The world’s water situation is only going to get more challenging in the coming years. There will be more people a water supply that is increasingly polluted and often distributed with aging infrastructure. Clearly we will need to embrace new methods of water management- is it possible that those methods have been around for thousands of years? The International Traditional Knowledge Institute (ITKI), a new research group founded in Bagno a Ripoli, Italy, is teaching that traditional methods from the Sahara, Ethiopia and Babylon will work well with new technologies like solar power.

ITKI is backed by the UN and UNESCO, where its founder Laureano is a desertification consultant in addition to his work as an anthropologist and landscape architect. Their mission is “safeguarding and validating traditional knowledge” with the primary goal of combating global warming in addition to protecting cultural heritage like folklore, music and symbolism. Laureano adds that ITKI will also “work with indigenous peoples… to protect their rights and not allow corporations to make patents on their knowledge.”

Laureano’s research includes rainwater capture systems, rooftop gardens and subsoil tunnels for water storage. The core of his argument is that traditional methods can augment new technologies and that it is folly to abandon them.

Public Agencies Sponsor RainSpace Install at Fruitdale School

2010-05-19T14:04:00.000-07:00

Rain Technologies Inc. of Jacksonville, Oregon has installed the first eco-friendly rainwater harvesting storage system at an elementary school in Oregon. The RainSpace installation was supported in part by public agency grants.

RainTech is a water resource management company that designs and manufactures systems to conserve and control rainwater. The Company’s RainSpace System is the most cost effective way of storing rainwater below ground and it is the only third-party certified sustainable or “green” product in the rainwater and stormwater control industry. Rainwater stored underground is higher quality water than water stored above ground and RainSpace allows the valuable surface area to be used for drives, parking lots, gardens, playgrounds or athletic fields without the negative esthetics of above-ground tanks.

Rain Technologies installed the RainSpace System at the Fruitdale Elementary School, Grants Pass, Oregon on May 15, 2010. Gathering rainwater off the roof of the school building, the Fruitdale School RainSpace can store 17,000 gallons of water. The water will be used to irrigate the organic gardens planted by the school children as part of The Kid’s Garden Project, an elementary educational program that teaches basic gardening and agricultural skills to young students.

A grant received from the Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board to the Josephine County Soil and Water Conservation District for the benefit of the Three Rivers School District funded a portion of the costs of the RainSpace installation with additional donations from local companies. An important consideration in receiving the public agency grant was that the RainSpace core elements are third-party certified sustainable and eco-friendly, manufactured in the USA from recycled food containers. The Fruitdale Elementary School is focusing on green, co-friendly behaviors as a part of its educational program.

The RainSpace System, in addition to being the only certified green rainwater product of its kind, is earthquake proof and permits heavy surface loading for vehicles. Its modular components are lightweight, easily handled and do not require heavy equipment or imported sand or gravel for its installation. Its low cost and easy installation makes it the most cost effective means for storing water below ground on a fully installed basis.

The Complicated World of California Water Politics

2010-05-10T09:42:00.000-07:00

Image via: Getty Images

California Drought Means Thousands of Trees to be Cut Down
by Kristin Underwood, Sacramento, CA on 05.11.09

It's not just climate change that is killing the trees, though that is part of it. With California now in its third year of drought, many farmers are taking a chainsaw to the trees in order to save their farms, reports NPR. Can that be right?

Since the whole state is in a drought, not only is there not enough water falling directly on farms, but there is not enough water falling on reservoirs, and farmers are being alloted a fraction of the water from years past. The Westlands area of California, the biggest irrigated area, is among those telling farmers to brace for the worst. According to NPR, farmers are now choosing to cut their trees down.

This may sound counterintuitive. Surely the farmers know that things will get better next year, right? (or at least the year after that). Either way, soon enough that it's worth saving 30+ year old trees. Well apparently leaving the trees to dehydrate and die will bring diseases, bugs and a whole host of other problems that will likely kill of any of the trees that are staying alive. So, many farmers are having to choose who stays and who goes and chop down trees that took decades to get going. Leftovers from water supplies last year can be used to keep some of the trees alive this season, but certainly not the entire farm.

While climate change may have something to do with the drought, it's not the only explanation for the water loss. Last year, the government ruled that too much water was being pumped out of the Delta - the central water source for much of this region - thus causing an endangered fish (the Smelt) to become seriously threatened. To save the smelt, farmers and consumers this year are under strict water rations.

Added to that is the tricky workings of California legislation. In a sort of water hierarchy, the first districts to join the irrigation system for the area are the last to be cut off when resources get tight. Westland just happens to be one of the last areas to join, thus they are the first ones cut back this season. For a sector that provides several billion dollars to the California economy, farmers in this region are getting heated that they are the first ones to suffer.

California has nearly quadrupled in population over the last 50 years but has not doubled its water supply, meaning that current supplies are stretched thin as new people migrate to the area and new water needs arise. But people also need jobs, and as there are few to no crops to harvest this year, this also means that unemployment rates in the seasonal farming sector are skyrocketing this year.

One solution people say is to build a canal and divert some of the water to southern California - directly to the heavy farming regions. Others say that with a low to shrinking water supply, California won't be able to allot 80% of its water resources to farming any longer. If that is the case, then current farmers and migratory workers will have to find income somewhere else, in an economy that is already tight.

Some people say farming never should have been brought to the area of Westlands and other areas of southern California. Others say Los Angeles should never have been built - that the city has too many people in an area that is unsustainable when it comes to water. Still others say that there are just too many people period in California. Whatever the complaint, all of these water-use systems are in place now, all with demands for water. With endangered species dangers, and a shrinking snow-cap water supply due to climate change, legislators will have to determine not just how to get water to the masses this year, but also how to transition and wean current users off into new sectors of the economy for the long term, as some job sectors dry up. NPR

Water Wars in Wild West

2010-05-10T09:38:00.000-07:00

Photo via fireballsedai

Colorado is seeing dust stirred up over water rights and water catchment systems. While homeowners want the ability to catch the moisture from the snow and rain that lands on their roof, others, including Native Americans, want to protect their water rights and access to water by making rainwater catchment a no-go.

Rainfall is scant in the west. In California, the drought is daily news. That means groundwater levels in the western states are watched, and water rights guarded jealously. But what if homeowners want to be more independent and capture the rainwater and melting snow from their roofs?

This is where Colorado residents don't see eye to eye, with some homeowners calling out antiquated water rights, while those at the top of the priority list saying that taking rainwater from the roof would mean a fundamental change in how water is distributed.

NPR has the story, and you can listen to the newscast.

The issue is detailed, complex, and one that won't go away. As people in the dry western states - and dry areas everywhere - become more inclined to capture and store rainwater, ecological and political concerns are bound to be raised. Indeed, capturing rainwater is simply illegal in many places. In the meantime, rainwater collection and storage is a primary way to reduce one's dependence on the water table, and rain barrels and systems are growing in popularity.

As NPR reports:

The West remains one of the fastest growing regions of the country, and that continues to put pressure on scarce water supplies. So, Colorado recently made it legal for some homeowners to capture and collect the raindrops and snowflakes that fall on their own roofs...The change in Colorado may seem minor, but this could signal the beginning of a water-law revolution.

Rainwater Harvesting Poised To Grow

2010-05-10T09:34:00.000-07:00

With the news that the US State of Colorado has decided to make it legal for small farmers to collect rainwater - holding out the possibility that city dwellers, too, may one day be offered legal means to harvest rain - a tipping point approaches.

Driven by the intersection of sprawl & extended drought, and amplified by a citizenry's enduring fondness for 'individual responsibility,' rainwater harvesting techniques are poised to spread, once freed from inflexible and counterproductive water management traditions stemming from the late 1800's. (These rain barrel restrictions are as counterproductive and indefensible as the General Mining Act of 1872 that governs public lands).

Antique water laws, ,common in Western states, currently make it illegal for individuals and businesses to collect rainwater. Given the demographic trends and continuing drought, those laws are like a tin can on the track of an oncoming train: it's a predetermined outcome that legislators will eventually grant people the means to face the drought the way Australians have.

There's more good news...collection systems don't have to be make-shift ugly. For more information visit www.RainTechnologies.com.

Medford Water Curtailed

2010-05-10T09:29:00.000-07:00

The Medford Water Commission warns that water use might have to be curtailed

Bill Kettler April 14, 2010

If you get your water from the Medford Water Commission, you might have to get by with a little less in June and July.

Construction work on new fish-protection screens at the commission's Rogue River water treatment plant will reduce the available supply of water during early summer. While there should be enough to go around, things could get tight if extremely hot weather sets in early, spokeswoman Laura Hodnett said Tuesday.
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"We're trying to give our customers a heads-up that it could be coming," Hodnett said.

The water commission provides water for Medford, Central Point, Eagle Point, Phoenix, Talent, Jacksonville and White City. Hodnett said water system managers want to let customers know now that they might be asked to curtail water use in June or July.

She said the city should be able to provide about 50 million gallons of water per day, even while the new fish screens are installed. On an average summer day, water use runs around 45 million gallons or more, but peak demand on hot days has been known to exceed 60 million gallons per day.

"We hope Mother Nature doesn't give us an exceptionally hot June," she said.

Fish screens will be installed at both water intakes at the treatment plant on the Rogue River. One intake will be closed until the new screens are installed, and then the other. Oregon law allows in-stream construction work only during a limited time during the summer to protect spawning fish.

"We hope to be out (of the river) and done by July," she said.

If demand exceeds supply, water customers could be asked to reduce how much water they use, she said.

Hodnett said the project will cost about $1.5 million, including preconstruction studies, engineering and actual onsite work.

She encouraged water users to look for ways to improve their water efficiency, such as fine-tuning their sprinklers before the irrigation season begins.

She said a drier-than-average winter has reduced the output of the city's water source at Big Butte Springs on Mount McLoughlin by about 15 percent, which increases the need for river water. Big Butte Springs is running at about 27.5 million gallons per day, down from the average flow of about 31 million gallons.

"If spring flows were normal, we wouldn't be notifying customers," she said.

The Politics of Rainwater Harvesting

2010-05-10T09:26:00.000-07:00

by Scott James in Rainfall/Precipitation, Saving Water

There is a more than two decade old law in the Philippines requiring the construction of rainwater catchments around the country, but it is seldom enforced. In Cebu City, one of the largest metropolitan areas in the country currently dealing with extended dry weather caused by the El Niño effect, that is changing. Lawyers and University students filed petitions with the Supreme Court to enforce the 1989 Rainwater Collector and Springs Development Law. Nestor Archival, Cebu City Councilor, responded with an appeal to residents to use whatever container they have and begin constructing rainwater catchments or digging ponds in their yards.

Archival points to a city ordinance that requires any commercial building worth over half a million pesos to construct a rainwater catchment system, and he says that he is appealing to schools, malls, and any other large or commercial establishment to do its part.

Cebu City’s legal requirement echoes similar legal requirements in Bermuda, the U.S. Virgin Islands and Santa Fe, New Mexico, where all new construction is required to include rainwater harvesting adequate for the new residents. A similar law is being considered in Los Angeles. Even Colorado, where laws long forbid rainwater catchment because the legal owner of that water was downstream, changed their laws in 2009 to allow rainwater harvesting.

As the population grows and available water levels remain the same, legally requiring rainwater catchment may become the norm, not the exception.

Los Angeles May Get Mandatory Rainwater Harvesting Law

2010-05-10T09:16:00.000-07:00

Photo via gilintx

by Jaymi Heimbuch, San Francisco, California on 02. 3.10

A new proposed law to go into effect in 2011 could have Los Angeles residents changing their habits when it comes to rainfall. Rather than just complaining that there's some strange wet substance falling from the sky, all new homes, large developments, and some redevelopment projects will start to appreciate those few rainy days by harvesting and redirecting rainfall. The Department of Public Works has unanimously approved the new ordinance that will require the use of several different methods to capture, reuse or redirect runoff from 3/4 inch or heavier rainstorms. Does this mean LA is becoming water wise?

Ecolocalizer reports, "Not only will Los Angeles' new ordinance help to recycle our planet's most precious resource, it will also help to keep polluted urban water out of our increasingly acidic seas. The Board of Public Works Commissioner Paula Daniels, who initially drafted the ordinance last July, explained that the new requirements would prevent over 104 million gallons of polluted urban runoff from ending up in the ocean."

This is very true, but this aspect of rainwater harvesting isn't as beneficial as making other, much larger and more expensive yet important changes - making LA's surfaces more permeable so that rainwater can filter back down to the groundwater table. One of the main reasons polluted water heads to the oceans is that it lands on concrete and pavement, then rushes straight into storm drains that lead to the ocean. It never has a chance to trickle down and replenish the groundwater supply. Making the city surfaces more permeable is an infrastructural change that has to be considered as seriously as rainwater harvesting.

Thankfully this isn't being ignored in the proposed law:

"In addition to encouraging the use of rain storage tanks, builders would be required to use other low-cost and sensible water management methods; these include simple measures, like diverting rainfall to gardens, constructed infiltration swales, mulch and permeable pavement, all of which will help to sustainably direct the rain directly where it falls. Any builders who are unable to manage 100% of a project's runoff on-site would be required to pay a penalty of $13 a gallon for the water that is not safely redirected. This fee will help to fund sustainable off-site water management projects."

WATCH VIDEO: Renovation Nation: Harvesting Rainwater

Not everyone is ecstatic about the idea. The LA Times reports that some building projects in areas where the soil is high in clay are going to have a tough time with the 100% retention rule. A one-acre building on ground where runoff could not be managed on site could see fees as high as $238,000.

"The Building Industry Assn. is supportive of the concept of low-impact development and has invested a lot of time and energy in educating our members on those techniques and advancing those technologies," said Holly Schroeder, executive officer of the L.A.-Ventura County chapter of the association. "But when we now start talking about using LIDs as a regulatory tool, we need to make sure we devise a regulation that can be implemented successfully."

However, there are solutions for every problem - even clay-dense soil.

Los Angeles could also benefit from improved water management in the first place - all those lawns and swimming pools aren't doing much to help alleviate water woes. But going the route of rainwater harvesting and diversion is a much better solution than launching a new energy intensive desalination plant. We're hoping the law goes though, and it sees success.

Lost Creek Lake may not fill again

2010-04-27T13:38:00.000-07:00

By Mark Freeman
Mail Tribune

TRAIL — Despite a relatively wet and cool April that has increased the Rogue River Basin's snowpack, Lost Creek Reservoir remains so low that it has just a 50 percent chance of filling for the ninth-consecutive year.

Low winter in-flows put the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers so far behind its traditional filling regimen at Jackson County's largest water body that Lost Creek remained more than 18 feet shy of full Friday, just one week from its target for being full.

Based on snowpack and streamflow data, the probability of the Rogue River's main reservoir filling was just a hair under 75 percent heading into April.

But in a Thursday meeting with the reservoir's stakeholders, Corps regulators dropped that probability to 50 percent — even though the snowpack levels climbed over the past three weeks.

"I was surprised to see that the probability had fallen like that," said Jim Buck, the Corps operations manager at Lost Creek and Applegate dams in the Rogue Basin.

A less-than-full reservoir still would hold enough water to meet irrigation, municipal and industrial needs.

However, navigational hazards that normally pop up for waterskiers and other boaters as the summer progresses will come into play earlier, Buck said.

And a combination of spring rainfall and heat waves will determine whether enough water will be available to curb disease outbreaks among the Rogue's spring and fall runs of chinook salmon as they migrate upstream now through September, biologists said.

"If we don't fill, then we'll be drawing down faster," Buck said. "And with anticipated low stream flow, releases out of Lost Creek will be even more important."

The picture appeared brighter at Applegate Reservoir, where forecasts predict a 75 percent probability of filling despite being more than 12 feet from full Friday.

"We absolutely believe Applegate will fill, probably within the first two weeks in May," Buck said.

With an anemic snowpack of 65 percent of average in late March, the Corps was limping into April about 21 feet off its normal filling schedule at Lost Creek despite minimum releases into the Rogue.

But a volley of storm fronts significantly bumped in-flows into the lake for the first time since New Year's Day and boosted the snowpack to the point that it measured Friday at 79 percent of average, according to the National Resources Conservation Service.

However, the in-flows were lower than historic patterns used to compute the probability of filling, said Laurie Rice, the Corps' regulator at Lost Creek.

Coupled with the lower-than-normal volume of water in the reservoir to start the month, the filling probability dropped to 50 percent this month.

Rice shared the findings Thursday with other Corps officials as well as state water-resources officials and Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife biologists who collectively create a summer water-release schedule each year for Lost Creek and Applegate reservoirs.

Enhancement of downstream fisheries is the primary purpose for summer releases, with protecting migrating chinook adults from warm water-related diseases the top priority after May 1.

Whether enough water is present in the lake to help the spring chinook run now working its way up the Rogue will depend upon new rains and hot spells in May, said Tom Satterthwaite, the ODFW's biologist who has studied Rogue Basin salmon for more than 30 years.

Lost Creek's releases are increased or decreased in May to ensure that water temperatures remain at 66 degrees or below in the Rogue River at Agness, 35 miles from the ocean, Satterthwaite said.

Temperatures above 66 degrees there can trigger outbreaks of a natural virus called columnaris, which attacks the gills of adult salmon and suffocates them. Past outbreaks have killed up to 65 percent of the run.

If air temperatures remain cool and some rain gets mixed into the equation, the spring chinook could escape a disease outbreak even without a full Lost Creek, Satterthwaite said.

"It doesn't necessarily need to rain heavily, as long as we have a relatively cool spring," Satterthwaite said.

Pavement is a culprit in flooding

2010-04-08T10:13:00.000-07:00

By Beth Daley, Globe Staff
April 5, 2010

Do you blame Mother Nature for last week’s apocalyptic flooding?

Your own driveway might have contributed to the mess.

State and federal environmental officials say flooding in many places has been exacerbated by the roads, patios, parking lots, and, yes, driveways that define our urban and suburban landscapes.

Instead of rain seeping into soil around homes and malls to be stored in the earth, it pours off rooftops, sidewalks, and streets into storm drains, which quickly funnel the water to streams and rivers. That increases the likelihood of flooding from already swollen rivers — and of pollutants reaching waterways.

About 56 percent of Boston is paved over; Somerville tops out at 77 percent, according to the Charles River Watershed Association.

“The collective way we live as a society creates acres and acres of impervious surfaces we didn’t have before,’’ said Maria Rose, Newton’s environmental engineer. “Larger homes, bigger box stores, and shopping centers — as well as tennis courts, pools, and patios, have all added to the problem.’’

State and federal officials said they have no data on how much pavement has contributed to flooding, but a 2002 United States Geological Survey report noted that river flows near densely paved areas in Massachusetts were almost 10 times as high as those near less paved areas.

Rain runoff also carries contaminants from the built-up landscape — dog feces, oil, bits of metal from cars, and lawn chemicals. The state Department of Environmental Protection is requiring managers of drinking water supplies in flooded areas to test water more frequently this week. So far contamination has been low — possibly because the amount of water diluted the pollutants.

The state also suggests that private well owners whose well caps were under water should boil their water and disinfect their wells. Contaminants in standing water could seep into wells.

“Our near-term focus is to protect public health — we are very concerned about this amount of moving water,’’ said Laurie Burt, the state environmental protection commissioner.

The enormous amount of runoff is also likely causing a significant number of sewage treatment plants across the state to be overwhelmed with storm water and sewage — communities have until today to report — and as a result diverted the dirty mixture into the state’s waterways.

Worries about pollution and flooding have led some communities to see pavement as a liability — and even to tax it.

Since 2006, Newton has charged residential property owners a flat $25 a year for paved surfaces on their property. The typical single-family property is 20 percent to 30 percent paved. Business properties, which can be as much as 90 percent paved, are charged more.

Reading has charged for pavement since 2007 — about $37 annually per household, and more for businesses. George Zambouras, town engineer, said the community takes in about $400,000 a year from the fees, which are used to upgrade its drainage system, clear catch basins, and buy equipment.

Other towns probably will levy similar fees, he said, as federal water quality rules tighten for the state’s waterways. The US Environmental Protection Agency is strengthening storm water-discharge permits for the Charles River and elsewhere across the state. The town of Franklin is among several communities investigating whether to assess a pavement fee, according to the Charles River Watershed Association.

Because water flows a great distance, efforts to reduce runoff in the suburbs can have a big payoff for Boston and other downstream communities. Some places, like Boston’s Back Bay — once a vast marsh — could have flooded this week if not for six giant pumps that can get rid of 3.7 million gallons of water from the swollen Charles River every minute. A vast wetland in Millis, Medfield, and Medway, set aside as preservation land in the 1970s, also helps absorb water that would otherwise pour into the lower Charles.

“It’s like a big sponge — there is this huge 8,000-acre-plus wetland that is helping the Back Bay not flood,’’ said Kate Bowditch, director of projects for the Charles River Watershed Association.

Ideally, water experts say, water should be “kept local’’ and allowed to percolate into the ground, where it travels far more slowly to rivers and streams. The water also is cleansed that way, with contaminants binding to soil or eaten by microbes.

Homeowners can take steps to reduce runoff. Recommended measures include placing crushed stone near drainpipes so the water seeps into the ground and buying barrels to capture rain that falls off the roof, which then can be used to water lawns by attaching a soaker hose to it. Homeowners can also replace asphalt or concrete pavement with stones that allow water to seep into the ground between them.

Bowditch’s organization even recommends that people convert their lawns into rain gardens, replacing grass with native plants that are better able to absorb rainwater.

“We want to capture that [rain] runoff,’’ said Lynne Hamjian, surface water branch chief for the EPA in New England.

Sacramento developers use 'green' designation to draw tenants

2010-04-05T12:20:00.001-07:00

Sacramento has for years outperformed much larger cities when it comes to green building construction, thanks mainly to the eco-conscious policies of state government.

Now the green trend has engulfed the private office market as well. Developers in Sacramento – and nationwide – are using sustainability as a key marketing tool in their effort to attract tenants. It's one more selling point in a real estate climate with vacancy rates well into the double digits.

Altogether, nearly 100 commercial and institutional buildings in Sacramento, Placer, El Dorado and Yolo counties now meet either the "Energy Star" standards established by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency or the LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) standards of the U.S. Green Building Council, which designates buildings "silver," "gold" or "platinum."

About a third of the region's estimated 26 LEED-certified commercial buildings are now privately owned, according to the Green Building Council.

Chris Mullins, a Sacramento LEED consultant with Portland, Ore.-based Brightworks, expects that share to grow, even in a rough economy. "If you have to pay $96,000 to get certified to get a tenant," he said, "that's the best $96,000 an owner ever spent."

Local building owners say they're investing in heating and air-conditioning technology and water-saving devices. They're recycling building materials, switching to fluorescent lights and low-emission carpets and paints, pushing janitorial firms to use greener cleaning materials and even buying renewable energy credits.

Doug Bayless, owner of Sacramento's Bayless Properties Inc., recently retrofitted his Exposition Building on Exposition Boulevard in Sacramento to snag a LEED Gold rating.

Bayless said he spent about $1 per square foot to upgrade the 68,000-square-foot office complex, which he bought in 2006. "I want to be sure I appeal to large, quality tenants," Bayless said.

Other privately owned buildings that have come online recently with LEED designations include Natomas Gateway Tower East along Interstate 5 in Natomas, and 2600 Capitol and Boulder Associates in midtown Sacramento.

In 2008, the Vision Service Plan headquarters in Rancho Cordova won the enviable LEED Platinum rating. At the time, the Green Building Council, based in Washington, D.C., called VSP a "showcase for high-performance, energy-efficient, healthy work environments, and an inspiration for others."

In order to gain LEED certification, builders can score points for a broad array of features, not all of them related to energy efficiency. Indoor air quality, use of environmentally friendly materials and proximity to public tansportation all count.

There are different types of LEED designations – one for new buildings and another for existing structures that are modified and managed to reduce their impact on the environment.

In contrast, the government's Energy Star label is based on actual energy use. Similar to the emblem on washers and dryers, it is reserved for the top 25 percent of the nation's energy-efficient buildings. About 9,000 U.S. buildings met the test last year.

That list included 60 buildings with 8.5 million square feet of floor space in Sacramento, Roseville, Folsom, Elk Grove and Woodland. Two U.S. commercial property management giants – Hines and Chicago's Jones Lang LaSalle – account for almost half those.

When it comes to Energy Star buildings, Sacramento ranks 16th in the nation, according to a new EPA survey, far behind Los Angeles and San Francisco, which ranked No. 1 and No. 3, respectively. But the region stacks up much more competitively when it comes to LEED-certified square footage, mainly because of the large government presence here.

A Bee analysis of data from the U.S. Green Building Council in 2007 found that Sacramento had the second-largest quantity of LEED-certified office space in the nation with 4.3 million square feet, the bulk of it in state-occupied buildings. Only Chicago had more.

Examples include the massive East End state office complex next to Capitol Park and the California Environmental Protection Agency headquarters, which was the first office building in the nation to be designated platinum.

Niloufar Glosson, policy analyst at EPA's San Francisco regional center, said such green designations are increasingly necessary to win big tenants. Many governments, she said, won't consider leasing a building not Energy Star-rated.

Both the state of California and the city of Sacramento have set a minimum LEED silver designation as the goal for new office projects.

Building owners who have obtained Energy Star or LEED status say it can make the difference in a close call with prospective tenants. That's especially critical in a market like Roseville-Rocklin, where 40 percent of the best "Class A" office space was vacant in the last months of 2009, according to broker Colliers International.

Hines owns or manages 11 Energy Star-rated office buildings in that market, on the formerly booming Douglas Boulevard corridor.

"We're working very hard to be the landlord of choice there," said Cameron Falconer, a Hines executive who oversees the Sacramento market.

Hines is also working to obtain LEED status for six Sacramento office buildings it owns, he said.

Young workers, especially, want their office space to be eco-friendly, said Sacramento leasing agent Tom Aguer, who represents the 12-story Natomas Gateway Tower East.

"People want to work for companies they perceive as socially responsible," he said on a recent tour of the 320,000-square-foot building, completed in 2009. "It's part of the symbolism of a company that they're in a green building."

Natomas Gateway uses 6 million fewer gallons of water annually than similar buildings and provides better than "hospital quality" air for workers. Aguer said he expects studies will eventually show enhanced employee productivity in such buildings.

In the end, that's money in the bank, said Mark Friedman, whose firm built 2600 Capitol. "It may cost a little more to build up front, but it costs less over the long term."

By Jim Wasserman for the Sacramento Bee
jwasserman@sacbee.com

Water rates to double for Cal Am customers

2010-04-02T08:52:00.000-07:00

With or without a proposed regional seawater desalination facility, rates for California American Water customers on the Peninsula will likely double in the next few years, a company executive said Tuesday.

Cal Am President Rob MacLean admitted it would cost more to provide water if a regional water project is built. But he said the cost would be even greater if a replacement source to the Carmel River is not developed, and the regional desalination facility is the most inexpensive alternative.

"The rates will go up," MacLean said after a Tuesday news conference in Monterey.

Cal Am, Marina Coast Water District, the county Water Resources Agency and Monterey Regional Water Pollution Control Agency announced that after months of private negotiations, agreements to build the so-called regional project have been reached. The agreements will go to the county Board of Supervisors and the board of directors of each agency for approval next week.

The Division of Ratepayer Advocates of the state Public Utilities Commission said terms of the agreements are flawed because, among other issues, there are no cost controls and a lack of accountability to Cal Am ratepayers.

"It just needs more work to be a fair agreement," said Diana Brooks, a supervisor in the Ratepayer Advocates' water branch.

Proponents of the project say there are checks and balances built into the proposal and the projected costs are reasonable.

Desalination plant

The project consists primarily of a desalination plant to be located north of Marina. The plant would produce 10,000 acre-feet of drinking water annually. An acre-foot is enough to provide four average Peninsula homes water for a year.

The Marina Coast Water District will own the plant, and through a purchase agreement, Cal Am will pay about $4,000 per acre-foot for water, said Jim Heitzman, the district's general manager.

To move the water into its Peninsula system for distribution, Cal Am will have to build a 10-mile-long pipeline.

The feedwater for the plant will come from wells owned and operated by the county's Water Resources Agency. General Manager Curtis Weeks said that traditional vertical wells and slant wells will be drilled to test which method will draw the "saltiest water." The tests are designed to determine the ratio of saltwater to freshwater available. The freshwater would remain in the Marina Coast Water District's service area.

Brine produced by the desalination process would be disposed of through an existing outfall at the Monterey Regional Water Pollution Control Agency's treatment plant.

The project is expected to cost between $280 million and $390 million and could be finished in 2014.

But Brooks said the cost could be closer to $450 million when interest on loans is added.

"It's usually expensive," she said.

Burden on customers

Cal Am's customers will cover most of the expense through increased rates.

MacLean estimated the average residential customer could expect to pay $80 per month for delivery of desalinated water, about double the current charge.

Rates would likely increase even more in the next few years if the desalination plant is not constructed, he said. The state Water Resources Control Board has ordered Cal Am to progressively reduce its pumping on the Carmel River, its primary source, by 2016 to comply with its legal pumping limit.

MacLean said Cal Am would have to pay hefty fines if customer demand pushed pumping on the river above the state's limit, and the company would likely request a rate increase to force conservation.

He said the rates would probably be more expensive than the cost of desalinated water.

"There really is no other choice. This is the lowest in cost of the alternatives," MacLean said.

The regional project was one of three proposals evaluated as part of the process for Cal Am to build a replacement source to the river. The alternatives, which were studied in an environmental impact report, were a desalination plant in Moss Landing and a desalination plant in North Marina. In both options, Cal Am would have been the sole owner of the facilities.

Weeks said the public agencies plan to seek a bond to help pay for the project.

Loan agreement in place

The county Board of Supervisors in February approved a loan agreement allowing the Water Resources Agency and the Marina Coast Water District to borrow up to $4.3 million from Cal Am to help pay for project approval and development costs. Those include test-well design and environmental review.

If the project is approved by the Public Utilities Commission or other financing is approved, the loan would have to be repaid with interest. If the project is denied, Cal Am will not seek repayment, but ratepayers could have to carry the cost.

The Marina Coast Water District will contribute $22 million to the project and will have a right to some water produced at the desalination facility.

Administrative Law Judge Angela Minkin, who initiated the settlement process under which the project agreements were drafted, has requested that documents be submitted by April 7.

Brooks said the Division of Ratepayer Advocates plans to study the financial details of the proposed agreements and file a response with the PUC by April 30.

Minkin has scheduled hearings on the matter for May 10-14.

Only the parties involved in the process will participate in the hearings.

A proposed decision is expected in June, and the PUC may consider later this summer whether to issue the required approval to Cal Am.

By DANIEL LOPEZ
Herald Staff Writer

Portland's sewers right as rain

2010-04-02T08:46:00.000-07:00

The most surprising tourist attraction in Portland, Ore., is its storm sewer system.

Eco-friendly tourists flock to the city to understand how Portland's innovative system of curbs, gutters, roofs and rain gardens sharply cuts water pollution.

So popular is the "Green Streets" program that the city publishes a map on its website directing tourists to the most exciting storm sewer sites.

"When we started this 10 or 12 years ago, there was a lot of skepticism," says Dean Marriott, director of Portland's Bureau of Environmental Services. "Today, many cities are moving in this direction. People want to see how it's done."

CITIES: Fees assessed for storm runoff

New federal regulations and environmental concerns are pushing the issue to the front burner for local governments.

Storm-water runoff is the No. 1 cause of water pollution in suburban and rural areas. The best-known result is a zone devoid of marine life in the Gulf of Mexico created by the accumulation of polluted runoff from 31 states that drains into the Mississippi River.

What Portland is doing:

• About 50,000 homeowners have disconnected their gutter downspouts from the storm-water system — the cheapest way to improve storm-water quality. The water flows from rooftops into gardens and rain barrels. The city rewards homeowners with signs that say, "I disconnected my downspout for clear rivers."

• Portland has rain gardens on 300 roofs, covering 24 acres. Fees, credits and zoning incentives have promoted the rooftop gardens, which capture about 80% of rainfall.

• Curb extensions that contain trees or native plants replace storm-water drains. A well-designed natural area can absorb nearly all the rain that falls on a city block, while slowing traffic, improving pedestrian safety and making a street prettier.

• Fees and credits try to match price to the costs of storm-water control. Every property is charged a fee to pay for the city's storm-water system, but credits are granted for those who keep water out of pipes.

Before development, water soaks slowly into the ground over a wide area. After development, rain is directed over asphalt or fertilized lawns into a centralized system of pipes that dumps into creeks and rivers.

Too much runoff

The volume of storm water is overwhelming waterways. A quarter-inch rain on the typical American roof fills a 55-gallon barrel. A half-inch rain on a Wal-Mart parking lot generates 250,000 gallons of water. Storm-water volume is "blowing out streams," says Nancy Stoner, deputy assistant administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency's Office of Water. "Sediment from the banks of streams is a big part of the problem."

After years of delegating regulations to states and cities, the EPA is taking control of the issue.

EPA is starting to issue specific standards that governments, developers and others must meet for storm-water quality. Previously, the EPA gave guidelines and turned over the details to state and local governments.

"The EPA is basically saying, 'This time we really mean it,' " says attorney Seth Jaffe, who represents companies and cities that will be affected by the regulations. "It's the difference between direct and indirect regulation — and, in the real world, that's a substantial difference."

The rules — to be issued over several years — could cost local governments billions of dollars and change the way streets and landscapes look.

More rules coming

The EPA issued regulations in February for construction sites. It's scheduled to finalize regulations in 2012 that cover existing development.

In January, as part of a lawsuit settlement, the EPA agreed for the first time to impose statewide limits on the amount of nutrients — from farms, lawn, sewage treatment plants — that can run off into Florida waters. Similar statewide limits are expected to follow elsewhere.

Lawsuits are underway or expected on the regulations.

Some cities give rebates to property owners who reduce runoff. "Everyone pays based on how much storm water they generate. That's fair," says Greg Lindsey, an environmental planner at the University of Minnesota.

What the EPA wants to see nationwide is more of what Portland has been doing: Keeping rainwater out of pipes and arranging the landscape so rainwater soaks in close to where it falls.

After a decade, the small steps are paying off financially and environmentally. The city has reduced by one-sixth — 1 billion gallons a year — the amount of raw sewage and storm-water mixture that flows into the Willamette River when heavy rains cause the system to overflow.

Some changes can be unpopular, Marriott says. Curb extensions, for example, compete for space in the right-of-way with parking and bike lanes.

Portland-style storm-water control is catching on in many cities, including Chicago, Kansas City, Philadelphia and Washington, D.C. The techniques are most common in newly built developments, where storm-water design can be done from scratch. Retrofitting existing cities can be costly and take years to make a difference. "It's definitely cheaper to do it right the first time," Stoner says.

Tougher EPA regulations may force cities to start doing it more like Portland. "Portland and Seattle used to be about the only places you could point to for 'green' infrastructure," Stoner says. "It's not that way anymore. It's catching on."

By Dennis Cauchon, USA TODAY

Photo By Alan S Weiner for USA TODAY

Portland's Clean River Rewards

2010-03-24T09:02:00.000-07:00

Clean River Rewards is Portland's stormwater utility discount program. With Clean River Rewards, Portland ratepayers can save money and work for clean rivers and healthy watersheds at the same time.

If you manage stormwater on your property, you can receive up to a 100% discount on your on-site stormwater management charges because your actions help protect rivers, streams and groundwater from the damaging effect of stormwater runoff.

Through Clean River Rewards, the City and Portland citizens are working together for clean rivers. The rewards are reduced stormwater charges for citizens, as well as cleaner water, healthy watersheds and more livable communities today and for future generations.

Program Hotline (M-F 8-5): (503) 823-1371

For more information, or to participate in the program contact Robert Fraley at cleanrivers@portlandoregon.gov

California Encourages Stormwater Reuse

2010-03-17T11:08:00.000-07:00

Wednesday, October 14, 2009
During the wet season, the city of L.A. sends 100 million gallons of stormwater into the Pacific each day. That water had, for many years, been handled as pollution, since the water produced in rainstorms picks up various effluents that then flush into the ocean.

But a new California bill seeks to expand the role of stormwater management to incorporate strategies that will use it as a resource. The Stormwater Resource Planning Act, SB 790, allows municipalities to tap funds from two of the state’s existing bond funds and use the money for projects that reduce or reuse stormwater, recharge the groundwater supply, create green spaces and enhance wildlife habitats. SB 790 was signed into law Sunday and takes effect Jan. 1, 2010.

"I was proud to carry 790," said Sen. Fran Pavley (D-Agoura Hills), who wrote the bill. "It uses existing funds to create new water supplies out of water that in the past was simply treated and dumped. This bill helps create a significant new source of water for our always water-short state."

With California in the throes of a budget crisis and a water crisis – the state is currently enduring a third year of drought – the competition will likely be fierce among the many government agencies that manage the state’s stormwater. SB 790 allows agencies to apply for and, if approved, draw on remaining funds from Prop. 50, the $3.44-billion water security bond passed by California voters in 2002, and Prop. 84, the $5.4-billion safe drinking water bond passed in 2006. Exactly how much money is left over from those bonds is unclear.

L.A.’s Bureau of Sanitation, which has already received $22 million in bond funds from the state for various stormwater projects, is likely to apply for even more funds through SB 790. According to Wing Tam, assistant division manager for the bureau’s watershed protection division, the money will fund an expansion of the city's rainwater harvesting projects and green infrastructure, including large cisterns, stream restoration, biofiltration and downspout disconnections.

"It's important for us to capture stormwater and use it as a resource," said Tam, who noted that the city's paradigm shift from viewing stormwater as pollution to stormwater as a resource has been a gradual process born through 10 years of pilot projects. "Not only does that help us with water quality but quality of life. A wetland park deals with water quality, but it also creates a park for people to use. It's multi-use. That's our future."

-- Susan Carpenter

RainSpace Highlights Phoenix

2010-03-12T10:45:00.000-08:00

Jacksonville, OR, March 12, 2010: – The Master Gardener volunteers from the University of Arizona Cooperative Extension, Maricopa County announce the 9th annual Real Gardens for Real People (RGRP) Tour to be held on Saturday, March 13, 2010,
from 9 – 4 PM.

The public is invited to view the home gardens of certified Master Gardeners in the historic vicinity of the Central Corridor in Phoenix. The 14 mile loop, self-guided tour begins at the Montessori Center School garden located on N. 19th Ave. between Dunlap and Northern.

The gardens are unique and imaginative, using the principles of Master Gardener training to select, place and care for plants in an environmentally responsible manner based on research specific to the low desert. Specific criteria such as minimal water usage/xeriscape, composting, water harvesting, organic gardening, vegetables/herbs, garden art and water features are used to select the gardens for the tour.

A 10,000 gallon RainSpace underground rainwater harvesting system is featured on the tour at the home of Brock Tunnicliff. The system is used by Tunnicliff to provide a self-sufficient water source for his garden landscape.

RainSpace is a unique, effective and low-cost method of storing mass quantities of water underground without a tank.

Healthy Home Project

2010-03-02T12:49:00.000-08:00

Jacksonville, OR, March 1, 2010: – Rain Technologies, Inc. announced that its RainTube and RainSpace products have been chosen for use in an advanced model Healthy Home construction project in Los Altos Hills California.

The goal of Healthy Home design is to maximize attributes that promote human wellness, while minimizing negative impacts on health and environment. Set in the foothills south of Palo Alto California, Lighthouse, as the project is called, is a 5000 square foot multi-level home that will ultimately be used as a refuge and rehabilitation space for individuals or families with loved ones suffering from environmental ailments and multiple chemical sensitivities. Privately owned and funded, Lighthouse is slated to be available early in 2012.

In order to create Lighthouse, the existing structure will be renovated to rigorous, state-of-the-art, health and sustainability standards. During the renovation the home will be disassembled and cleaned from crawlspace to attic. Materials that present health concerns for the occupants will be removed and replaced with beneficial, non-toxic substitutes. Cutting edge construction methods will be employed to support health and sustainability priorities including new crawlspace, attic, insulation, electrical, air and water infrastructure. All products and materials used in the project must pass toxicity screening as well as requirements for durability, recycled content, recyclability, easy maintenance, water conservation and energy efficiency.

Rain Technologies’ products will be used to provide rainwater collection, filtering and storage applications as well as for removing and exhausting radon gas from the crawl area. These products were chosen because they are inert, toxin free and the only products of their kind made to hyper-green Cradle to Cradle specifications.

In California and elsewhere, water availability is rapidly becoming a critical concern and water storage is a crucial and expensive element for water harvesting and storage systems. Traditional solutions have included, steel, plastic, fiberglass and concrete tanks and cisterns that require heavy equipment to transport and put in place and are made of non-sustainable materials. The simple, modular RainSpace System is highly adaptable to varied sites and is easier and less costly to install.

Steve Spratt, construction manager for the project says, “Many people unknowingly suffer from ailments either caused or exacerbated by the home they live in. Our goal for Lighthouse is that it serve as the model to builders and architects for creating healthy homes of the future. Clean, abundant water is a prerequisite for this project and we are very excited to use Rain Technologies products for rainwater collection to solve both quantity and quality issues.” “Their RainSpace water storage system is of particular importance. Before RainSpace, water tanks had to be trucked in, unloaded with cranes and either set on a foundation or buried in a special process to prevent both crushing and floating” “Tanks are unsightly, cumbersome, expensive and prone to damage from seismic actions. RainSpace is simple, elegant, invisible and virtually earthquake proof making it possible to store large volumes of water safely, below ground and out of sight virtually anywhere. We can even install systems that are curved, round, with unlevel bottoms, or that follow the terrain along slopes. This flexibility allows us to be creative and provide systems on difficult access areas such as the Lighthouse site where water storage was unthinkable before.”

Bill Savage, CEO of Rain Technologies says “We are very pleased that our products were selected for use in four critical areas of this leading edge project including gutter protection, mass water storage, storm water drainage, and crawlspace radon evacuation. The Lighthouse project serves as a showcase for the future of healthy, sustainable buildings and we are delighted that Rain Technology products will be a part of that future.

About Lighthouse
Follow the progress of the Lighthouse project at Planet Home Concierge

About Rain Technologies
Rain Technologies Inc. based in Jacksonville, Oregon, designs and installs professional rain harvesting systems and is a world leading manufacturer of Cradle to Cradle Certified sustainable products for the collection, control, storage and re-use of rain water. Another Rain Technologies product RainTube was named a Top Ten Product for 2009 by Sustainable Industries Magazine www.sustainableindustries.com and was named Sustainable Product of the year for Earth Day and listed as the world’s highest ranked green building product by Green Building Pages. For more information, visit RainTechnologies.com or call 866-724-6356.

Cradle to Cradle is a trademarked green product certification service of mbdc.

“People can’t drink oil.”

2010-02-17T12:14:00.000-08:00

“People can’t drink oil.” That is what one respondent to our exclusive survey of AEC professionals said, to highlight the absolute necessity of water to our everyday lives.Our seventh White Paper on Green Buildings focuses on the role of water in sustainable design and construction. The context for this discussion is shaped by the following:

■ Virtually every region of the U.S. and parts of most states likely will experience water shortages in the next 10 years.

■ More water is consumed outside buildings and homes—for landscape irrigation and cooling towers—than is used inside for toilets, faucets, and showers.

■ Up to 20% of our purifi ed water is lost to leaks in the nation’s decaying infrastructure.

■ There have been signifi cant improvements in the effi ciency of plumbing products in the last two decades, but saving too much water could lead to conditions that might impact the health of building occupants.

■ Improving water performance can also help reduce energy use and greenhouse gas emissions.

■ The reuse of water may be “the next big thing” in water conservation, efficiency, and performance.

The editors conclude with a set of 21 detailed recommendations—an Action Plan—for the consideration of Building Teams, home builders, developers, building owners, government offi cials, industry membership associations, NGOs, and the public with regard to water performance.

Read the Building Design+Construction White Papers here!

Understanding Pump Systems

2010-02-17T11:39:00.000-08:00

Understanding how water gets from the catchment tank to the faucet can help people on rainwater catchment systems feel more comfortable with their system and be more self-reliant.

A normal pump system is composed of a pump, a pressure tank, a pressure switch, and a check valve. These main components all work together automatically to supply pressurized water to your point of use.

Catchment pump systems draw water from the tank, pressurize it, and store it in a pressure tank until you need it. There is a one-way valve called a check valve (also called a foot valve) between the water tank and the pump; this valve prevents the pressurized water from returning to the water tank, and it simultaneously creates a closed system between it and your faucets.

When you open a faucet, water is delivered under pressure. The subsequent pressure drop activates the pump switch and the purup turns on, drawing more water from the tank and delivering it, under pressure, to the pressure tank and thence to the faucet. When you close the faucet, the same switch senses the pressure build-up and, at a prescribed pressure, shuts the pump off.

Shallow-well pumps, which are commonly used for catchment systems, are designed to push water rather than to pull it. For that reason, the most appropriate place for the pump is at the same level (elevation) as the water storage tank. The pump can be placed elsewhere, but the efficency and the life of the pump will be compromised as the demand to "pull" increases. The diameter of the supply line from the tank to the pump also affects the pump's performance. This pipe should be a minimum of 1 inch diameter - larger if possible--to reduce strain on the pump.

Read entire article here!

LA MIGHT REQUIRE RAINWATER CAPTURE!

2010-02-01T11:34:00.000-08:00

A proposed law would require new homes, larger developments and some redevelopments in Los Angeles to capture and reuse runoff generated in rainstorms.

Read entire article here!

susan.carpenter@latimes.com
Copyright © 2010, The Los Angeles Times

Summit on the Summit

2010-01-25T13:21:00.001-08:00

(photo credit: Kenna wall photo)

More than one billion people do not have access to clean drinking water- that’s more than 1 out of every 7 people on Earth. And the consequences of drinking contaminated water are no mystery- more children die from diarrheal diseases than from HIV/AIDS and malaria combined- every day 4,000 children in developing countries die from water-borne illnesses.

On January 12 the group of 45(!) made it to the top of Mt. Kilimanjaro on a climb designed to raise awareness of and fight the global clean water crisis. Organized by Kenna over the course of 2009, an experimental music artist, the Summit on the Summit project partnered with Children’s Safe Drinking Water, a project of Proctor & Gamble and PUR- the program focuses on reducing sickness and death resulting from drinking contaminated water.

You can see more photos and videos from the climb on the SOTSK website.

The project has made great use of social media, gathering more than 5,500 followers to their @SOTSK account. Kenna’s promotion to his own 7,000 Facebook fans is a great example of how to document a trip in real-time on the web- and since the trip was a group of web-savvy personalities including Jessica Biel, Lupe Fiasco, Santigold and Dr. Allgood of PUR, the project and the cause have gotten a considerable amount of exposure.

The project was also sponsored by HP, who provided the eco-friendly technology that made the social media prowess of the group possible.

I appreciated the sentiment of their celebration message:

“In those days between, the 45 of us became one… Had we been climbing as individuals, several of us might not have made it this time. Our guides were shocked, telling us they’d never seen a group as large as ours pull off 100% summit success on the route we climbed. And as we stood on the summit sharing hugs and tears, we bore witness to the power of our collective will, having driven each other not just to a higher physical location but to a heightened state of mind.”

The power of the collective will- indeed, this may be the secret ingredient that is making things happen in projects like this or for 350.org but lacking still in the larger goals of efforts like the Copenhagen Summit.

You can still get involved with the project, either by sponsoring a foot or more of the group’s climb or getting involved with the Children’s Safe Drinking Water.

Texas officials: We’re running out of water

2010-01-21T12:11:00.000-08:00

By JOHN McFARLAND, Associated Press Writer – Tue Nov 17, 10:55 am ET

FORT WORTH, Texas – With the Texas population expected to nearly double over the next 50 years, lawmakers and water experts gathered Monday to convey an important message: We’re running out of water.

There is no shortage of alarming statistics to make that point. Texas’ population of about 24.3 million is expected to hit about 45.5 million by 2060, and the water supply can’t come close to keeping pace.

If the state were to experience major drought conditions with that many more people, officials estimate almost every Texan would be without sufficient water and there would be more than $90 billion in economic losses.

“We’re going to have 18 percent less water than we do now if we don’t do anything,” said state Sen. Kip Averitt, chairman of the Senate Committee on Natural Resources. “Now what happens in a severe drought? Eighty-five percent of our citizens don’t have enough water to maintain a healthy lifestyle.”

Lawmakers and water planners are trying to raise awareness about the issue and the importance of the 2011 Legislature investing in changes called for in the state water plan. Among the moves the plan calls for are the construction of 19 new reservoirs, water reuse programs, more pipelines, desalinization plants and conservation methods.

“I don’t think people realize how important it is for us over the next 30 to 40 years to double our potable water supplies,” said Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst, a Republican who said water is among the top priorities in the next legislative session.

People did get a recent reminder of how significant water is in the two years of severe drought that parched south-central Texas starting in September 2007.

The drought cost about $3.6 billion in agriculture losses, prompted hundreds of water districts across the state to restrict water usage and dried up lakes and streams. People were comparing it to the drought of record in Texas in the 1950s.

“Drought is what brings awareness,” said J. Kevin Ward, executive administrator of the Texas Water Development Board, which oversees the state’s water resources. “Suddenly, people realize in a very concrete way what’s going to happen if they don’t do something.”

The hardest-hit areas in the recent drought were concentrated in south-central Texas. Only a tiny percentage of that area is now under the worst drought conditions, thanks to recent rains — but about a quarter of the state remains in some stage of drought.

Still, water officials are charged with making plans for the worst-case scenario.

“It can happen and will happen again,” Averitt said. “We want to have drought-proof water supplies so we don’t have to turn off power plants. That could happen if we’re not prepared.”

Water Index: Quantifying Water Investments

2010-01-11T15:06:00.000-08:00

Water is fast becoming a hot topic for every part of society, and in the coming decade, water will require new perspectives, more comprehensive information and innovative action. The World Resources Institute (WRI) is beginning an initiative, along with General Electric (GE) and Goldman Sachs, that will create a Water Index with the goal to accurately identify and measure water risk.

by Scott James

Read entire article here.

Where America Stands on Water

2010-01-11T15:02:00.000-08:00

In 15 Years, Nearly 2 Billion People Worldwide Will Live Where Water is Scarce

People can survive 30 days without food, but only about three days without water. As world population grows, Americans need to pay more attention to how much water we use. Mark Strassmann reports.

By Mark Strassmann

Read entire article here.

Ontario Public Service converting old building into green workplace

2010-01-06T12:00:00.000-08:00

A team that includes WZMH Architects and construction manager Urbacon is poised to convert Jarvis Street building into a state-of-the-art green workplace for the Ontario Public Service.

Selective demolition of the interior of the 455,000-square-foot building, the former Sears Canada head office, is scheduled to get under way the first week of January. The retrofit and modernization project is expected to be completed in the summer of 2011.

The estimated cost of the retrofit, one of the largest of its kind in North America, is $100 million. LEED Gold is being targeted. The base building design work has been completed, the Ontario Realty Corporation (ORC) said.

The project will incorporate a number of green features from a green roof and photovoltaic solar rooftop panels to use of regional and low-emitting materials, rainwater harvesting and “grey water” recovery.

Heating, ventilating and air-conditioning (HVAC) systems and controls will be updated as well. State-of-the-art IT infrastructure will be put in place. Thermally sealed windows will be installed on the exterior.

From a construction perspective, converting an existing building to a LEED Gold facility will present its share of challenges, ORC said. These include upgrading electrical and other servicing while maintaining life-safety systems, sprinkler systems and the like.

Key subtrades that will be involved in the project include mechanical, electrical, structural glazing, drywall, acoustic ceilings, flooring, and elevator and escalator installers.

Prequalification of base building trades has been completed, ORC said. Additional processes may be implemented next fall.

The project is part of a larger initiative to retrofit and modernize government buildings across the province in order to reduce the carbon footprint of the Ontario Public Service.

Urbacon president Marco Mancini said his firm was proud to be part of this “significant and prestigious” project.

“We are pleased with the opportunity to work with the exceptional team assembled by ORC to deliver a building which will set future standards.”

PATRICIA WILLIAMS
staff writer for Daily Commercial News and Construction Record
January 6, 2010

Turning on to rain, and turning off the tap, 55 gallons at a time

2010-01-06T11:04:00.000-08:00

If L.A.'s rainwater harvesting program could put a barrel at each of the city's 800,000 residential parcels, demand for tap water could drop by about 800 million gallons a year.

Ijoined the city's rainwater harvesting program in October, when fierce Santa Ana winds made the notion of any rain, not to mention enough to "harvest," seem fanciful to say the least.

But last week's glorious pelting rains filled my new storage barrel to the brim, along with those of several of my Mar Vista neighbors.

My rain barrel, which looks like a plastic beer keg, sits under our kitchen window, so as my morning coffee dripped last Monday, I watched runoff trickle in. Still in my pajamas, I padded outside to test the spigot at the bottom of the barrel; sure enough, out spurted a jet of water.

The next morning, I filled a watering can and gave my houseplants a drink of rainwater. This is truly the stuff of suburban drama.

Read entire Los Angeles Times article by By Molly Selvin here

EPA Releases Final Specs for WaterSense Homes

2010-01-04T09:57:00.000-08:00

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released its final WaterSense single-family new homes specification today, creating the first national, voluntary, water-efficiency specification for an entire new home. With this announcement, EPA is inviting home builders to join the WaterSense program and commit to building water-efficient new homes.

EPA Releases Final Specification for WaterSense New Homes
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released its final WaterSense single-family new homes specification today, creating the first national, voluntary, water-efficiency specification for an entire new home. With this announcement, EPA is inviting home builders to join the WaterSense program and commit to building water-efficient new homes.
“Home builders can now partner with EPA and earn the WaterSense label for their newly built homes, helping to create livable communities and quality homes that are easy to maintain,” said Peter S. Silva, assistant administrator for EPA’s Office of Water. “These homes will save homeowners as much as $200 a year on utility bills compared to their current homes.”

EPA worked with hundreds of stakeholders over the past three years to develop this specification, which was designed to complement existing green building programs. WaterSense labeled new homes, which will be 20 percent more efficient than typical new homes, must be independently inspected and certified by an EPA licensed certification provider to meet the WaterSense criteria for water efficiency and performance.
The new homes will feature WaterSense labeled plumbing fixtures, ENERGY STAR® qualified appliances (if installed), water-efficient landscaping and hot water delivery systems that deliver hot water faster, so homeowners don’t waste water—or energy—waiting at the tap.

Water system from biblical times discovered!

2009-12-28T10:50:00.000-08:00

'Alexandre's team found remains of a wall, a hideout, a courtyard and a water system that appeared to collect water from the roof and supply it to the home. The discovery was made when builders dug up the courtyard of a former convent to make room for a new Christian center, just yards from the Basilica.'

Read entire Associated Press article here!

Merry Christmas

2009-12-17T11:51:00.000-08:00

From all of us in the RainTech office!

RainTube of Houston does its Homework!

2009-11-23T12:01:00.000-08:00

Listen to the podcast of Jeff Corcorran's (RainTube of Houston) interview with talk show 'Homework Houston'on KSEV.

Rain Technologies is 'Around the House'

2009-11-23T11:51:00.001-08:00

Handyman Bob talks about Rainwater Harvesting and Water Conservation. Guests include Sue Hicks with Thomas-Bly Landscapes and Steve Spratt, co-founder of Rain Technologies, Inc.

Listen to podcast here.

Schwarzenegger signs water conservation bill in San Jose

2009-11-23T11:45:00.000-08:00

SAN JOSE, CA - NOVEMBER 10: California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger signs... ( Justin Sullivan )

With willow trees, migrating geese and local politicians as his backdrop, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger on Tuesday visited San Jose to sign a new water conservation law that aims to reduce urban use 20 percent statewide by 2020.

Read full article here.

By Paul Rogers
progers@mercurynews.com

Welcome Matt Poole!

2009-11-11T10:53:00.001-08:00

We are very pleased with the announcement of our newest Certified RainTube Installer Matt Poole. Matt runs Manness Sheet Metal and Roofing, Inc. servicing Central Oregon. His company is a full service roofing contractor specializing in high quality stone coated steel, zinc, and copper lifetime roofs as well as other “Green” building products. We look forward working with Matt as he brings his high energy, strong business acumen, and exceptional customer service focus to developing his Rain Tube business in Central Oregon. Matt can be reached at 541-948-3887. Welcome aboard Matt!

Olympics spur B.C. water recycling strategy

2009-11-10T08:38:00.000-08:00

Municipalities, industry and province looking beyond cleaning up water for disposal to figuring out better ways to retreat and reuse resource

The new Vancouver Convention Centre is the first building in Canada to combine ultra-filtration and reverse osmosis systems to desalinate ocean water and treat wastewater for flushing toilets and irrigating its green roof garden.

Read more here

original post by Denise Deveau
Special to Globe and Mail Update
Published on Tuesday, Nov. 03, 2009 9:11AM EST

Hydropower Is No Longer a Renewable Energy

2009-11-10T08:22:00.000-08:00

Because a supply of water can no longer be relied on in some regions of the US; some of the states with legislation now in place to increase renewable energy no longer define existing hydro-electric power as a “renewable” source of power.

Read more here

original post by Susan Kraemer in Blue Energy, Climate Change

Image by flikr user raul.r.goncalves

Investors Urged to Put Water Funds in Portfolios

2009-10-27T11:12:00.000-07:00

Forget gold, oil or soybeans. Put water funds in your investment portfolio, says a recent investment article. Water privatization and the water industry in general has caught the eye of investors and fund managers, which may lead to further increases in the importance of water issues across the globe.

Read full article here.

RainSpace Water Storage System Installation

2009-10-23T10:58:00.000-07:00

Consider this: a 2000 square foot roof can provide over 1,125 gallons of water from one inch of rainfall, which can then be used to flush toilets, water gardens, and provide up to 60% of your annual water needs. Whether water is scarce or plentiful, RainTube™ should be the leading element in your rainwater collection system. And RainSpace™ takes it one step further, allowing you to capture, store, and reuse that water in your own water storage chamber.

Watch the RainSpace youtube installation video here or visit www.RainTechnologies.com to learn more

Aloha Green Builder's Depot!

2009-10-22T14:54:00.000-07:00

Rain Technologies would like to welcome our newest distributor

Kleenco Inc. DBA Green Builders Depot
Dan Perry and Michael Reeves
Oahu, HI

We are very proud to have Dan and Michael on board with us and look forward to a wonderful working relationship.

Mahalo

RainTube to exhibit at the Living Green Fair!

2009-10-22T14:34:00.000-07:00

You are invite you to discover how inspiring a Green lifestyle can be. Come and visit RainTube installed by Gutter Love It! of Fort Lauderdale
in booth #B-8.

Delightful activities, educational exhibits, delicious food, and more will be provided by South Florida’s premier Eco-friendly businesses.

Bring your family, your friends, your curiosity, and your imagination to the Living Green Fair!

We're all about rain water collection, control and storage.

2009-10-15T10:29:00.000-07:00

Oregon-based Rain Technologies is all about rain water collection, control and storage. Their products are made from recycled polyethylene plastic and are Cradle 2 Cradle certified.

RainTube fits inside of a standard roof gutter and acts to redirect water while it keeps debris out. The water flows at a rate of up to 100 inches per hour. The redirected water can be harvested using a catchment system which is where RainSpace comes in.

RainSpace is a system of structurally engineered tubes that facilitate underground water storage. Installing a rain space the size of a standard double-car parking space will allow for the storage of 10,000 gallons of water. This is an especially practical solution for urban and suburban homeowners who would like to have water for landscape use during ‘no watering allowed’ days.

See the video of our West Coast Green interview here!

RainTube featured in Total Landscape Care

2009-10-12T10:04:00.000-07:00

Total Landscape Care is an industry news magazine for green industry and landscaping professionals. You'll find staff-written news articles updated every business day covering an array of topics including economic, general interest and industry news as well as product information, before-and-after photos of landscapers' favorite projects and a monthly bilingual safety column.

Click here to view this months artice on RainTube.

Urban Water Managment Leader

2009-10-08T08:58:00.000-07:00

Instead of sending all of its storm water straight down the sewer and into the river as quickly as possible, Philadelphia is re-imagining itself as a leader in urban water management. The city is planning to spend $1.6 billion over the next 20 years to overhaul its methods of dealing with the billions of gallons of rainwater it receives each year.

Read full article here.

Stressed fresh water resources

2009-10-08T08:54:00.000-07:00

Join Steve Spratt co-founder of RainTechnologies for a lively discussion of our stressed fresh water resources and the rainwater harvesting solution. Listen in at noon 10/10 to KXL Portland hosted by popular local talk show host BobTheHandyman. Call in and support the cause or listen in on the web.

RainTubes make handling storm water easier

2009-10-06T13:26:00.000-07:00

Paul Emch, FrogTown RainTube co-owner, is expanding his new business to incorporate green products like RainTubes.Paul and his partner Chris, have been busy installing RainTube, the 'greenest product in the industry' into Toledo's homes, making handling storm water easier!

Read full article, and watch video here.

RainTube awarded 'Golden Boots' at West Coast Green

2009-10-06T09:48:00.000-07:00

Rain Tech CEO Bill Savage wins Golden Boot award from a "Shark Tank"
like panel of six Investors at West Coast Green yesterday

Bill brilliantly presented the Raintube products and beat out over fifty other leading-edge entreprenuers to win the "best business model" award and a future forum with the investor panel.

Other finalists included an electric powered delivery van, an Eco-tour travel company and a proposed international habitat rescue program tied to products that affect those habitats. All wonderfully clever ideas but Rain Technolgies focus on solving pressing water issues with simple, green solutions won the hearts and wallets of both the panel and the packed theater audience.

Go Bill!

Rainwater Beer!

2009-09-29T09:51:00.000-07:00

A rainwater collection system was installed at 5 Seasons Restaurant and Brewery (Westside Location) in August of 2009 for the purpose of brewing beer from 100% rainwater collected on-site.

The installed system employs 6 stages of filtration followed by dual-beam UV sterilization to remove various impurities and ensure safe, high-quality water. The filtered rainwater has a pH of 7.8, a hardness of 0.73 ppm, is colorless, odorless, has zero bacteria or other microbes and passes all EPA Standards with ease.

According to 5 Seasons Master Brewer, Crawford Moran, brewers prefer soft water without a lot of minerals for brewing high quality beer. Another beer aficionado who works as a food section columnist from an Atlanta newspaper says that the Golden Number Ale produced using rainwater was crisper and better tasting than previous batches he sampled made from tap water.

5 Seasons not only uses rainwater to brew all of their various beer but they also implement several other interesting and unique sustainable measures:

The brewery uses used vegetable oil from the kitchen to boil the ingredients during the beer making process
They use locally sourced organic vegetables and other ingredients on the menu items whenever possible
They provide their used barley and hops, used during the beer-making process, to a local farmer who uses it as fertilizer for the produce which he delivers to the restaurant
Their catering truck is a 1974 Mercedes Benz fire truck which has been converted to run entirely on used vegetable oils (not bio diesel) from the kitchen.
They've installed waterless urinals in the restrooms
They are working toward offering the filtered rainwater to restaurant patrons as an option to standard tap water.
The system differs from a typical potable water system in that the processed rainwater is not tied into the building's plumbing system. The processed rainwater is introduced to the brewery at a large tank where other ingredients are combined prior to the main brewing process.

Watch CNN video!

Green innovations conference

2009-09-23T11:32:00.000-07:00

Come join Rain Technologies Inc. at West Coast Green - the largest interactive conference on green innovation for the built environment.

As an exhibitor, Rain Technologies Inc. is honored to invite you to come to the tradeshow floor for free ($45 off) or register for a full conference pass with a 20% discount ($160 off), simply by clicking below. Please come visit us on the tradeshow floor!

http://tinyurl.com/wcg-discount

West Coast Green is the premier conference on green innovation and attracts thousands of the brightest minds in green building, business, and technology. You brilliant – unleash it! Join this active community to learn, collaborate and turn brilliant ideas into action!

The experience this feast of innovations, ideas and opportunities:

· 125 speakers – hear from the industries top leaders – including Ray Anderson, Mayor Gavin Newsom, Michelle Kaufmann, Hazel Henderson, Bill Reed, Dan Kammen, Andrew Tang, Josh Becker, and more!

· 300 exhibits – see the emerging breakthroughs, clean tech showcase, and the coolest innovations in green

· Entrepreneurship Series – launch your concept to the next level with one-on-one expert business consultation

· Network like crazy – build your future and meet your next business partner at dynamic, topic-specific networking sessions

· More! Experience the Green Jobs Pavilion, Self-sustaining Show Home, Hanging Storm Water Gardens, and more

Register today to discover the tools you need to express your brilliance!

San Francisco Fort Mason Center, October 1-3, 2009

Looking forward to seeing you in October,

Rain Technologies Inc.

Rainwater Harvesting Community

2009-09-23T11:27:00.000-07:00

The online rainwater harvesting community

Click here to read more articles.

Store Massive Amounts of Water Invisibly

2009-09-22T10:23:00.000-07:00

Jacksonville, OR, September 22, 2009: – Award-winning Rain Technologies, Inc. announced that it would begin immediate delivery of its newest product RainSpace. The announcement came last week in Decatur, Georgia at an annual conference of international water experts held by the American Rainwater Catchment System Association ARCSA.

The modular RainSpace can store thousands of gallons of water underground in shallow excavations and is strong enough to support vehicular traffic and parking. RainSpace patented design utilizes small specially engineered tubes to create storage chambers that are enveloped in a non-porous liner. The RainSpace system allows water to be inexpensively stored in limitless amounts and at locations that cannot support traditional tanks or the equipment needed to transport and install them. RainSpace is sold in complete kits, delivered by pallet and once an excavation is made can be assembled by hand in a few hours.

Water availability is rapidly becoming a critical concern and water storage is a crucial and expensive element for water harvesting and storage systems. Traditional solutions have included, steel, plastic, fiberglass and concrete tanks and cisterns that require heavy equipment to transport and put in place and are made of non-sustainable materials. The simple, modular RainSpace System is highly adaptable to varied sites and is easier and less costly to install. The core of the system is made from 100% recycled food grade HDPE that is 100% recyclable and is the only third-party certified green product in its industry.

“Water is heavy and takes up room.” says Steve Spratt Co-founder and Executive VP of Rain Technologies Inc. “Before RainSpace, water tanks had to be trucked in, unloaded with cranes and either set on a foundation or buried in a special process to prevent floating” “Tanks are unsightly, cumbersome and expensive. RainSpace is simple, elegant and invisible. Now it is possible to store large volumes of water below ground and out of sight virtually anywhere. RainSpace will work on the tightest of lots, under driveways, front yards, or side yards. Commercial and industrial parking lots can now be utilized to store and re-use water captured on-site as well as large roofed areas like arenas and warehouses. We can even install systems that are curved, round, with unlevel bottoms, or that follow the terrain along slopes. This flexibility allows us to be creative and provide systems on sites where water storage was unthinkable before. RainSpace ability to collect large amounts of rainwater allows one to develop their own water resource and become completely water independent just as many are trying to do with energy and solar panels. We are very excited that our new technologies will make water more abundant, reliably clean and make it possible for people everywhere to be more water independent.”

About Rain Technologies
Rain Technologies Inc. (formerly GLI Systems) based in Jacksonville, Oregon, designs and installs professional rain harvesting systems and is a world leading manufacturer of Cradle to Cradle Certified sustainable products for the collection, control, storage and re-use of rain water. Another Rain Technologies product RainTube was earlier this year named a Top Ten Product for 2009 by Sustainable Industries Magazine, named Sustainable Product of the year for Earth Day and listed as the world’s highest ranked green building product by wwww.greenbuildingpages.com. For more information, visit www.raintube.com or call 866-724-6356.

About Sustainable Industries
Sustainable Industries is an independent, award-winning business magazine, web site, event and media company serving top-of-the-pyramid sustainable business leaders on the West Coast and beyond. With offices in San Francisco, Portland and Seattle, Sustainable Industries connects the dots between the environmental and social components of the region’s economy, just as it connects the dots between leading sectors, to raise the stakes in a working definition of sustainable industries. For more information, visit www.sustainableindustries.com.

About rainwater harvesting
Rainwater harvesting is an ancient technology that is re-emerging due to stresses on modern water resources. It is quickly becoming a tool of choice for collecting, storing and reusing the huge renewable volumes of free water that fall from the sky in the form of rain or snow. This pristine resource can substantially offset fresh water needs from wells and meters but is typically wasted as storm runoff and deposited into our rivers carrying pollutants along the way.

Frog Town RainTube in the news again!

2009-09-03T10:59:00.000-07:00

(Toledo)--A new, green company in Toledo has a mission of "shouting from the rooftops" the importance of being eco-friendly. It provides gutter protection and rain water harvesting. Frogtown RainTube Gutter Solution is only a few years old. But its co-founded hopes the company will stand the test of time, creating a name for itself in the green movement.

Paul Emch and business partner Chris Offenberg look up and see a positive future selling and installing raintubes throughout the area. The cylindrical device directs water inside existing gutters to prevent harmful runoff, just to name one of many purposes. The tubing material is typically made of more than 250 milk jugs.

The rain water, by the way, can be collected and reused. The company is working on selling cisterns, capable of holding tens of thousands of gallons of water, for the yard or perhaps inside plumbing.

Installation itself takes about a day. Keep in mind the tubing costs around $7 per foot of gutter with the grand total for most homeowners around $1500. And while this product is made for everyone, it's especially geared toward homes located in woodsy areas where leaves and sticks can easily clog the gutters.

The use of the raintube meets certain LEED standards. Of course "LEED" means the leadership in energy and environmental design. It serves as a standard for the design, construction and operation of green buildings. To learn more, you can go to www.frogtownraintube.com or call 419-491-1181.

Watch news video here!

Living Green Fair - Fun for your whole family tree

2009-08-25T08:37:00.000-07:00

We invite you to discover how inspiring a Green lifestyle can be. Delightful activities, educational exhibits,delicious food, and more will be provided by South Florida’s premier Eco-friendly businesses, such as RainTube, the award winning certified green product for the control, collection and storage of rainwater, installed by Gutter Love It! of Fort Lauderdale.

RainTube’s patented porous, cylinder fits snugly into rain gutters to prevent clogging and ensure water collection at maximum rates. Our products are made from indestructible, recycled food-grade HDPE, engineered for extreme exposure and factory warranted for life. Installations are fast, easy and attractive. Our products are the only third-party certified green gutter products on the market generating LEED points in several categories.

Bring your family, your friends, your curiosity, and your imagination to the Living Green Fair!

Washington State decision makes LID mandatory

2009-08-24T13:18:00.000-07:00

A decision in a Washington state lawsuit over National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit language illustrates the increasingly important role of Low Impact Development (LID). The ruling concludes that the Washington “Phase I Permit must be modified to require the use of LID where feasible, as it is necessary to meet the MEP [maximum extent practicable] and AKART [all known and reasonable technology] standards of federal and state law, respectively” (PCHB 2008). The permit provision that was overturned by this decision simply encouraged LID. Because of the ruling, Phase I permittees in Washington will now require new developments to implement LID where feasible. The Phase I permit covers the cities of Seattle and Tacoma, Clark County, King County, Pierce County, and Snohomish County, as well as a number of secondary permittees, including the Ports of Tacoma and Seattle. Stormwater Magazine describes the evolution of requiring LID in Washington’s NPDES permits. Click here if you’d like to read more.

Wasted Rain

2009-08-24T12:46:00.000-07:00

View the wasted rain blog here

Former Vice President Al Gore to Keynote Greenbuild Phoenix

2009-08-24T12:41:00.000-07:00

The Honorable Al Gore will address thousands of Greenbuild attendees at Chase Field in Phoenix, Ariz. as part of the Greenbuild Opening Keynote & Celebration on Wednesday, Nov. 11

Read more here.

RainTube on Google's 3D Warehouse

2009-08-18T14:15:00.000-07:00

Rain Technologies now offers a 3D view of the RainTube 'in action' on Google's 3D Warehouse.

The Google 3D Warehouse is a collection of 3D models of buildings, bridges, cars, spaceships, futons, dinosaurs and everything else in the universe. It's completely free for everyone to use, and it's getting bigger every day.

Search 3D Warehouse now!

Vote for RainTube!

2009-08-18T14:09:00.000-07:00

Greenwala and helpareporterout.com want your help identifying stories about the most amazing eco-friendly, environmentally-conscious companies, products and services on the planet.

Rain Technologies makes award winning certified green products for the control, collection and storage of rainwater.

Consider this: a 2000sft roof can provide over 1,125 gallons of water from a 1 inch rainfall which can then be used provide up to 60% of your homes annual water needs if properly collected.

RainTube’s porous, debris-rejecting design ensures that ALL the available water gets collected. Keeping debris out of the gutters reduces the load on filter elements and allows the water to flow unencumbered to the storage container.

RainSpace is a revolutionary, modular subsurface mass water storage chamber.

We believe that by using recycled plastics for a durable and sustainable product, we're committed to the environment in a practical way. We offer a simple solution that assists homeowners in a big way that positively impacts the environment by using renewable resources. Little steps do have a big impact on a sustainable future.

Our products are made from indestructible, recycled food-grade HDPE, engineered for extreme exposure and factory warranted for life. Our products are the only third-party certified green gutter products on the market generating LEED points in several categories. We are proud members of the Green Building Council and have been awarded the following honors:

Cradle to Cradle Gold Tier Certified
Sustainable Industries Top Ten Green Product Winner 2009
Sustainable Product of the Year 2007, 2008, 2009
Earth Day Sustainable Product 2007, 2008, 2009
Cascadia Living Building Challenge-Red List Ready
NAHB Green Product Approved

Save it from a rainy day

2009-08-14T11:05:00.000-07:00

In building homes for others, California developer Marty Meisler thinks about the kind of home and community he would want to live in. So as owner of Vision Development in Studio City, he got involved with the state’s Advanced Home Case Study program.

After proposing plans for three homes, Meisler decided he himself would move into the house that incorporated the highest level of green-building technology. But along the way, he faced a challenge that spurred a quest to learn all he could about rainwater harvesting (RWH).

“My lot is at the end of a dead-end street near the Los Angeles River channel,” Meisler explains. “When it rains, half of the runoff goes in front of our house. So I wanted to build something that wouldn’t contribute to the problem. Rainwater harvesting was the solution.”

After doing his own product research, Meisler realized RWH works best in tandem with a metal roof. He put on an energy-saving “cool roof” from Custom-Bilt Metals and then installed the Rain Tube gutter protection product that fits inside the trough to keep out debris. Next, the RWH system features first-flush diverters that “catch the initial runoff that has most of the garbage in it,” he adds. “There’s a vertical pipe with a filter, which fills first, before water is allowed to go into the main tank.”

For the “receiving end” of the RWH system, Meisler put a 750-gallon Rainwater HOG galvanized steel tank behind his house and two 50-gallon tanks in front. Though tanks can be installed underground, he relates, “We opted for above-ground tanks because their visibility provides an educational opportunity.”

Meisler is finding that, as more people learn about RWH, its popularity has increased. “These systems can be retrofitted to existing homes,” he points out, “and homeowners are finding RWH products are a beautiful and more discreet alternative to rain barrels.”

On the other hand, as a developer Meisler knows there are limits to how much of a premium home buyers will pay for green homes. Then, too, government authorities in his area “feel uncomfortable with the idea of mixing harvested rainwater into the city system.” For these reasons, he promotes RWH not as a replacement for potable water but, rather, as a cost-saving source of non-potable water for “irrigating lawns and gardens, filling the pool, washing the car, or just spraying the kids down on a hot day.”

Compared to systems that produce potable water for indoor uses, RWH systems which are designed solely for non-potable can be marketed as less costly to install and less complicated to maintain. “Once your system is in place, you just need to empty out the first-flush diverter after a storm,” Meisler says. The equipment can be even more appealing as Los Angeles suffers through a drought that has lasted three years and counting. “Mandatory rationing is probably coming this summer,” he reports, “and that means restrictions on lawn watering and even on the runoff leaving your property.”

Marketability and affordability are important. “Even for folks who want to do the right thing, cost is always an issue,” Meisler states. “Given the initial cost of buying the 750-gallon tank, you need homeowners who can catch a vision for doing the right today — and then breaking even in 10, 15, or 20 years. Besides, homeowners who install RWH systems tell us that reducing their need for water just plain feels good.”

Meisler echoes that sentiment in his dual role of developer and homeowner. “I’m happy to have RWH in place,” he says, “because it’s consistent with what we’re trying to do.”

In the Heart of Texas

With the worst drought conditions in the country, Texas is also taking the lead in rainwater harvesting. Today, RWH systems are staple offerings for many gutter installers across the state.

As owner of T&E Services in Johnson City, Lewis Eckenrode lives in a region where the lakes are 50 to 60 feet below normal. “We position ourselves as a full-service gutter company,” he relates, “and so, along with the 5- and 6-inch gutters we install, our business also has a full-scale department that markets and installs rainwater collection systems.”

Eckenrode reports rainwater can be converted to human use more easily than water from any other source. “In rural areas, many people have well-water that has high concentrations of calcium and lime, so that the water is very hard,” he explains. “But rain is basically pure distilled water with a very low pH.”

Population growth is another reason RWH has boomed in the state. “We’ve seen a lot of growth in our business coming from places where the aquifer is dwindling down,” he says. “So even as the number of people increases, water is becoming scarcer and some wells have gone shallow or even gone dry.”

Unlike Southern California where Meisler emphasizes non-potable uses, Eckenrode reports that 60 percent of his Texas customers “want the water for potable use, while the other 40 percent just want it for irrigation purposes.” Yet for either type of customer, education is the key to selling RWH products. “Most people don’t realize how much they can save. Not to mention, the rainwater isn’t coming out of the aquifer and so it’s saving the environment,” he believes.

Compared to drilling a well, installing an RWH system can actually cost a little less. Yet as long as costs are reasonably comparable, homeowners will choose to help the environment. “That’s a real motivation for our customers,” Eckenrode notes. “They understand it doesn’t make sense to have water just run off and not being used — especially in a drought situation.”

In addition to a first-flush system, Eckenrode installs Leaf Relief gutter protection supplied to his company by Senox Corporation. After that, he says, “Rainwater used for irrigation purposes only needs just a tank and a pump,” while potable systems need quality filters. Using an ozone circulation system, the water is changed from H2O to H3O before being filtered again with UV light to reduce particulate levels.

Texas offers tax incentives, both at the state and county levels, for installation of water conservation equipment. “Some counties in Texas have a tax abatement program for RWH, so that they don’t increase the taxable property value on your house,” reports Eckenrode. “Other counties have a rebate program for home-owners who install the system. In addition, RWH equipment is tax-free in all of Texas. That includes items like gutters, PVC pipes, pumps and filters.”

For its part, T&E Services can provide its customers with turnkey RWH systems or, “because there’s a lot of do-it-yourselfers in our area, we have a store that makes components available to the public,” says Eckenrode. After the system is in place, T&E offers customers a maintenance agreement to provide regular service. “And we also do gutter work for three other RWH installers,” he adds.

The popularity of RWH is growing as filters and tanks become more available. But as more systems are installed, Eckenrode believes RWH may become a public health issue and installers will eventually be required to obtain licenses. “Right now, there’s no license required to install gutters or RWH systems,” he points out. “But we’re talking about water that people use. And so rainwater collection methods must be safe, proven, and acceptable.”

Categories of customers

Though licensor is not required in Texas to install gutters and RWH systems, the SparkleTap Water Company in League City has earned a Level 3 Water Treatment Specialist license from the Texas Commission for Environmental Quality. The company also is a member of the Texas Water Quality Association and the American Rainwater Catchment Association.

President Jack Holmgreen confirms the increasing demand for rainwater harvesting, as well as the willingness of state officials to help promote it. For his part, Holmgreen breaks down his potential customers into degrees of need. “The smallest category — but the highest need — are people who own land but have no well water, or poor-quality well water and no access to a water district. There’s no other water available other than if it’s trucked in.”

By contrast, Holmgreen continues, “The largest category is comprised of people who are green-oriented. They may live in a rural or urban setting, but they want to get off the grid for both electricity and water as much as possible.”

Yet another category of customers — and perhaps the fastest-growing market segment at present — are government agencies that desire to collect rainwater for irrigation, sanitation, heating and cooling, and thereby reduce the burden on existing water sources.

Once again, the key to sales is education. “First of all, customers have no concept of how much water they can collect,” Holmgreen observes. And second, despite fears of acid rain “and the idea out in society that rainwater isn’t acceptable, it’s actually the cleanest water source that we have. When collected through an RWH system, the rainwater doesn’t touch the ground, the particles are easily removed, it’s soft and you can use it for anything.”

“In comparison, the initial quality of conventional water sources used by municipalities is becoming degraded over time. “The water that’s initially coming into municipal systems today has many more containments from agriculture or hormones and prescription drugs, which are difficult to remove. In other words, waste is overcoming our ability to dispose of it.”

Holmgreen agrees the number-one reason that RWH systems are installed today is customer concern about the environment. But return on investment is likely to become a more important factor in years to come. “Right now, monetary motivation doesn’t even make the top five on the list because the payback is between 7-10 years,” he says. “But water rates will continue to rise. So the payback could be cut to 5-7 years soon.”

For its first-step filters SparkleTap also uses Rain Tube products. “It’s made from recycled material, it’s non-flammable and keeps itself clean, and the cost is low,” Holmgreen explains. Gutter protection is likewise an integral part of SparkleTap’s RWH systems. “We recommend getting out any leaves, debris and pollen out as soon as possible — even if the rainwater won’t be used for potable purposes,” he advises. If the customer’s budget permits, his preferred gutter protection product is Gutterglove Gutterguard.

Borrowing expertise

Most gutter installers, of course, don’t have a dedicated RWH department or a water treatment specialist’s license. Another Texas company, Quality Gutter Systems in Boerne, nevertheless illustrates how any installer can enter the market for rainwater harvesting.

Operations director Chad Yarbrough borrows the expertise he needs by partnering with local RWH companies. After starting in roofing nearly 20 years ago, in 2004 he launched his gutter business. Within a year, he began offering RWH systems as well. “In the hill country around here, homes require a well since they’re not on city water,” he explains, “and I saw a need for rainwater collection as an alternative. Today, a growing number of people are using RWH, in place of a well, as the complete source of water for their homes.”

About half of Yarborough’s customers use RWH, in conjunction with a well or with municipal water, solely for irrigation purposes. The remainder employs RWH exclusively for their residential water needs.

Yarborough concurs homeowners’ main motivation is to be environmentally friendly. “Construction has grown substantially in our area and people are getting leery of drilling more holes in the ground when existing wells are already drying up,” he reports.

When customers order an RWH system, Quality Gutters Systems installs the gutters and gutter protection. For the latter, the company sells powder-coated steel gutter screens supplied by Senox Corporation or the LeaFree gutter hood product. Then to install the RWH equipment, Yarbrough works with four other companies in his area who specialize in rainwater harvesting.
“But even if you partner with other companies,” Yarbrough advises, “you’re still responsible for doing your own homework. Calculate how much roof area there is on the project, which will determine you how much rainwater you’ll get. Then, if the customer is going to use rain collection for all their water needs, make sure you provide enough tank storage to get them through a drought situation.”

Still, partnership has distinct advantages. “The other companies hire us to do all their gutter work — and based on the volume we get, we refer RWH work back to them,” he relates. “Since our installers are specifically trained to do gutters, then it works out great for us to tap the other companies’ in rainwater collection.”

Before jumping into this kind of relationship, Yarborough cautions, “Make sure you have a good relationship with the RWH company. What you install — and what they install — must work together as a system. For example, the downspout or gutter must have a good connection to the RWH piping. Otherwise, the customer will lose water — and you could get blamed.”

In general, though, the future of rainwater harvesting looks bright. “Five years ago when I started the gutter business, no one was installing RWH systems,” Yarborough reports, “but now four companies in my area are doing it as their sole business. Every single year, the demand for rainwater harvesting has gone up.”

posted May 26, 2009
constructionmagnet.com
Vision Development photo

Ashland Oregon Water Shortage

2009-08-13T09:38:00.000-07:00

August 11, 2009

ASHLAND, Ore.- The city of Ashland is asking residents and business owners to cut down on water use and implementing a voluntary restriction on water.

The city hopes a voluntary reduction will prevent mandatory restrictions which means it's asking those using the city's water to cut back by 20 percent.

More water is coming out of Reeder reservoir in Ashland than is flowing in. Nearly 8-million gallons of water is coming out of the reservior every day and only four million gallons of water are flowing in it right

This is Ashland's only water source and the city wants to reduce use by at least 20 percent.

The city and the parks department already started reducing it's water use by 20 percent this morning.

Watch news feed here.

By: Tove Tupper

2009 National ARCSA Conference

2009-08-12T08:59:00.000-07:00

Sept. 14-16, 2009

Holiday Inn, 130 Clairemont Ave., Decatur, Georgia 30030 (Atlanta area).

REGISTRATION NOW OPEN!

Events will kick off Saturday, September 12, with a pre-conference accreditation workshop for professionals and the general public. There will be a free open house for the general public on Sunday, September 13. The conference program will begin Monday, September 14th and run until the 16th. You'll hear from speakers across the country about the latest innovations and techniques for rainwater harvesters, and have a chance to network with other rainwater harvesting professionals.

Click here to view more details, review the 2009 agenda, or register online.

Come and see Steve Spratt,VP of Rain Technologies give a lecture on running a rainwater harvesting business on Wednesday 16, 2009 from 9:00am - 9:45am.

Applegate Valley Green + Solar Tour

2009-08-11T13:07:00.000-07:00

Date: Saturday, October 3, 2009 9:30-4:30 Plan for the day.

Location: Applegate Valley, Southern Oregon

REQUIRED: Pre Registration

Cost: $15 per person
optional Gourmet lunch from Eve's Cafe additional $10

Meet at 9:30 and Register at: Troon Vinyard 1475 Kubli Rd (off North Applegate Rd)

Contact: Fred Gant

fgant@earthadvantage.org

(541) 840-8302

Description of Event: This year's Applegate Green and Solar Tour will feature homes and businesses that have integrated green building techniques and renewable energy systems including two Earth Advantage "green certified" homes. The tour will end at Troon Vineyards with a reception including installers, builders and distributors of green products. There will be appetizers and wine tasting as well. Tour will be by bus only. Please carpool if possible.

This Tour's Local Sponsors: Greater Applegate Community Development Corporation and Earth Advantage Institute

Click here to register

Drought turning Texas as dry as toast

2009-07-25T20:46:00.000-07:00

Water restrictions lead to extreme conservation efforts

DALLAS - Off-duty police officers are patrolling streets, looking for people illegally watering their lawns and gardens. Residents are encouraged to stealthily rat out water scofflaws on a 24-hour hot line.

Click here to read entire Associated Press article.

RainTube on YouTube

2009-07-23T14:27:00.000-07:00

See RainTube in action on YouTube!

RainTube 1
RainTube 2

Gutter Go Green

2009-07-23T13:16:00.001-07:00

KTVL Southern Oregon News Channel

2009-07-23T12:44:00.000-07:00

Sustainable minded professionals have teamed up for a

Eco + Home Expo this Saturday, July 25, 10am-2pm.

bloc-Studios:
3723 Greenville Avenue
Dallas, Tx. 214-649-9873

Meet professional leaders in sustainable home design, ask questions, and see environmentally friendly products in an intimate setting.

Judge: Atlanta's Withdrawals From Lake Lanier Are Illegal

2009-07-22T14:21:00.000-07:00

Click here to read article

There Will Be Water

2009-07-22T14:19:00.000-07:00

T. Boone Pickens thinks water is the new oil—and he's betting $100 million that he's right

Click here to read article

by Susan Berfield

Texas drought, scorching heat bring $3.6 billion in agriculture losses; tally could top record

2009-07-22T14:13:00.000-07:00

LUBBOCK, Texas (AP) — Drought in Texas has led to an estimated $3.6 billion in crop and livestock losses, and without ample rains, the year's final tally could top the state record set in 2006, Texas agriculture officials say.

Click here to read article

BETSY BLANEY

AP Agriculture Writer

July 21, 2009

THIRST: California's water crisis

2009-07-22T14:09:00.000-07:00

Utility reverts to the long ago and not-so-far-away

Inland Empire agency bucks a century-old Southern California tradition by using local water sources to meet 70% of local demand. Its innovative programs could be replicated elsewhere, officials say.

Click here to read article

By Bettina Boxall

July 20, 2009

Eco-friendly housing product enters Toledo markets

2009-07-21T09:33:00.000-07:00

Written by Mark Hensch | | news@toledofreepress.com

Paul Emch’s business is selling new services.
After 12 years of painting and wallpapering Northwest Ohio houses as the owner of Painted Turtle Interiors, Emch said he is expanding his horizons. Inspired by an environmentally friendly gutter-protection device called the RainTube, Emch and his partner Chris Offenberg opened Frogtown RainTube Gutter Solutions. The new business sells and installs RainTubes throughout Northwest Ohio.

“This is an addition to the services I provide homeowners in keeping their houses up,” Emch said of the RainTube. “I saw this as an extension of my business. I like the fact it protects houses and gutters as a contractor.”
Emch said the RainTube is a patented invention produced by Jacksonville, Ore.’s Rain Technologies Inc. While working on a house during May, Emch said a friend showed him the product’s potential as a rain harvesting tool. Intrigued, Emch said he soon realized the device’s full range of capabilities. After attending a June 27 RainTube sales certification program with Offenberg in Willow Grove, Penn., Emch said he has enjoyed the RainTube ever since.
“This makes gutters cleaner and more efficient,” Emch said. “There is no mold or mildew. It protects your home in so many ways.”
Emch said the cylindrical device channels water into orderly flow inside gutters once installed. Its round shape prevents debris from wedging into gutters, he said, reducing maintenance and preventing the spread of dry rot, which could accelerate fire. During the winter, he added, the device’s black color absorbs sunlight, preventing the formation of dangerous ice buildups.
Sam Finney, the office manager of RainTube’s Jacksonville, Oregon office, said the device is as environmentally friendly as it is practical. She said RainTube crafts its products from recycled milk jugs and juice cartons, thus reducing waste. People are taking notice, she said — the RainTube was voted by Sustainable Industries Magazine as one of its “top 10 green building products” of 2009.
“People realize we have been greedy in using resources from the earth and now realize they will not last forever,” Finney said. “They now want to give back.”
“Everyone is more conscious of the environment,” Emch said. “People want to conserve rather than destroy. If we can recycle something and use it for something else, that’s a good thing.”
Emch said the RainTube costs $6 per foot of gutter. Installation takes five to six hours depending on the size of a house’s gutter systems, he said. Once installed, he said, home-owners can pay his company a $50 fee for maintenance once a year. After these initial fees, he said, the product can save money by collecting rain water for gardens or sprinklers.
“It is not a maintenance-free product, but none of these products are,” Emch said of the RainTube in comparison with other gutter protectors. “If you can collect a renewable resource and recycle it into your daily usage, it will drive your costs down.”
Finney said increasing interest in water harvesting had inspired the company to create its latest product, this year’s new RainSpace device. The product is a flexible rain cistern intended for any space and currently has a patent pending, she said.
“Water is in huge demand right now,” she said. “We hope to help people harvest the water on their roofs while protecting the environment.”
Emch said selling products like the RainTube and the RainSpace tapped into the movement toward “green” products. He said he is happy he has brought RainTube into Northwest Ohio housing.
“I am excited about this product,” he said. “I want it to take off.”

Miami Living Green Show

2009-07-10T08:10:00.000-07:00

Come see RainTube at the Miami Living Green Show - Booth #715

August 15th & 16th, 2009

Doubletree Miami Mart Hotel & Convention Center

It’s Now Legal to Catch a Raindrop in Colorado

2009-07-06T13:20:00.000-07:00

DURANGO, Colo. — For the first time since territorial days, rain will be free for the catching here, as more and more thirsty states part ways with one of the most entrenched codes of the West.
Precipitation, every last drop or flake, was assigned ownership from the moment it fell in many Western states, making scofflaws of people who scooped rainfall from their own gutters. In some instances, the rights to that water were assigned a century or more ago.
Now two new laws in Colorado will allow many people to collect rainwater legally. The laws are the latest crack in the rainwater edifice, as other states, driven by population growth, drought, or declining groundwater in their aquifers, have already opened the skies or begun actively encouraging people to collect.
“I was so willing to go to jail for catching water on my roof and watering my garden,” said Tom Bartels, a video producer here in southwestern Colorado, who has been illegally watering his vegetables and fruit trees from tanks attached to his gutters. “But now I’m not a criminal.”
Who owns the sky, anyway? In most of the country, that is a question for philosophy class or bad poetry. In the West, lawyers parse it with straight faces and serious intent. The result, especially stark here in the Four Corners area of Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico and Utah, is a crazy quilt of rules and regulations — and an entire subculture of people like Mr. Bartels who have been using the rain nature provided but laws forbade.
The two Colorado laws allow perhaps a quarter-million residents with private wells to begin rainwater harvesting, as well as the setting up of a pilot program for larger scale rain-catching.
Just 75 miles west of here, in Utah, collecting rainwater from the roof is still illegal unless the roof owner also owns water rights on the ground; the same rigid rules, with a few local exceptions, also apply in Washington State. Meanwhile, 20 miles south of here, in New Mexico, rainwater catchment, as the collecting is called, is mandatory for new dwellings in some places like Santa Fe.
And in Arizona, cities like Tucson are pioneering the practices of big-city rain capture. “All you need for a water harvesting system is rain, and a place to put it,” Tucson Water says on its Web site.
Here in Colorado, the old law created a kind of wink-and-nod shadow economy. Rain equipment could be legally sold, but retailers said they knew better than to ask what the buyer intended to do with the product.
“It’s like being able to sell things like smoking paraphernalia even though smoking pot is illegal,” said Laurie E. Dickson, who for years sold barrel-and-hose systems from a shop in downtown Durango.
State water officials acknowledged that they rarely enforced the old law. With the new laws, the state created a system of fines for rain catchers without a permit; previously the only option was to shut a collector down.
But Kevin Rein, Colorado’s assistant state engineer, said enforcement would focus on people who violated water rules on a large scale.
“It’s not going to be a situation where we’re sending out people to look in backyards,” Mr. Rein said.
Science has also stepped forward to underline how incorrect the old sweeping legal generalizations were.
A study in 2007 proved crucial to convincing Colorado lawmakers that rain catching would not rob water owners of their rights. It found that in an average year, 97 percent of the precipitation that fell in Douglas County, near Denver, never got anywhere near a stream. The water evaporated or was used by plants.
But the deeper questions about rain are what really gnawed at rain harvesters like Todd S. Anderson, a small-scale farmer just east of Durango. Mr. Anderson said catching rain was not just thrifty — he is so water conscious that he has not washed his truck in five years — but also morally correct because it used water that would otherwise be pumped from the ground.
Mr. Anderson, a former national park ranger who worked for years enforcing rules and laws, said: “I’m conflicted between what’s right and what’s legal. And I hate that.”
For the last year, Mr. Anderson has been catching rainwater that runs off his greenhouse but keeping the barrel hidden from view. When the new law passed, he put the barrel in plain sight, and he plans to set up a system for his house.
Dig a little deeper into the rain-catching world, and there are remnants of the 1970s back-to-land hippie culture, which went off the grid into aquatic self-sufficiency long ago.
“Our whole perspective on life is to try to use what is available, and to not be dependent on big systems,” said Janine Fitzgerald, whose parents bought land in southwest Colorado in 1970, miles from where the pavement ends.
Ms. Fitzgerald, an associate professor of sociology at Fort Lewis College in Durango, still lives the unwired life with her own family now, growing most of her own food and drinking and bathing in filtered rainwater.
Rain dependency has its ups and downs, Ms. Fitzgerald said. Her home is also completely solar-powered, which means that the pumps to push water from the rain tanks are solar-powered, too. A cloudy, rainy spring this year was good for tanks, bad for pumps.
The economy has turned on some early rainwater believers, too. Ms. Dickson’s company in Durango went out of business last December as the construction market faltered. The rain barrels she once sold will soon be perfectly legal, but the shop is shuttered.
“We were ahead of our time,” she said.

By KIRK JOHNSON
Published: June 28, 2009

RainTube Selected As Sustainable Industries 2009 Top 10 Green Building Product Award Winner

2009-06-24T16:23:00.000-07:00

JACKSONVILLE, OR – Award-winning business magazine Sustainable Industries today announced Rain Technologies, Inc. RainTube as one of its 2009 Top 10 Green Building Products winners. Sustainable Industries’ Top 10 Green Building Products guide is an annual publication profiling industry-leading green building products selected by a panel of expert judges and the Sustainable Industries editorial team. In addition to being included within the July 2009 Clean Energy issue of Sustainable Industries, this year’s Top 10 Green Building Products guide is available as a digital publication that contains 3-D images of green building products that can be manipulated by the viewer and plugged directly into actual design sketches.

RainTube was selected based on its environmental performance, scalability/market impact, innovativeness, design aesthetic, value and compatibility with the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) rating system. Profiled in the guide with accompanying 3-D images, the winners were announced today in a Sustainable Industries Webinar featuring judges from the expert panel. The 2009 Top 10 Green Building Products guide is emailed to Sustainable Industries subscribers and is available for free online at www.sustainableindustries.com/resources.

“In the four years Sustainable Industries has produced this popular, independent guide, green building has advanced to the mainstream,” says Brian Back, Founding Editor and Publisher of Sustainable Industries. “The Top 10 Green Building Products guide provides a unique snapshot of the most innovative building materials on the market today, which are particularly important given the increased strains on environmental resources.”

“We are deeply honored that RainTube has been selected as a Top Ten Green Building Product for 2009 by the esteemed panel assembled by Sustainable Industries” says Steve Spratt, Co-founder and Executive VP of Rain Technologies Inc. “It is refreshing that in this new world a company with good ideas and lofty ideals can be recognized for its quality contributions regardless of the size of its balance sheet. Though our company is small, RainTube products provide big solutions for stressed fresh water supplies around the planet. We hope that this award helps bring us closer to our goal of harnessing the worlds valuable rainwater resources for a very thirsty world.”

About Rain Technologies
Rain Technologies Inc. (formerly GLI Systems) based in Jacksonville, Oregon, is a world leading manufacturer of Cradle to Cradle Certified sustainable products for the collection, control, storage and re-use of rain water. For more information, visit www.raintube.com.

About Sustainable Industries
Sustainable Industries is an independent, award-winning business magazine, web site, event and media company serving top-of-the-pyramid sustainable business leaders on the West Coast and beyond. With offices in San Francisco, Portland and Seattle, Sustainable Industries connects the dots between the environmental and social components of the region’s economy, just as it connects the dots between leading sectors, to raise the stakes in a working definition of sustainable industries. For more information, visit www.sustainableindustries.com.

RainTube Cistern Systems

2009-06-18T10:51:00.001-07:00

Until now, water storage in larger volumes presented several problems including the requirement for space, the need for heavy installation equipment, cost and aesthetics. These were especially prohibitive problems for properties with small lots or limited access. The RainSpacetm cistern designs solve these problems by moving the storage underground and using lightweight, modular and eco-friendly components for easy, one-person assembly. The flexibility of the RainSpace cistern design means mass water storage can now be placed in locations where there is no room for conventional above or belowground storage tanks. For instance, RainTube cisterns can be placed in relatively shallow excavations along fence lines and side yards, and under driveways, patios and parking lots. A RainSpace cistern only 48” deep placed under a typical 20’x20” suburban lawn or driveway can inexpensively yield storage for 10,000 gallons while also reducing site runoff.

Birmingham looks good in green

2009-06-18T10:46:00.000-07:00

The world's leading authorities in sustainable development will descend upon Birmingham, Ala., to participate in the Green Building Focus Conference & EXPO.

With over 200 exhibitors, 10 keynote speakers and 18 regionally-focused workshops and seminars, this world-class conference will be the southeast's premier green construction and design event.

First Annual Oregon Green Expo

2009-06-18T10:32:00.000-07:00

We would like to invite you to join us for the first annual Oregon Green Expo, the largest green and sustainable community event ever held in Southern Oregon. Everyone in the family will find something green to celebrate… on this Red, White and Blue weekend!

...a Green Kidz Zone, local green building advice, cleaning at home the green way, alternative fuels and energy, local organic cooking demonstrations, organic chocolate and more. Local and national speakers and panel discussions will inspire you to learn, grow, live and build a greener lifestyle.

All brought to you by Pronto Print (GoPronto, GoGreen!), KTVL Channel 10, Biomass One and all of our valuable sponsors and exhibitors. Join us July 3rd, 4th and 5th, at the Medford Armory to “Celebrate a Greener, Independent Oregon!” Check it out at www.theoregongreenexpo.com