Purpose
On the west coast of North America, where rain is more common than snow, the average household can collect up to 30,000 gallons of rainwater per year. The purpose of this research is to determine what rainwater system is best suited for each individual location, residence, or family.
image from greenwaveforever.com
Goals and Objectives
My goal is to find out which of the two systems is the most cost effective, environmentally friendly, and easiest to maintain for the average homeowner or landowner. Since there is a lot of dust and bacteria collected as the rain passes through the Earth’s atmosphere, I will also be researching the most effective way to filter the rainwater.
Methodology and Analytical Approach
I will begin by explaining how each system works and all the parts to the tanks, pumps and valves of the systems. I will help to understand how the water gets to the catchment areas to the irrigation system, or faucet. I will explain all the ways to filter the water since there is many ways that bacteria can get into the water such as the bacteria in the atmosphere and on your roof and gutters. I will compare the systems and find the more cost effecient, environmetally friendly, and more easily maintained.
image from watermaticltd.co.uk
Plans for Dissemination
Within the next year, I will be constantly researching my topic to answer the question on which of the two rainwater harvesting systems is more cost efficient, environmentally friendly, and easier to maintain. I will be updating and documenting my research on my blog and would love feedback.
image from constructionresources.com
Good topic Doug. Are you going to be looking at different regions for different types of rainwater harvesting like Vancouver vs Kamloops?
ReplyDeleteThanks Jennie. I haven't really thought about what region i will be focusing on. I think i may focus on a few different regions. I will make that decision when i have researched more.
ReplyDeleteHey Doug, if you are harvesting the rain water and storing it above ground would you always need it sealed or could you just leave it open at the top?
ReplyDeleteDoug, I like your idea of looking at rainwater harvesting in different climates. You would obviously need to take a different approach if you were in a dry climate like Kamloops as opposed to a wet climate like Vancouver.
ReplyDeleteThis topic has been covered by several students in the past, but has not been looked at for different climates. You could also look at how to make a building "net-zero water", which is a requirement of the Living Building Challenge: http://retentionofstormwater.blogspot.com/
I was doing some research and came across a book you might be interesting in. It shows you how to make a DIY rain water basin with a hose attached for watering your garnden/lawn. The book is called This Green House by Joshua Piven. Let me know if you would like to borrow it. Hope this helps :)
ReplyDeleteThank You Dale for the for the website. I am working on taking different approaches for this topic. And Jennie, i would love to get my paws on that book. Do you have it, or is it in the library?
ReplyDeleteI own the book, but I am sure it is in the library as well. Let me know if you want to borrow it.
ReplyDeleteHey Doug,
ReplyDeleteI found this journal article discussing your topic. It has some good ideas and points on construction of a rainwater usage system, then has some analysis of the systems with many parameters such as flow, volume, capacity etc. It is applied to residential houses. Here is the link, let me know if you need help getting to it, its off the Applied Science & Technology database.
http://vnweb.hwwilsonweb.com.ezproxy.tru.ca/hww/jumpstart.jhtml?recid=0bc05f7a67b1790e7b755baebc06a37adbeb984f964ad206064c4591f25501675108f03cddf06b22&fmt=C
Slys, D. Potential of rainwater utilization in residential housing in Poland. Water and Environment Journal v. 23 no. 4 (December 2009) p. 318-25
Doug I found a good site you might want to check out for rain water filtration systems. Here you go.
ReplyDeletehttp://watertiger.net/articles/rainwater_collection.pdf
Hey Mark,
ReplyDeleteI took a look at that article you suggested, and it will be very usefull. I am definately going to use some information from the article for my research. Thank you very much
Hey Dillon, thanks for the link. I checked it out and it brought alot of things to my attention that i didn't think about. There is alot of good material so thanks.
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