Rainwater Harvesting Services

Design Services

The Rainwater Connection has completed hundreds of projects throughout Vancouver Island, the Gulf Islands and the Lower Mainland. Over the past 5 years we have added clients from other parts of Canada, the US and even a couple of off-shore locations. Our clients are homeowners, residential and commercial developers or builders, architects and local governments who were looking for   potable water (drinking water) systems, and non potable water systems for both indoor use (toilets) and outdoor use. We provide engineer stamped plans where required.

Over the years, we have developed a reputation for design that is sensitive to the building design and its environment, capable of providing a high quality, secure potable water source, practical and cost-effective and easy to maintain!

Good Design is the Best Guarantee of Quality Water

Averaging 350 hours of research and development annually, The Rainwater Connection has developed considerable expertise in designing systems that are cost effective, produce high quality water, and are easy to maintain. We continue to monitor our projects and consequently maintenance is the cornerstone of our design. This experience and on-going re-evaluation has helped us improve initial design and construction techniques and has led to the development of locally manufactured components specifically for southern British Columbia rainwater collection systems.

We work closely with our clients to ensure sensitive design and bring an experienced and creative approach to developing practical and cost effective solutions that will accommodate long term needs.

Typical Steps in the Roof-to-tap Design Process

During the design process, we always consider the following oft-competing concerns:

 The unique requirements of the client and the site
 System efficiency (collecting the highest proportion of the available rain)
 Water quality (collecting clean safe water)
 Aesthetics (most of the components can be hidden if desired)
 Straightforward but effective cleaning and maintenance

1. Calculating water storage requirements using a computer water balance table:

  roof catchment area
  anticipated catchment efficiency
  local rainfall statistics for the area
  estimated monthly household water use

Based on these factors the water balance table calculates the amount of water in a given size of cistern at the end of each month. When the need for certainty and the extra water requirements for fire suppression are added in, the client is able to determine a cistern size that they feel “comfortable” with. The cistern is often smaller than the client originally believed was necessary.

2. Decide on storage cistern type and location

3. Develop a rainwater concept plan showing how to run the water from the roof to the cistern, and clean it on the way.

4. Develop the water distribution plan showing how to pressurize the water to the taps. This includes the type and location of water disinfection equipment if the water is to be used for indoor potable uses such as drinking.

Support with Operation & Maintenance

  As-built photos and plans
  Custom operation and maintenance manuals
  Maintenance checklists
  Initial owner’s tour
  Follow up monitoring if required
  Follow up maintenance visits and assistance with finding local maintenance contractors