Cultec has launched a residential rainwater-harvesting (CRRH) program that aims to greatly reduce household demand for clean non-potable water supply. In such a system, the company’s Recharger and Contactor chambers capture and store rainwater that can be used for such activities as irrigation, fire prevention, sprinkler reserve and exterior cleaning.
For centuries, people have relied on rainwater harvesting to supply water for drinking, household, livestock and agricultural uses. Today, rainwater harvesting is popular in parts of Europe, Hawaii and Japan and is mandatory in such places as Bermuda, parts of Australia and New Zealand. There are over 250,000 known users in the U.S. and a thriving rain collection industry in Texas, Arizona, California and Oregon.
Cultec said the CRRH program offers multiple benefits to builders and homeowners. Specifically it:
• Creates a water reserve at no additional cost and without environmental impact;
• Offers potential cost savings to homeowners by reducing their demand on municipal or well water for household uses; for example, a typical lawn can require about 3,000 gal or 11,355 liters of water a month, depending on the climate;
• Stores a large volume of water in a small area;
• Provides cost-effective storm water management, eliminating poor drainage around the house; and
• Allows builders to earn LEED credits for CRRH installations when projects are designed per LEED requirements.
A CRRH system installation consists of collecting rainwater via a gutter or other drainage structure, conveying the water through a small water quality unit such as a Cultec StormFilter T-80 to remove leaves and debris, and then piping it to one or more Cultec storm water chambers based on the storage volume. An impermeable liner is used within the chamber bed to prevent infiltration into the ground, thus creating a subsurface storage area. A submersible pump conveys the collected rainwater from the chambers to the spot where it will be used. An overflow area must also be employed for systems not installed below the frost line to prevent freezing and heaving.
