Rainwater Collection & Management
Increasing water demands, rising costs and municipal restrictions have driven interest in smart and environmentally sustainable water management systems by homeowners, builders and municipal officials.
Water is a resource that cannot be taken for granted. Evergreen expects that, as with energy resources, the demand for and cost of reliable water resources will continue to rise.
Services Offered
As a BRAE Preferred Contractor, Evergreen offers top quality rainwater collection and management systems for both residential and commercial applications, including:
- Outdoor lawn and garden watering/irrigation,
- Vehicle and power washing,
- Fire suppression and control systems,
- Air conditioner make-up and
- General non-potable outdoor usage.
Benefits
- Lower water utility bills - Rainwater collection and use can reduce monthly water bills up to 30% or more
- Maintain private irrigation - System can be configured to supply water for valuable landscaping and gardening
- Reduce stormwater run-off - Stormwater capture helps reduce problems such as inundation, erosion and run-off
- Reduce exposure to drought - Private water source helps protect against periods of low precipitation
- Reduce pressure on municipal water systems - Use of stored water helps reduce demand on municipal water systems
- Reduce pressure on watershed and wildlife - Use of stored water helps reduce impact of municipal water systems on area watershed and wildlife
The Facts
The average daily water use per person in the United States is approximately 70 gallons, or 25,000 gallons per year. The average U.S. household consumes almost 70,000 gallons of water per year. Roughly 45-65% of household water consumed is irrigation (25-35%), toilet usage (15-20%) and laundry (5-10%). Water needs such as these can be met through a professionally installed water collection and management system by Evergreen.
Source: BRAE
The System
Evergreen custom designs each water collection system according to a client's individual requirements. Rainwater is collected from the roof surface, filtered to remove debris like leaves and twigs and stored in a large cistern or tank. Storage tanks are installed above or below ground, depending on client specification and site characteristics. Excess water is returned to groundwater through an overflow system. When activated, a pump distributes stored water on demand. Water systems installed by Evergreen can include central management hardware to monitor water use, storage levels and back-up supply.
Design Illustration
The following architectural detail illustrates a rainwater harvesting system that can be installed by Evergreen as an authorized BRAE contractor:
Source: BRAE Complete Systems
Collection Potential
The following table illustrates the potential rainwater collection of various homes based on the collection area of the house (i.e., roof area based on square footage of the first floor) and the average annual rainfall for the location of the house. This information is derived from analysis provided by BRAE.
Source: BRAE
Based on average household water consumption in the U.S. and BRAE's collection potential information, a professionally installed rainwater system from Evergreen could result in savings of up to 30% or more on a homeowner's average monthly water bill.