Rainwater

Q) How can I use harvested rainwater?
Collected rainwater can be used for landscaping and irrigation, or other non-potable uses such as swimming pools, clothes washing, toilet flushing and car washing. If your area restricts water usage during droughts, you can still use your collected water.

Q) How large of a system should I get?
We can help you evaluate how much water you can collect and the best system for your property. Cost and size of systems vary greatly depending on your needs.

Q) Where does the tank go?
Tanks come in a number of different shapes, sizes, and materials. They can sit flush to a house, go in a crawl space or under a deck, or be placed under ground. They can also be placed away from the house and screened by landscaping so that they are out of view.

Q) Can I tie my rainwater harvesting system directly into my irrigation system?
Yes. We can size the tank and pump accordingly to meet the needs of your irrigation system. The systems are designed so that your first source of water will be rainwater and municipal water will be your backup supply. The two systems will seamlessly interface and you will always have a source of water.

Q) How do you keep things like animals or leaves from getting in the systems?
All of our systems have valves, screens, and lids to keep your water collection safe. Depending on the collection system, most debris can be prevented from ever entering the tank. Mosquitoes and bugs are screened out from all entryways.

Q) What kind of maintenance will I have to do?
You’ll want to screens cleared of leaves and other debris. Just a small amount of maintenance will keep your system operating effeciently.

Q) What is stormwater and why is it a problem?
Stormwater runoff is rainwater that flows over landscapes and into our rivers and streams. Stormwater flows faster over impervious man-made surfaces such as rooftops, roads, and parking lots. Along the way, the water can pick up pollutants such as fertilizers, trash, and many other toxic chemicals and then deposit those pollutants in the water supply. Stormwater runoff is a leading cause of poor water quality in the Southeast.

Greywater

Q) What is greywater and where does it come from?
Greywater is the gently used water produced by your washing machine, bathroom sinks, tubs, and showers. It is distinct from “blackwater” which is sewage water from your toilet.

Q) How can greywater be re-used?
In the residential setting, greywater can be reused in sub-surface applications for irrigation and to flush toilets. For public health reasons, greywater should not be sprayed into the air.

Q) How much water and money can I save?
Toilet flushing accounts for approximately 30% of in home water use. Supplying all of your water to your toilets with greywater will save money on your water and sewer bill year round.

Q) How big is the tank and where is it installed?
It is roughly the size of a hot water heater and can be placed in a closet, in a basement, or even in a crawl space.

Q) How difficult is it to retrofit existing homes with a greywater system?
Homes with exposed pipes in a basement or crawl space can be relatively easy. Unfortunately existing homes on a concrete slab are very difficult to retrofit.