Rainwater harvesting captures water that would become stormwater and places it into large tanks under the ground where it is later pumped out for irrigation, toilet flushing, cooling-tower make-up and other non-potable water needs. The NC DWQ recognizes the value of rain harvesting for water quality and gives permit applicants valuable credits.

An article in today’s News and Observer states the estimated clean up cost of pollution in Falls Lake is $1.5 billion dollars. The article implies this pollution occurs because “sediment-laden stormwater runs off pavement in the urban core into streams, creeks and rivers that feed the lake.”

Encourage your business owners and community leaders to pursue rain water harvesting for the benefit of water quality in our watershed!

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Source: News and Observer, June 10, 2010

The Cape Fear Public Utility Authority that regulates water for Wilmington, N.C. and Brunswick County raised water rates 14% effective 5/1/2010. This is their second rate increase this year. Water rates are rising across the country as states are becoming more and more aware of the supply / demand imbalance and begin to move toward pricing water at its true (i.e. unsubsidized) cost. Given the budgeting problems caused by the economy, more municipalities are raising rates to pay for capital improvement projects. They can no longer afford to subsidize water rates. Rising water rates correlate positively with both property owners’ interest in conservation solutions and the associated payback periods or return-on-investment.

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Source: Cape Fear Public Utility Authority Website.

San Diego, California:
The average San Diegan’s monthly water bill was $43.13 in January 2007. By next July, it’ll be $68.45 — a 58 percent increase for the same amount of use. Earlier droughts in the 1970s and 1990s brought similar rate spikes. But after three years of increases, this spike hasn’t peaked yet and the end isn’t in sight. The San Diego County Water Authority, the major water supplier for San Diego and other local cities, forecasts its rates rising every year and doubling by 2018, an increase that will hit the pocketbooks of almost every home and business in the region.
Rates have been increasing faster than the authority expected. Even last year, it wasn’t projecting rates to be as high as they are now until 2012.

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Source: By ROB DAVIS, VoiceOfSanDiego.org, Sunday, Nov. 15, 2009

Santa Fe, New Mexico: The city raised water rates 8.2 percent last spring and will continue to raise rates 8.2 percent annually for the next four years.

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Source: By Staci Matlock, The Santa Fe New Mexican, January 1, 2010

On October 5, 2009, The White House released an Executive Order from President Obama which establishes the Federal Government as a leader in adopting sustainable and environmentally friendly practices. The order addresses issues such as energy usage and green house gas emissions to strategies to improve water efficiency and management.
Some of the highlights of the water policy: (Section 2(d))
- reducing potable water consumption by 26 percent by the end of fiscal year 2020
- reducing agency industrial, landscaping, and agricultural water consumption by 20 percent by the end of fiscal year 2020
- identify, promote and implement water reuse strategies that reduce potable water consumption
- Stormwater guidance for Federal Facilities

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Source: October 5, 2009 THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary

Rain harvesting saves Tucson water

TUCSON — Tucson’s push to use rainwater to meet landscaping needs could serve as a model for dry regions throughout the nation, Arizona environmentalists said.

Beginning next year, new businesses in Tucson must use rainwater for at least half of their landscaping needs.

If all of Tucson’s rainwater could be collected, it would amount to about 75 percent of the water delivered to homes and businesses each year, said Jim Riley, a University of Arizona hydrologist who teaches about rainwater harvesting.

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Source: Dec. 28, 2009 at 12:04 PM by United Press International

Have you ever wondered what is the difference between rainwater and stormwater? What about the differences between potable water, grey water and black water.

Rainwater is drops of fresh water that fall as precipitation from clouds. Stormwater is that portion of rainfall that does not infiltrate into the soil and runs off roofs, roads and other impermeable surfaces where it flows into gutters, drains, rivers and creeks.

Potable water is water that is of sufficiently high quality so that it can be consumed or used without risk of immediate or long term harm. Potable water often has to meet government regulations in relation to contaminant levels and is physically and chemically treated to achieve these standards. Grey water is non-industrial wastewater generated from domestic processes such as dish washing, laundry and bathing. Blackwater is wastewater which is loaded with biological material such as faeces and urine. Blackwater can also be referred to as sewage or brown water.

Source: Atlantis Corporation Australia

“Water to cost more in Raleigh”
By SARAH OVASKA

Water bills are going up. Again.

The Raleigh City Council on Tuesday tentatively approved a 13 percent rate increase for Raleigh and Garner water customers. The increase, effective Dec. 1, takes the place of a tiered system of billing that would also have raised rates but rewarded residential consumers who use less than the average amount of water.

The city delayed implementing the tiered system until next summer because of problems converting the old computer system to the new scheme, said Gail Roper, the city’s chief information officer. It was supposed to be running Dec. 1.

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Using a FreeRain System in your home or business will reduce water bills by using rainwater for toilet flushing, irrigation and other non-potable usages. As populations increase along with the demand for water municipalities will have no choice but to charge more and more for this valuable resource.

Source: The News and Observer
Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2009

Written by Becky Striepe

Rainharvest Systems and Five Seasons Brewing teamed up to create a microbrew made from 100% on-site captured rainwater!

TO READ THE FULL STORY CLICK HERE

Source: September 21st, 2009, EcoLocalizer.com in Atlanta, Georgia

RALEIGH, N.C. — Worry over drought conditions are once again on the radar. While Falls Lake is at 250.9 feet, which is 7 inches below full, Raleigh’s main water source remains a concern.

The use of rainwater in homes could conserve millions of gallons of water and cut water bills.

Some companies, like Cary-based FreeRain, are taking advantage of the reuse rain water push. The company installs storage systems, with drains and filters, which can harvest rainwater for indoor non-potable uses.

Read more…

Source: WRAL.com July 10, 2009