bank-on-rain

September 23, 2011

Bank-On-Rain in Africa update 2

The Bank-On-Rain team arrived back safely in the US on 19th September. This is the completed rain water collection and storage system which was installed at the Barina Agricultural School in Malaki, Sierra Leon, a couple of seeks ago. I was told that the teachers and helpers from the village did most of the work under the very capable direction of Ken. Emily Berg with child "JC", Gail & Mike Williamson and Ken Blair (Bank-On-Rain) posing with Mohamed Sesa, Sheku Sesay, Mohamed A. Sanko; the Safer Future Youth Development Project staff with whom Bank-ON-Rain has formed a close alliance. More on this alliance very soon.

The system consisted of 4 tanks (5000 Litres), 2 gutters 80' long and various pipes and fittings.

This is all very well as a community system: but what about replicating the "technology" such as it is, in a remote village? This is exactly what our team did (see below) with the blue containers, which can be found everywhere… these were purchased in Freetown, SL. The function and purpose is obvious and I especially like Emily's descriptive instructional sign painted on the wall outside the Girl's latrine. Emily will be writing a post about our teaching aids and yes, the teaching aids we created before she left for Africa …...really worked.

Stay tuned for our upcoming Bank-On-Rain posts, with lots of details about what we learned…… and when I spoke with Emily, Mike and Ken earlier this week….."we learned so much"…... was in every other sentence!

Comments or suggestions below please ~email us at info@bank-on-rain.com ~please like us on Facebook follow us on twitter @BANKONRAIN

Caroline Di Diego (CASUDI) ~ Co-founder & Director Bank-ON-Rain

Designing a Green Planet One Raindrop at a Time!

Filed under // Africa Rain harvesting Safer Future rainwater catchment rainwater storage

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August 15, 2011

Can trash save lives?

Foreign aid alliances have left a lot of “stuff” in Haiti and around the world, but can some of it actually be re-purposed and save lives? What about those big yellow waxed canvas water bladders that are nothing more than trash once the Oxfam relief water trucks no longer deliver water?

What If one bladder was used for catching the rain, as a rain basin or substitute roof and what if a second bladder were to be used to store the water collected? Would we have created a “grassroots” rain collection system, which would provide clean water and sustain a number of individuals currently without any access to water? If the recipients of the water had the incentive, would they trade their clean water for agricultural or other goods and expand their reach?

My next focus was to check with Patrick Cummings for “on the ground” intelligence, as Patrick is a Director of WWP and just returned from an extensive fact finding mission in Haiti. I also consulted with Ken Blair, our nuts and bolts guy and Director at Bank-On-Rain.

Patrick said it looked like a feasible idea but all the people in Haiti would need is the motivation—a leader on the ground, to put this plan into action as well as someone who is willing to maintain it. This is the tricky part, he said…. the people in Haiti have seen people come and go trying to offer ‘help’ and most often failing to do so. Has copious foreign aid destroyed any internal impetus to construct such a system? Would it take someone dedicated like Patrick; with an understanding of the people and culture in Haiti in various locations who were already trying to make a go of it, coupled with his engineering background to actually make the rain collection systems into a reality?

To get started use the sand bags (if you find them with a bladder) as the perimeter/wall or dig a depression in the ground to hold one of the two water bladders in place when full. This will become the storage for the water collected by a tarp or roof made from the second bladder. The bladder that collects rain (suspended above the storage bladder) should be supported with steaks as one would support a tent. It appears that just about all the connections that will be required to make a working system can be found on two water bladders; except for a screen to act as a filter for the incoming water to the storage bladder and possibly some rubber glue and material to plug any holes.

Note that if the logistics of moving a second bladder is too inefficient, an ordinary tarp could be used in a similar way to catch the water.

Bank-On-Rain will be testing this and writing up a simple instruction sheet for use in the field.

In my opinion this shift in thinking of repurposing materials ‘dumped’ all over Haiti—turning ”trash” to “treasure” could save lives and bring about an empowering social movement. How can we encourage and nurture the thought process that moves toward sustainable solutions like this? Would Oxfam help us find all the bladders in Haiti, and the rest of the world that they alone have used in relief situations like this? Do Oxfam have records with the GPS coordinates of all these “bladder” treasures so one by one we can track them down and work with the local people to solve a little bit of the global water crisis, one water bladder at a time!

If you have any questions for Patrick feel free to email him at Patrick@worldwaterpartners.org or any questions for Ken at ken@rainbank.info.

Have you ever seen people make “trash” useful? Please leave a comment below or email us at info@bank-on-rain.com. We would love to hear your stories or ideas! And don’t forget to check out my post Is there a recipe for SUCCESS in Haiti?

Special thanks to Caroline Di Diego (@CASUDI), Ken Blair, and Patrick Cummings for their help in this post!

Emily Berg for Bank-On-Rain
Follow us on twitter @EmilyBerg @BANKONRAIN

Filed under // drinking water green rainwater catchment rainwater harvesting rainwater storage sustainability

Posted by BANK-ON-RAIN

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April 3, 2011

Rainwater Harvesting in Tokyo, Japan.

To date, about 750 private and public buildings in Tokyo have introduced rainwater collection and utilization systems. Rainwater utilization is now flourishing at both the public and private levels. Read more here

Do you think this basic design has application in the undeveloped regions Bank-On-Rain is targeting with their grassroots rainwater collection solutions?

Caroline Di Diego (CASUDI) for Bank-On-Rain

Follow us on twitter @bankonrain or send your comments and or suggestions to info@Bank-On-Rain.com

Designing a green planet one raindrop at a time.

Filed under // Rain harvesting rainwater storage

Posted by BANK-ON-RAIN

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March 16, 2011

Do you have VISION?

What is a vision statement? And how about a mission statement? And do you need both? These are questions which were asked recently on an online business chat called #kazienblog.

The Bank-On-Rain vision is......

Designing a green planet......

one raindrop at a time.

The Bank-On-Rain Vision statement should inspire a very vivid mental image picture of a green planet....... greening in small increments, ...... one raindrop at a time...... actually very kaizenesque.

Kaizen is taken from the Japanese words kai and zen where kai means change and zen means good. The popular meaning is a continuous improvement ...micro productivity can lead to macro results when applied persistently and patiently.

This is the VISION. What about action? ..... well that's the MISSION statement!

Creating workable grassroots solutions

for consumption

and agriculture

in remote developing areas of the planet.

What does grassroots actually mean? In this example (blue containers pictured above) it means repurposed recycled food containers, obtainable just about anywhere, easy to stack and easy to ship..... and check the installation...... simple to implement. Maybe this is somewhat basic but it gives the idea of grassroots, nothing fancy or costly to store rain. THE SOLUTION

For both consumption and agriculture. This addresses a worldwide problem of clean drinking water and lack of food (irrigation of land produces food; with seeds and care of course. But without water you dont have much or any hope!) THE PAIN

In remote developing areas of the planet......... our user traditionally carries their household water for many miles from a muddy, contaiminated water source (bottom image) THE TARGET DEMOGRAPHIC

In essence the Mission statement vividly illustrates an action to solve a specific problem or pain for a defined user.

Do you think this works for Bank-On-Rain? Do you have any suggestions how to improve our vision and/or our mission statement?

Please comment below or email us at info@bank-on-rain.com

Caroline Di Diego (CASUDI) Director & Founder.

Designing a green planet one raindrop at a time.

Filed under // VISION green planet rainwater storage

Posted by BANK-ON-RAIN

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March 8, 2011

Is My Water Safe to Drink?

Filtration and Treatment (often called Sanitization ) seems to be a most elusive and complicated topic in Rainwater Harvesting (collection & storage) for the home owner, as well as for the designer or operator. There are no general definitive answers as to what device or treatment is appropriate for all systems. The main question is “When is my water safe to drink?”Presently, thousands of people die or become gravely ill due to lack of clean water throughout the world. Rainwater may carry pathogens that could pose a health risk, however generally it is a safer potable source than surface water.

While water is relatively easy to sanitize, one must consider for what the water is being treated and to what level disinfection is needed. The safe drinking water Act of 1974 was enacted to protect public health by regulating the nation’s public drinking water. The EPA is authorized by this act to set standards for drinking water (http://water.epa.gov/lawsregs/rulesregs/sdwa/currentregulations.cfm ). State agencies and others such as Underwriter Laboratories, Water Quality Association and American Water Works Association offer their interpretations of these guidelines.

Government agencies like the EPA or State health departments do not regulate non‐public potable water systems. Therefore, to protect the consumer, it is up to the designer/installer, owner or operator to insure that the system is properly installed and maintained. The EPA does not require water supplies for non public use to be tested at this time; however the EPA does recommend that annual testing of private wells be conducted to insure the quality of the water meets minimum federal and state standards. It would also be advisable for harvested rain water to be tested once per year and strive to meet these minimum standards.

Devices and techniques such as screening, sedimentation, filtration, absorption, ultraviolet light exposure, reverse osmosis, Ion exchange and chlorination are all methods used for treatment of rainwater. There are organizations such as the NSF (National Safety Foundation) that certify devices and components for water treatment and only these certified devices are recommended. Different types of filtration will remove specific types of microorganisms and not all microorganisms are removed by cartridge filters.

Filtration methods:

 Reverse Osmosis: will remove Protozoa, cysts, bacteria and viruses

 Absorption (activated carbon): removes organic and synthetic contaminants and is effective in

removing chlorine

 UV treatment: effective in clear water and therefore should be used downstream of filtration

devices.

It is recommended by most agencies that both filtration and absorption be sized properly and utilized in water treatment. ANSI/NSF Standard 55 provides outcome based testing requirements for UV devices. NSF/ANSI 2007 Class A certified devices are designed to control pathogens and are frequently used in treatment of in‐home drinking water system. While UV is an effective method of disinfection, only a class A device emits enough dosage of UV to be certified for drinking water.

Rainwater harvesting is a viable alternative to traditional water supplies and may be necessary to meet our worldwide growing demands for fresh, clean drinking water. Rainwater collection and treatment can minimize the ill effects of water born diseases in developing countries and provide a safe potable source for those who do not have access to clean water. Implementing rainwater harvesting directly benefits our communities by reducing demand on our public water supply systems and aquifers.

While rainwater is considered to be relatively clean, it does require that treatment be considered. Prior to purchasing or installing a water treatment system, home owners should consider testing of the source water by a certified lab, then testing again after system installation. Use only ANSI/NSF certified components and follow recommendations of certifying agencies. Use only licensed, accredited designers/ installers or seek information from knowledgeable agencies. A rainwater harvesting system that is properly installed, operated, and maintained will provide safe, high quality water free of mineral hardness and discoloration sometimes present in well water. Regular inspection, testing, and maintenance will insure that the system will continue to produce water of a quality that matches or exceeds alternative sources.

©RainBank 2011 ~ The original on which this post is based can be downloaded here.

About the author:

Ken Blair is the principal and founder of RainBank Rainwater Catchment Systems. A designer for rainwater collection and storage and all Class B water systems, Ken has designed and installed residential and commercial systems in the northwest United States for more than 6 years. Additionally, he is an ARCSA Certified designer, installer and Life Member.

Ken is passionate about having a positive impact on the environment and is also a founding director of BANK‐ON‐RAIN whose mission is to create grassroots solutions for rainwater collection for consumption and agriculture in developing areas of the planet. Bank‐on‐Rain is a member of Peer Water Exchange, a participatory decision‐making system to select, fund, manage, monitor, and share grassroots water and sanitation projects worldwide efficiently, effectively, and transparently.

Be sure and follow @BANKONRAIN on twitter and Like us on Facebook

Bank-On-Rain is designing a green planet one raindrop at a time. Please comment below or email us with any comments or suggestions at info@bank-on-rain.com

Filed under // rainwater storage

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February 22, 2011

American Rainwater Catchment Systems Association

JOINT RAINWATER HARVESTING STATEMENT

22 March 2011

The UN Human Rights Council affirms the human right to safe drinking water[1]. The world's governments must now contribute to the provision of a regular supply of safe, accessible and affordable drinking water in sufficient quantity for 884 million more people.

On the occasion of World Water Day, the undersigned organizations wish to strongly state that the time has come to stop neglecting rainwater: it must be considered as an important tool in efforts to minimize the water related problems that this century is already posing us.

· Rainwater is a valuable resource that is underutilized. Its capture and use alleviate potable, non-potable, storm water and energy challenges in the face of environmental and climate change.

· Local rainwater harvesting solutions enhance water security and provide important relief to households and communities. All around the world, rainwater infiltration, collection and storage offers benefits for the environment, wildlife and humans, and improves water availability for industry and agriculture.

· It is time for rainwater catchment to be adopted and promoted in the development plans of all governmental agencies as part of their integrated water resource management strategies.

· The concept of rainwater management - maximizing rain's benefits as a vital resource while minimizing potential rain hazards - must be widely introduced into technical schools and universities so that it is a fundamental part of each new urban planning, architectural or agricultural project.

Signatories:

International Rainwater Harvesting Alliance (IRHA)

American Rainwater Catchment Systems Association (ARCSA)

International Rainwater Catchment Systems Association (IRCSA)

Reprinted from ARSCA

CASUDI ~ Caroline Di Diego for Bank-On-Rain

Designing a green planet one raindrop at a time.

Follow @BANKONRAIN on twitter

image from Citizen Effect ~ Community Water Tank ~ Khod Blog

Filed under // green planet rainwater storage

Posted by BANK-ON-RAIN

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December 27, 2010

Rainwater Harvesting System for India

This is brought to you by the Buckminster Fuller Challenge and team members Reed & James Sembower. You can read more about it all here.

The business plan details a rainwater collection network that it says will solve much of the safe drinking water and sanitation problems for India's homeowners and communities.

What we on the Bank-On-Rain team are always looking for is - low-cost rainwater storage This tank uses off-the-shelf material and easily produced PVC parts, all of which are readily available worldwide. The plan puts the costs for a 1,000 liter tank is US $10, or US $.01 per liter, while the closest competitor (a used steel drum) costs US $.06 per liter of storage capacity.

The tank consists of a length of chain link fence joined along the vertical edges to create a seamless metal framework. Wire hoops are inserted within the mesh to increase the framework's strength.

I think one might need to stiffen it structurally more, for long term or more permanent usage and especially for larger sized tanks.

A seamless round sheet of plastic provides the watertight layer. It has PVC flanges attached to allow water to flow in and out of the tank.

A round sheet of poly tarp protects the liner. The layers are attached to the framework's upper edge using wire clips and the flanges are attached to the woven wire mesh using wire ties. A cover is attached to the framework to further protect the water. The tank is then placed on a clay, brick, or cement platform. Gutters, a downspout, and a ceramic filter complete the system.

If the tank is placed outdoors, an exterior shell will be necessary to protect the tank from UV rays, animals, children, water theft, and so on. Low cost shells include wattle and daub, thatch, bamboo, and roofing shingles.

Key features of the tank are that it can be disassembled for cleaning, repairs, storage or relocation. It is distributed as a kit in sizes up to 200,000 liters. It is inexpensive, light-weight, earthquake-proof, and upgradeable. Its low cost enables water to be stored in a battery of tanks

A ready-to-assemble version is ideal for disaster relief work being far more economical to fly in than pallets of bottled water.

A marketing evaluation of the concept pegged the odds of success in the marketplace at 82%. After a year of development and testing, that number would be significantly higher now. An expert in water tanks said, “I think this is a great idea. I’m surprised no one has thought of it before.”

I do agree with the expert, this is a great idea. And I would be really interested to hear any comments or suggestions, especially from anyone who has seen these tanks in action.

KEN BLAIR

www.rainbank.info

Director Bank-On-Rain Designing a green planet one raindrop at a time.

Filed under // rainwater storage

Posted by BANK-ON-RAIN

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September 12, 2009

WE ARE STILL IN THE PROCESS OF PULLING THINGS TOGETHER.

This grain storage tank is being re-purposed for rainwater storage, and with just the addition of an appropriate liner, 2 days of installation stores 20,000 gallons of collected rainwater. These tanks have been used very successfully for rainwater storage in the San Juan Islands and elsewhere for over 20 years. bank-on-rain is looking for similar re-purposing of existing product for rainwater storage in remote areas, predominantly in developing parts of the world. One idea being considered ~ "fish totes", pictured in Designing a Green Planet ~ and bank-on-rain

Got an interesting idea?, no matter how far out? Send it to us!

Installation of the above tank is by Rainbank

Filed under // rainwater storage

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