san francisco rainwater harvesting brochure

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONSPermittingIs rainwater harvesting legal in San Francisco?

Yes! San Francisco residents can legally use rainwater for non-potable purposes such as irrigation and •toiletflushing.

What is the permitting process to install a rainwater harvesting system? For aCistern: To install a cistern for irrigationor toilet flushing, youwill needaplumbingpermit anda•buildingpermitfromtheDepartmentofBuildingInspection(DBI).Ifyoursystemincludesapumporwillbeinstalledontherooforunderground,youwillneedadditionalpermits.Formoredetails,seeourRainwaterHarvesting MOU at http://stormwater.sfwater.org.ClickontheRainwaterHarvestingicon.

ForaRainBarrel:ThePublicUtilitiesCommission,theDepartmentofPublicHealth,andtheDepartmentof•Building Inspection are in the process of developing a permitting procedure for rainwater harvesting with rainbarrels.

System Design, Sizing and InstallationIsthereabrochuredescribingwhatrainwaterharvestingisandwhyitisbeneficial?

Yes!Pleaseexploreourwebsiteat• http://stormwater.sfwater.org.ClickontheRainwaterHarvestingicontoviewordownloadourbrochures,rainbarrelinstallationguide,factsheets,andvideolinks.

How do I determine the size cistern or the number of barrels I need?Thesizeofyoursystemdependsonanumberoffactors:howbigyourroofis,howmuchspaceyouhave•availableforrainwaterstorage,andwhatyouintendtousethewaterfor.Aroughruleofthumbisthatyoucancollect600gallonsofwaterforevery1,000squarefeetofroofareaforeveryinchofrain.Wegetanaverageof21inchesofrainperyearhereinSanFrancisco,sofor1,000squarefeetofroofthatcanadduptoover12,000gallonsofrainwatercollected!Youwillhavetocarefullyplanwheretherainwaterwillgowhenitoverflows.Youmaydirectittoanapproveddrainorstormwatermanagementfacilitysuchasaraingarden.

DoestheSFPUChaveacistern-sizingcalculator?OurRainwaterHarvestingCalculatorisonitsway!Pleasecheckourwebsiteoftenforupdates.Go•to http://stormwater.sfwater.organdclickonRainwaterHarvesting,orbecomeafanoftheSF Urban Watershedspageonfacebook!

Whathappenswhenmyrainbarreloverflows?Youmaydirecttheoverflowbacktothesewerviaanapproveddrain,ordesignaraingardento•accommodatetheoverflow.Eachsiteisdifferent,sodifferentdesignsolutionsarecalledforindifferentplaces.

Do I need gutter screens if I have a “do-it-yourself” 60 gallon barrel? Yes,gutterscreenspreventdebrisfromenteringyoursystemandmakeyourmaintenanceactivities•muchsimpler.Ourrainwaterharvestingbrochureandhow-toflierformakingyourownrainbarrelprovidealistofpartsforinstallingrainbarrelsystems.Remember,propersystemdesign,maintenanceandusearetheresponsibilityofthesystemowner,nottheSanFranciscoPublicUtilitiesCommission(SFPUC),theSFDepartmentofBuildingInspection(DBI),ortheSFDepartmentofPublicHealth(DPH).

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rainwater harvestingS A N F R A N C I S C O P U B L I C U T I L I T I E S C O M M I S S I O N

WhatextrastepsdoIneedtotakeifIwanttouserainwaterfortoiletflushing?TheSFPUC,DPH,andDBIhaveagreedtoallowtheuseofrainwaterfortoiletflushingandirrigation.To•readaboutrulesregardingflushingyourtoiletswithrainwater,seetheinteragencyRainwaterHarvestingMOU at http://stormwater.sfwater.org.ClickontheRainwaterHarvestingicon.

System Operation & MaintenanceHow long can I hold rainwater in my barrel or cistern? What are the sanitary precautions I must follow?

Aslongasyourrainwaterharvestingsystemisopaque(ofsuchcolorandthicknessthatsunlightcannot•penetratethebarrel),shaded,andscreened,andyouusethewateronlyfornon-potablepurposes,thereisnostrictlimitonhowlongthewatercansitinyoursystem.Besuretoinspectyoursystemoftenandcleanitasneeded.Youcancleanyoursystemannuallywithanon-toxiccleanersuchasvinegar.Ifyouintendtowateredibleswithyourrainwater,youmustinstallafirstflushdiverter,whichwillensurethatyouharvestonlythecleanestrainwater.

Will my rainwater system run out of water during the dry months?

Itdependsonthesizeofyoursystem.Ifyouhaveenough•space to accommodate a large cistern and your water needsarelow,yourcatchmentsystemcouldholdrainwaterforallyoursummerneeds.Ifyouareusingasmallrainwaterharvestingsystem,therainwaterwillrunoutquickly.Italldependsonthedesign.Evenifyoursystemrunsdryinthesummer,ifyouareabletoflushtoilets all winter long and then switch to the municipal supplyinthesummer,that’sstillagoodachievement.Anecdotally,alocalSFrainharvesterhasreportedcapturing60gallonsofwaterfromasummer’sworthoffogandcondensationfromherGalvalumeroof!

Cost & AvailabilityHow much do rain barrels and cisterns cost? How much would an entire rainwater harvesting system cost?

Pricesrangewiththescaleanddesignofyourprojectandwiththeamountofresearchandassembly•youarewillingtodoyourself.Youcanfindbarrelsranginginpriceanywherefrom$15to$100,ormore,dependingondesign,material,brand,andsupplier.Sometimespeoplegiveawaybarrelsforfreesotheydon’thavetopaydisposalfees!Foracistern,manypeopleusetheruleofthumbof$1pergallonofstorage.Thisdoesnotincludeshipping,installation,oranyadditionalplumbingandwillvarydependingondesign,material,brand,andsupplier.

WherecanIfindrainbarrelsandcisterns?Aretherelocalbusinessesthatcarrythem?Belowisalistofsuppliersandproducts.Thisisabriefsamplelisttogetyoustarted–therearenumerous•additionalproductsyoucanfindonline.This list is for information only and does not imply SFPUC endorsement:

BushmanRainwaterHarvestingProducts: ◦www.bushmanusa.com/pdfs/BushmanRainwaterHarvesting.pdf

ColeHardware,SanFrancisco: ◦ www.colehardware.com

FairfaxLumber: ◦ www.fairfaxlumber.com

NationalStorageTank,SantaRosa,CA: ◦ www.nationalstoragetank.com

RainwaterH ◦ 2OG:888.700.1096, http://rainwaterhog.com

ScottsValleySprinklers:831.438.6450, ◦ www.svsprinklerandpipe.com

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UrbanFarmerStore,SanFrancisco:415.661.2204, ◦ www.urbanfarmerstore.com

Watertanks.com,Windsor,CA: ◦ www.watertanks.com

WATERHARVESTSLIMLINE: ◦ www.bluescopewaterusa.com/go/tank-products/waterharvest-urban-rainwater-tanks

Youcanalsomakeyourown!Youcanusuallyfindbarrelsatverylow•prices at www.craigslist.org.Youcanusesearchtermslike“rainbarrel,”“foodgradebarrel,”“plasticbarrel,”or“metaldrum”tofindtheposts.Youwillhavetopurchaseandassemblethepartsyourself,butifyouarethehandytype,itshouldn’tbeaproblem.CheckoutourRainwaterHarvestingBrochures,InstallationInstructions,andinstallationvideoonourwebsiteathttp://stormwater.sfwater.org.

ManyofthepartsneededtomakeyourownrainbarrelsystemareavailableattheUrbanFarmerStore•(www.urbanfarmerstore.com)

Youcanfindamoreextensivelistofproductsandsuppliersat• www.harvestingrainwater.com/rainwater-harvesting-inforesources/suppliers/

Doesthecityofferrebates,incentives,orsubsidiesforrainwaterharvestingsystems?TheUrbanWatershedManagementProgramrecentlycompletedasuccessfulsubsidyprograminwhich•theSFPUCsubsidizedfullyequippedrainbarrelsforSanFranciscoresidents.Eachbarrelwasretailedfor$120andtheSFPUCoffereda$50-discountperbarrel.Staffisinvestigatingthepossibilityofdoingtheprogramagainthisfall.

YoucanapplyforaCommunityChallengeGrantifyourrainwaterharvestingprojectbenefitsthepublic•realm(privatehomeinstallationswillnotqualify).ViewtheCCGprogramapplicationguidelinesatwww.sfgov.org/site/uploadedfiles/ccg/CCGApplicationGuidelines.pdf.

How much can I save by harvesting rainwater?ArecentanalysisbytheSFExaminerfoundthatanaveragehouseinthecitycansavealmost$200on•theirwaterbilleveryyeariftheycollectalltherainwaterfallingontheirroof.Checkoutthearticleat:www.sfexaminer.com/local/When_rainy_weather_arrives_its_harvest_season.html

Resources & Continued EducationWherecanItakeacourseorlearnmoreaboutrainwatercaptureanduse?

AmericanRainwaterCatchmentSystemsAssociation:• www.arcsa.org

For plumbers: • www.greenplumbersusa.com/training-accreditation/course-information#caringforourwater

TheOccidentalArtsandEcologyCenter:• www.oaecwater.org

RainwaterHarvestingforDrylandsandBeyond• ,Volumes1and2.BradLancaster,2008edition.www.harvestingrainwater.com

DesignforWater:RainwaterHarvesting,StormwaterCatchment,andAlternateWaterReuse• .HeatherKinkade-Levario,2007.

Dig Cooperative: • http://dig.coop

TheGreywaterGuerrillas:• www.greywaterguerrillas.com

RehbeinEnvironmentalSolutions,Inc:• www.rehbeinsolutions.com

NSF-certifiedrainwaterharvestingproducts:• www.nsf.org/consumer/rainwater_collection/index.asp?program=RainwaterCol

Visit the • SF Urban Watershedsfacebookpageandbecomeafan!

Visit the SF Sewers Blog at • sfsewers.blogspot.com andviewourRainBarrelInstallationVideo

Join the • RainHarvesterfacebookgroup!

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How are other places encouraging rainwater harvesting?PaloAlto,CA:• www.cityofpaloalto.org/depts/pwd/flood_+_storm/stormwater_rebates/cisterns.asp

Portland,OR:• www.portlandonline.com/osd/index.cfm?c=ecbbd&a=bbehfa and www.portlandonline.com/bes/index.cfm?c=41186

SantaRosa,CA:• http://ci.santa-rosa.ca.us/doclib/Documents/RainwaterRebateInfoFAQs.pdf

Seattle,Washington:• www.seattle.gov/UTIL/Services/Yard/Natural_Lawn_&_Garden_Care/Rain_Water_Harvesting/index.asp

Texaspassedstate-widelegislationencouragingrainwaterharvestingthroughpropertytaxexemptions•and is on its third edition rainwater harvesting manual: www.twdb.state.tx.us/publications/reports/RainwaterHarvestingManual_3rdedition.pdf

Tucson,Arizona:• www.ci.tucson.az.us/water/harvesting.html

Australia:• www.yourhome.gov.au/technical/fs73.html

Victoria: ◦ www.ourwater.vic.gov.au/saving/home/rainwater

Queensland: ◦ www.nrw.qld.gov.au/water/waterwise/pdf/rainwater_tanks.pdf

New South Wales: ◦ www.environment.nsw.gov.au/rebates/ccfrtw.html

SouthAustralia: ◦ www.sawater.com.au/sawater

InGermanyabout50,000newrainwaterharvestingsystemsareinstalledeachyear!TheGerman•AssociationforWaterRecyclingandRainwaterUtilization:www.fbr.de/english0.html

LearnaboutIndia’srainwaterharvestingprograms:• www.rainwaterharvesting.org

TheUKRainwaterHarvestingAssociation:• www.ukrha.org

AndForInspiration:www.youtube.com/watch?v=4xtMnE9Bo6s

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AdaisychainedsystemattheSFPUC’sSoutheastPlant.