California's 3-Year Drought Prompts Rain Harvesting Industry To Grow
SACRAMENTO,
CA – On the surface, the news that Sierra snowpack
measurements show water content at 81 percent of normal appears to be good news.
But the Department of Water Resources (DWA) reports that the economic impacts of
the California drought -- now in its third year -- will be
devastating.
“Central Valley farm revenue loss is estimated to range between $325
million and $477 million,” according to Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger’s
California Drought Report. “Total income losses to those directly involved in
crop production and to those in business related to crop production is estimated
to range between $440 and $644 million.”
The result of the
sustained drought, according to the report, will be an estimated loss of 16,200
to 23,700 full-time equivalent jobs.
“The overall water
supply situation has not improved enough to make up for the two previous dry
years and low reservoir conditions,” says DWR Director Lester Snow. “Water
storage is about five million acre feet below average.”
Earlier this year, the
governor gave a proclamation that called for Californians to reduce their water
usage as a method for immediate water conservation. The growing population in
California isn’t helping either. Since 1990, nine million new
residents have inhabited the state, dramatically increasing the demand for
water.
To fulfill this need,
numerous methods for water conservation are springing up. But the one that is
gaining significant attention from business and home owners is one that has been
around since the beginning of mankind: rainwater collection.
Tim Pope, president of
the American Rainwater Catchment Systems Association (ARCSA), sees a growing
demand for information about harvesting rainwater.
“Rain harvesting is
growing tremendously in the United States, especially in California,” said Pope. “California seems to wait for a catastrophe (drought) before it goes
after a cause like collecting rainwater.”
Pope recently led a
two-day rainwater harvesting workshop in San Francisco, where demand for education is particularly high. The
workshop prepares individuals and business owners for the ARCSA accredited
professional test for rain harvesting.
Robert Lenney and John
Lewis, owners of Rain Harvesting Systems (RHS), were amazed at the overwhelming
response to the workshop.
“The class maxed out
weeks ahead of time, “said Lenney. “ I just couldn’t believe that there were so
many people interested in rain collection.”
The administrative
office of ARCSA also notes an increase in interest in California for rainwater collection. “Our membership base in
California grew to become our second largest state, behind
Texas, in 2008,” reports ARCSA’s Sharon Mineo.
Lenney and Lewis install
rain harvesting systems throughout Northern California for homeowners interested in collecting the raindrops that
land on their roofs. They specialize in above ground rain collection systems and
use the roof of a building structure as the primary catchment
source.
“I think collecting rain
is a unique method for conserving water,” says Lewis. “Our customers don’t just
collect rain for the financial benefit, they also do it because it makes them
feel better about reducing the demand on local water
agencies.”
George Vega, a customer
of Rain Harvesting Systems says he really enjoys using rainwater for outdoor
use.
“When I use the
harvested rainwater for my plants and garden, I feel good that I am not using
city and county water, especially during this drought year. Also, as a Battalion
Chief Firefighter for 32 years, I know the importance of storing water to
prepare for disasters and emergency times.”
Janet Thew, the Loomis
California Planning Commissioner, who had RHS install a rain collection system
in 2008, is also impressed.
“You’d be surprised at
just how much rainwater is running off your roof every year, and how easy it is
to harvest some of that water for your needs. Saving rainwater is a priority of
ours, and we believe it will become a bigger and bigger priority for everyone as
the population increases and droughts continue.”
Lenney says that
collecting rain is becoming more popular as the California drought continues.
”Since rainwater is
free, why not capture it and use it for whatever needs you have?” said Lenney,
who also expects that water agencies in the state may soon start offering
rebates for installing rain harvesting systems.
Currently Lenney and
Lewis are installing a 20,000 gallon rain harvesting system in the quaint town
of Monte Sereno in the San Francisco Bay
Area.
“The city’s building
department said we were the first to approach them with permit questions about
rain collection systems,” said Lenney. “The customer wants this system to reduce
the burden on our planet and in the event of an earthquake he’ll have emergency
water. 20,000 gallons saves energy because the water agency doesn’t have to pump
it to his house, and it also reduces the carbon footprint because the electrical
company doesn’t have to burn as much coal to produce the electricity to pump
that water.”
RHS is installing four
5,000-gallon rainwater tanks to achieve the 20,000 gallon capacity. The
Northern California company that makes the tanks also reports a growing
interest in rainwater collection.
“Over the past six
months, we have seen a considerable increase in the inquiries for rainwater
collection systems, water tanks and system components,” said Guy Giordanengo,
vice president of the Water Tank Company in Windsor,
California. “Especially in counties such as Marin that levy heavy
fines against municipal water customers who violate their allocation of water
during periods of mandatory water rationing.”
Bill Monroe, a Boulder
Creek resident, who recently had a 5,000-gallon rain collection system
installed, said the drought was his primary motivation.
“I plan to be as
prepared for the worst of the drought as possible by using a drip system and
managing my water wisely. My rainwater storage will hopefully get me through any
future rough spots.”
One of the main
components in all of Rain Harvesting Systems is the use of a first stage filter
called Gutterglove Gutterguard, which allows only clean, filtered rainwater to
be captured. The fine stainless steel mesh of Gutterglove keeps out all of the
leaves, pine needles, seed pods and even sand out of the gutter and rain
tank.
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Lenney and Lewis are
also the inventors of the US Patented Gutterglove gutter protection system and
are even considering offering their company for acquisition to spend more time
in the rain harvesting industry and other ventures.
For more information on
the California drought you can visit the DWR at www.water.ca.gov/drought/. For more information on Rain Harvesting
Systems you can visit their website at www.RainHarvestingSystems.com or www.Gutterglove.com. You can also visit the
American Rainwater Catchment Systems Association at www.arcsa.org.
April 8, 2009
California's 3-Year Drought Prompts Rain Harvesting Industry To Grow
SACRAMENTO,
CA – On the surface, the news that Sierra snowpack
measurements show water content at 81 percent of normal appears to be good news.
But the Department of Water Resources (DWA) reports that the economic impacts of
the California drought -- now in its third year -- will be
devastating.
“Central Valley farm revenue loss is estimated to range between $325
million and $477 million,” according to Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger’s
California Drought Report. “Total income losses to those directly involved in
crop production and to those in business related to crop production is estimated
to range between $440 and $644 million.”
The result of the
sustained drought, according to the report, will be an estimated loss of 16,200
to 23,700 full-time equivalent jobs.
“The overall water
supply situation has not improved enough to make up for the two previous dry
years and low reservoir conditions,” says DWR Director Lester Snow. “Water
storage is about five million acre feet below average.”
Earlier this year, the
governor gave a proclamation that called for Californians to reduce their water
usage as a method for immediate water conservation. The growing population in
California isn’t helping either. Since 1990, nine million new
residents have inhabited the state, dramatically increasing the demand for
water.
To fulfill this need,
numerous methods for water conservation are springing up. But the one that is
gaining significant attention from business and home owners is one that has been
around since the beginning of mankind: rainwater collection.
Tim Pope, president of
the American Rainwater Catchment Systems Association (ARCSA), sees a growing
demand for information about harvesting rainwater.
“Rain harvesting is
growing tremendously in the United States, especially in California,” said Pope. “California seems to wait for a catastrophe (drought) before it goes
after a cause like collecting rainwater.”
Pope recently led a
two-day rainwater harvesting workshop in San Francisco, where demand for education is particularly high. The
workshop prepares individuals and business owners for the ARCSA accredited
professional test for rain harvesting.
Robert Lenney and John
Lewis, owners of Rain Harvesting Systems (RHS), were amazed at the overwhelming
response to the workshop.
“The class maxed out
weeks ahead of time, “said Lenney. “ I just couldn’t believe that there were so
many people interested in rain collection.”
The administrative
office of ARCSA also notes an increase in interest in California for rainwater collection. “Our membership base in
California grew to become our second largest state, behind
Texas, in 2008,” reports ARCSA’s Sharon Mineo.
Lenney and Lewis install
rain harvesting systems throughout Northern California for homeowners interested in collecting the raindrops that
land on their roofs. They specialize in above ground rain collection systems and
use the roof of a building structure as the primary catchment
source.
“I think collecting rain
is a unique method for conserving water,” says Lewis. “Our customers don’t just
collect rain for the financial benefit, they also do it because it makes them
feel better about reducing the demand on local water
agencies.”
George Vega, a customer
of Rain Harvesting Systems says he really enjoys using rainwater for outdoor
use.
“When I use the
harvested rainwater for my plants and garden, I feel good that I am not using
city and county water, especially during this drought year. Also, as a Battalion
Chief Firefighter for 32 years, I know the importance of storing water to
prepare for disasters and emergency times.”
Janet Thew, the Loomis
California Planning Commissioner, who had RHS install a rain collection system
in 2008, is also impressed.
“You’d be surprised at
just how much rainwater is running off your roof every year, and how easy it is
to harvest some of that water for your needs. Saving rainwater is a priority of
ours, and we believe it will become a bigger and bigger priority for everyone as
the population increases and droughts continue.”
Lenney says that
collecting rain is becoming more popular as the California drought continues.
”Since rainwater is
free, why not capture it and use it for whatever needs you have?” said Lenney,
who also expects that water agencies in the state may soon start offering
rebates for installing rain harvesting systems.
Currently Lenney and
Lewis are installing a 20,000 gallon rain harvesting system in the quaint town
of Monte Sereno in the San Francisco Bay
Area.
“The city’s building
department said we were the first to approach them with permit questions about
rain collection systems,” said Lenney. “The customer wants this system to reduce
the burden on our planet and in the event of an earthquake he’ll have emergency
water. 20,000 gallons saves energy because the water agency doesn’t have to pump
it to his house, and it also reduces the carbon footprint because the electrical
company doesn’t have to burn as much coal to produce the electricity to pump
that water.”
RHS is installing four
5,000-gallon rainwater tanks to achieve the 20,000 gallon capacity. The
Northern California company that makes the tanks also reports a growing
interest in rainwater collection.
“Over the past six
months, we have seen a considerable increase in the inquiries for rainwater
collection systems, water tanks and system components,” said Guy Giordanengo,
vice president of the Water Tank Company in Windsor,
California. “Especially in counties such as Marin that levy heavy
fines against municipal water customers who violate their allocation of water
during periods of mandatory water rationing.”
Bill Monroe, a Boulder
Creek resident, who recently had a 5,000-gallon rain collection system
installed, said the drought was his primary motivation.
“I plan to be as
prepared for the worst of the drought as possible by using a drip system and
managing my water wisely. My rainwater storage will hopefully get me through any
future rough spots.”
One of the main
components in all of Rain Harvesting Systems is the use of a first stage filter
called Gutterglove Gutterguard, which allows only clean, filtered rainwater to
be captured. The fine stainless steel mesh of Gutterglove keeps out all of the
leaves, pine needles, seed pods and even sand out of the gutter and rain
tank.
Lenney and Lewis are
also the inventors of the US Patented Gutterglove gutter protection system and
are even considering offering their company for acquisition to spend more time
in the rain harvesting industry and other ventures.
For more information on
the California drought you can visit the DWR at www.water.ca.gov/drought/. For more information on Rain Harvesting
Systems you can visit their website at www.RainHarvestingSystems.com or www.Gutterglove.com. You can also visit the
American Rainwater Catchment Systems Association at www.arcsa.org.