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Seattle WA 98103
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PNA: Programs: Harvesting Rain

Harvesting Rain

The Phinney Center is harvesting rainwater to flush toilets. Seattle Public Utilities donated six tanks worth $6,000 to the PNA to demonstrate the viability of rainwater harvesting. The tanks range in size from 1000 to 2500 gallons with a combined capacity of 7850 gallons of potential storage.

Seattle Water Facts

  1. A U.S. Geological Survey report shows that in 2000, Americans used 408 billion gallons of water per day, a number that has remained fairly stable since 1985.
  2. The population of Seattle Public Utilities (SPU) service area is around 1,326,000 persons with an average annual consumption of between 126 and 137 million gallons per day (gpd). The average consumption per person in the Seattle service area is 103.3 gpd. Seattle’s water comes from two sources, the Cedar and the Tolt Rivers.
  3. Generally speaking if you live north of the Mountlake Cut /Lake Union your water comes out of the Tolt River, if you live south of the Cut your water comes from the Cedar.

We drink very little of our drinking water

Less than 1% of the treated water produced by water utilities is actually consumed. The rest goes on lawns, in washing machines, and down toilets and drains.

We expect to save over 30,000 gallons of potable water per year while demonstrating and educating visitors about the ecological and economic benefits of rainwater harvesting How does it work? The picture below shows the actual pumps and filters that transfer the rainwater from the storage tanks to the bathrooms. This same simple system is being used by residential home owners. What are you waiting for? You can start benefiting from all that rain we have been getting lately. Give us a call and we can show you how to take advantage of those rainy days.

How does it work?

The picture below shows the actual pumps and filters that transfer the rainwater from the storage tanks to the bathrooms. This same simple system is being used by residential home owners.

What are you waiting for?

You can start benefiting from all that rain we have been getting lately. Give us a call and we can show you how to take advantage of those rainy days.

Benefits For Home Owners

There are a couple of economic reasons for considering rainwater harvesting:
  • You not only save on your water bills, you also save on your sewer bills. Sewer bills are based on water consumption so if you use less water your sewer bill will also be less.
  • Ensure the reliability of your water supply during periods of high demand and during draughts
  • Enjoy higher quality of water for gardens, irrigation and car washing because of absence of dissolved minerals, salts, and ground contaminants
  • Enjoy cost savings by using less soaps and detergents. Eliminate the need for water softeners because rainwater typically has a very low hardness level

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