Rainwater Harvesting Systems
Wahaso Rainwater Harvesting Systems
Commercial Rainwater Harvesting Systems
Unlike the simple systems installed by other rainwater harvesting companies for homeowners, our rooftop rainwater harvesting systems are designed with the commercial-grade components and sophisticated controls required in commercial buildings for reliability, automated functions and connectivity to BAS systems.
The Wahaso commercial rainwater harvesting systems produce treated water that is safe and suitable for non-potable applications such as toilet flushing, irrigation and cooling tower make-up.
Water Harvesting System Design
Harvesting Rainwater
Rooftop Rainwater Harvesting
System Benefits
- The Right Size for the Job. Wahaso’s proprietary pre-design analysis helps to determine the proper size for any rainwater system. A system that is too large is not cost-effective, but under sizing a system can lead to lost potential.
- Low Maintenance. The Wahaso system has been designed for minimal maintenance with few consumables.
- Integrated System Design. Wahaso’s greywater processing skids are pre-assembled and integrated into comprehensive system designs that include all pumps, storage, filtration, sanitation and controls.
- Robust Controls. Wahaso’s proprietary control system is custom programmed to monitor and track all system activity.
Standard Systems
Filtration
First Flush or Pre-Filtration
A high-capacity vortex filter uses the pressure of water coming off a roof or parking lot to spin it in a centrifugal manner and then force it through a cleaning screen. Debris drops through the center and to the stormwater system while clean water exits out the sides. We like this method because it is 95% efficient when screening large quantities of water and requires minimal cleaning or maintenance. Vortex filters can be located above ground or below ground.
For higher capacity systems, we like to use commercial-grade cascade filters and nutrient separating baffle boxes (NSBB). These systems effectively filter several cubic feet of rainwater and stormwater per second, separating oils and suspended solids before the water is sent to the cistern.
Organic Filtration
Additional Filtration
For toilet flushing, cooling tower make-up and other more specialized uses, more filtration may be desired. Bag filters and multimedia filters can be effective for removing sediment and particulates as small as 20 microns or finer. Carbon filtration can resolve any issues with odors or colors.
Sanitation
Ultra Violet (UV) Sanitation
Chlorination
Wahaso’s dry hypochlorite sanitizing system uses chlorine briquettes that are added to a hopper in the dosing unit where they are combined with water to make a high concentration chlorine liquid. An automatic free chlorine analyzer continuously monitors the parts per million (ppm) level and proportionally controls a chemical injection pump to dose in more chlorine as necessary to maintain the preset level.
Other sterilizing agents that can be used include Ozone and Chlorine Dioxide. These sterilizing agents are very powerful and are typically only used on greywater systems. They are more hazardous to handle and require on-site generation of the Ozone or Chlorine Dioxide gas plus an injection system.
Harvested Water Storage
Because storage capacity, type and location are primary drivers of system design and cost, this is one of the first analyses done on any project. Wahaso works with clients early in the process to think through the supply and demand side of the system and determine the most efficient size, type and location of the storage system.
On the supply side, we calculate total rainwater available to the system by measuring collection surfaces on rooftops and parking areas and applying average monthly rainfall for the building location. On the demand side, we help determine anticipated monthly demand for toilet flushing, irrigation, cooling tower make-up and other uses. Storage options include above-ground tanks that can be located inside or outside the building and subterranean tanks that can have unlimited storage capacity. For a more thorough review of the different storage options for harvested water, see our Harvested Water Storage page.
Most systems have a connection to a municipal water source to provide a constant supply of water during drought periods – especially when the system is being used to flush toilets. A level and control system automatically maintains a minimum level for this purpose.
Applying Harvested Water
Water Harvesting Monitors And Controls
Our proprietary software is customized for each application and provides the capability of interfacing with building automatic systems and other alarm and condition monitoring.
In addition to monitoring the system mechanicals, the control system can track the amount of water in each tank and track and display the monthly amount of water harvested. An interface allows remote monitoring via a web page for maintenance or educational purposes. Wahaso Commercial Rainwater Collection System unlike other Rainwater Harvesting Companies can use the remote access to help a building maintenance staff diagnose potential system problems.
To learn how a rainwater harvesting system might be incorporated into your building plans, please contact us.
Wahaso Rainwater Harvesting System FAQ’s
To learn how a rainwater harvesting system might be incorporated into your building plans, please contact us.
1. What are the four main components of a rainwater harvesting system?
The four key components of a rainwater harvesting system are:
- Storage/cistern – This may be above ground, below ground, concrete vault, modular, corrugated, HDPE or fiberglass
- Filtration – This includes pre-filtration prior to water going in the cistern and the type of filtration depends on the type of water and where the system is located
- Sanitation – This can be either UV light, chlorine, ozone or cupridyne
- Controls – Measures tank levels, flow rates, water savings and pump and system statuses.
2. What are the types of rainwater harvesting systems?
3. Are rainwater harvesting systems worth it?
4. How long can rainwater be stored in tanks?
5. What are the limitations of rainwater harvesting?
6. How do you keep rainwater from stagnating?
You can take several precautions to prevent your harvested rainwater from stagnating, including:
- Use the water as often as possible
- Block sunlight from the storage container to prevent bacteria and algae growth
- Cover the container with a tight-fitting lid to keep leaves, twigs, and other organic matter away
- Cycle the water past a UV bulb or chlorine injector
7. What happens when the rainwater tank is empty?
8. How to maintain a rainwater harvesting system?
You can take several measures to maintain a rainwater harvesting system, such as:
Residential systems
- Keep the gutters clean and free of leaves and other debris that may cause water discoloration
- Place cisterns in a shady area to prevent algae growth
- Paint PVC pipes to protect freezing and UV effects
Commercial systems
- Each system will have a maintenance manual to be followed
- Change chlorine and UV bulbs as needed
- Service pumps and other moving components
- Check control system for alerts
9. How much does a rainwater harvesting system cost for commercial buildings?
10. What are the health risks of the rainwater harvesting system?
Tags: Best Rated Rainwater Harvesting Systems, Rainwater Harvesting Systems For Commercial Buildings, How To Select A Rainwater Harvesting System
Since 2004
Wahaso Mission
Our mission at Wahaso is to help municipalities and commercial property owners reduce the impact of their buildings on the environment through innovative and sustainable water practices.