Sustainable Land Development Today - May 2008 - (Page 32)

STORMWATER Getting the Most Out of Every Inch of Rain The underground cistern may be making a come back as a result of a looming water crisis. By Frank Hill As the country faces a water shortage which is progressively getting worse, underground storage tanks to capture and store rainwater from residential rooftops could play a major role to conserve what many take for granted. Historically, cisterns were built underground, on the ground and even on rooftops to capture rainfall. Their use as reservoirs of potable water stopped in the advent of clean water standards and centralized treatment plants. But as the nation’s most expansive population growth continues to occur in the same regions that are experiencing its greatest water shortages, water recycling and conservation will increase in importance going forward. Projections are that more than 35 of the 50 states will face water shortages in the next five years and half of the world’s population will face the same by mid century. Most people in this country appear to be unaware of the value of freshwater, according to Joseph Brown, vice president of sales and marketing for Roth Global Plastics Inc. “Our expectation and philosophy toward water is that we like it to be cheap and almost limitless in supply. That’s the difference between the U.S. and other countries throughout the world,” he said. A severe drought continues to linger in regions from the southeast to the southwest and Southern California. “In Atlanta for example, where there is continued development and strain on the water supply, they are in dire need of additional sources of water, not only for drinking, but also to irrigate expensive landscaping around homes,” he said. ethylene septic tanks, for use as underground cisterns to collect rain water. “We’re looking at the most basic of systems. A tank for storage with some basic filtration to get rid of leaves and debris that might accumulate in the gutters,” Brown said. The water is accessible when needed for irrigation, car washing, gardening or any other non-potable purposes to conserve potable water. Most contractors who install turf and residential landscape irrigation systems understand the mechanics related to connecting to stored water supplies or direct well water. They know how to provide the necessary equipment to tie them into an existing or new irrigation system, according to Brown. “All of the various wholesale supply houses that sell sprinkler heads, controls, pipes and that sort of thing are already providing pumps and pressure switches and other associated items for delivering the water to the sprinkler systems,” he said. But they do not tend to carry the necessary accessories to filter the water prior to entering People that are affected question if they should be using the potable water they pay for to irrigate their lawns and wash their cars and many municipalities are legislating against the practice. Septic tank to cistern The Roth Group, based in Germany, acquired Fralo Plastech Manufacturing LLC of Syracuse, New York, which is the owner-operator of the world’s largest blowmold machine and manufactures products for the onsite, waste-treatment industry. The firm adapted one of its main-line products, high-molecular weight, high-density poly- 32 May 2008 Sustainable Land Development Today

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Sustainable Land Development Today - May 2008

Sustainable Land Development Today - May 2008 Contents Our Voice Editorial Board SLDT Resources Addressing a Crisis with Wastewater Recycling Visionary Award Finalists The Jonquil City - How a City Revitalized its Downtown Industry Spotlight: Enviroquip Solar Power System Design and Installation Stormwater: The Return of the Cistern Site Amenity: Fiber Optics Surveying and Mapping Wastewater: Low-Pressure System Special Feature: The Urban Canopy as Infrastructure Industry News Advertiser Index Products/Services Showcase Classifieds The Last Word: Nature Bats Last…

Sustainable Land Development Today - May 2008

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