Landscape contractors will be interested to note that a new report on the role of water in the green building movement notes that the bulk of building projects in the U.S. miss out on one of the most potentially significant water conservation opportunities: rainwater catchment and reuse.

“We’re using fresh domestic drinking water to irrigate grass and replenish cooling towers,” says Rick Reinders, president of Watertronics, manufacturer of SkyHarvester rainwater harvesting systems. “By harvesting rainwater, you’re reusing that water, and it’s not going into the treatment system. That not only saves water but also relieves pressure on sewer and septic systems.”

“Rainwater harvesting systems are becoming increasingly popular among commercial builders and engineers,” says Reinders. “What has been missing is a strong, single-source national supplier to provide integrated design and customized solutions. SkyHarvester offers a single-source solution for commercial rainwater harvesting systems at new or existing building sites.”

Rainwater collection tanks are stored above or below ground and range in size with a typical capacity being 20,000 gallons and maximum capacity around 1 million gallons. According to the report, many rainwater harvesting systems are custom-engineered from various components but a few packaged systems are now available.

“Our systems can help companies reduce potable water needs by up to 80 percent and can even pay for themselves in a few years,” Reinders says. “They can increase commercial property values and may be eligible for tax and other financial incentives from local and other governmental entities.”

More information(source): http://landscapeonline.com/research/article/12862