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<br />~... '" <br /> <br />Rainwater Harvesting Policy Ta M t1\ ,-e Sln y,L <br />tatvlm,t:@c:03etle r/\ "1 wev\u .. ~ <br /> <br />Executive Summary <br /> <br />The intent of this work is to encourage rainwater harvesting throughout the community at all <br />scales & to nurture guidelines & code that support that goal. The proposed guidelines will <br />encourage maintenance, decrease insect breeding grounds & provide our community with a safe <br />alternate water source to increase community water security. <br /> <br />This document provides contemporary background of the policy situation around rainwater <br />harvesting; discusses water quality; explains rainwater harvesting; examines the proposed' <br />rainwater harvesting codes; & proposes an alternate policy approach. I offer connections to <br />existing education opportunities that will leverage city resources, reaching a larger audience at <br />lower cost. The alternate policy approach (Design & Maintenance of Rainwater Harvesting <br />Systems) is based on extensive literature review & actual local rainwater harvesting experience. <br /> <br />These outlined strategies combined with the innovative Stormwater Plan provide significant <br />community opportunities to address water quality, quantity & timing issues to promote health & <br />sustainability. While it is acknowledged that guidelines for rainwater harvesting, especially as a <br />source of potable water, are needed, the code as presented is needlessly restrictive & will <br />decrease rainwater harvesting activities (or folks will skip permit process). Potable rainwater <br />harvesting systems really require only three rules: 1) filter & purify rainwater to meet drinking <br />water standards, 2) test the water & 3) avoid cross contamination or backflow. <br /> <br />Background <br /> <br />The City of Eugene, in the soon to be adopted Stormwater Management Plan (SMP) adapted <br />from Portland's award winning plan, is proposing rainwater harvesting (RWH) code. While the <br />stormwater plan is innovative & will undoubtedly increase the -sustainability of our region, <br />the proposed rainwater code is needlessly restrictive, creates barriers & will decrease <br />rainwater harvesting activities. (The Portland Code Guide is relied upon to supplement the <br />brief 2-page Eugene plan.) Or, folks will ignore the regulations altogether. As a professional <br />rainwater harvesting consultant & a rainwater quality researcher at the graduate level, I have <br />found balance between regulation & lack of guidance, meeting both goals. <br /> <br />This paper draws upon a vast body of academic literature specifically about harvested rainwater <br />quality as well as system design & maintenance from around the world. A brief list of sources <br />may be found at the end, while the bibliography in "Harvested Rainwater Quality," Stark,T. <br />(2004) provides further data (paper available upon request from tammie@eugenerainwater.com). <br /> <br />A Note on Appropriate Water Quality <br /> <br />Water quality varies greatly. Furthermore, one definition of "pure" water is not to be found. <br />Although drinking water must be high quality to ensure health, lower quality water can safely be <br />used for other uses such as latrine flushing or irrigation. The actual use of rainwater should drive <br />system size, type, filtration & purification required. Policy that guides people toward water <br />quality appropriate to actual uses should be promoted. <br /> <br />Tammie Stark, M.A. @ <br /> <br />Page 1 of 8 <br /> <br />5/312006 11 :53:57 AM <br />