A Guide to Rainwater Harvesting

D. Allen Hughes, P.E.

Course Outline

This course covers the following subjects:

1. Rainwater Harvesting System Components
2. Water Quality and Treatment
3. Water Balance and System Sizing
4. Rainwater Harvesting Guidelines
5. Cost Estimation
6. Financial and Other Incentives
7. Rainwater Collection Case Studies

This course includes a multiple-choice quiz at the end, which is designed to enhance the understanding of the course materials.

Learning Objective

At the conclusion of this course, the student will have learned or been exposed to the following:

• Basic Rainwater System Components;
• Catchment Surface, Gutters, and Downspouts;
• Leaf Screens;
• First-Flush Diverters;
• Roof Washers;
• Storage Tanks;
• Pressure Tanks and Pumps;
• Treatment and Disinfection Equipment;
• Water Quality Standards;
• Factors Affecting Water Quality;
• Water Treatment;
• Water Capturing System Capabilities;
• Rainfall Distribution and Calculating Storage Capacity;
• Estimating Water Demand;
• Rainwater Harvesting Best Management Practices;
• Building Codes;
• Cistern Design, Construction, and Capacity;
• Backflow Prevention and Dual-use Systems;
• Required Rainwater Harvesting Systems;
• Cost Estimation and Comparison;
• Financial Incentives;
• Tax Exemptions;
• Municipal Incentives; and
• Rainwater Harvesting Case Studies.
  

Intended Audience

This course is intended for use by engineers, architects, contractors, and landscape architects.

Benefit to Attendees

Students will gain an understanding from this course of the benefits and design methods of rainwater harvesting systems.

Course Introduction

This course is based on the publication, Texas Manual on Rainwater Harvesting. The techniques and methodologies described in this course document are a great introduction to rainwater collection system design and planning.

Course Content

This course is based on the publication by Texas Water Development Board, The Texas Manual on Rainwater Harvesting.

A Guide to Rainwater Harvesting

Course Summary

This course demonstrates the basic principles of rainwater harvesting. The information in this course may be useful in planning and sizing of rainwater harvesting systems.

Quiz

Once you finish studying the above course content, you need to take a quiz to obtain the PDH credits.

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DISCLAIMER: The materials contained in the online course are not intended as a representation or warranty on the part of PDH Center or any other person/organization named herein. The materials are for general information only. They are not a substitute for competent professional advice. Application of this information to a specific project should be reviewed by a registered architect and/or professional engineer/surveyor. Anyone making use of the information set forth herein does so at their own risk and assumes any and all resulting liability arising therefrom.

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