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5 <br /> OWASA Rainwater Harvesting Systems <br /> Requirements and Charges <br /> General Requirements: <br /> Rainwater harvesting is the collection and storage of rainwater from roofs or other <br /> catchment areas for future use. This stored rainwater may be for internal use within a <br /> building(flushing of toilets, etc.) or may be for external purposes such as irrigation. <br /> OWASA encourages conservation of water through the use of rainwater harvesting <br /> systems by OWASA customers provided the following standards and specifications <br /> governing their use are met to protect the safety and integrity of the public water and <br /> sewer systems: <br /> o Rainwater collection devices or cisterns that are capable of being fed from both a <br /> rainwater harvesting system or alternately from OWASA's Potable Water System <br /> must be designed, built, operated and maintained to ensure that the OWASA <br /> drinking water system is protected from cross-connection and contamination. <br /> This shall be accomplished by the installation of an air gap at the point where the <br /> potable water discharges into the non-potable water collection device. Air gap <br /> physical separation shall be at least double the diameter of the supply line <br /> measured vertically above the overflow rim of the containment device, but in no <br /> case shall it be less than 1 inch. <br /> o Piping for rainwater harvesting systems shall be separate from any potable piping <br /> system (includes both domestic and/or fire suppression systems which use water <br /> supplied by OWASA). A physical separation of piping is required between any <br /> potable and non-potable water system. The use of backflow devices to separate <br /> two piping systems is not allowed. There must be an air gap. <br /> o A detailed written description of a proposed rainwater harvesting and plumbing <br /> system shall be submitted to OWASA Engineering Staff for review and <br /> consideration. This shall include narrative sufficient to explain how the proposed <br /> system will operate along with plumbing drawings detailing potable water piping <br /> and harvested rainwater piping. All air gaps between potable and non-potable <br /> piping systems must be clearly indicated on drawings. <br /> o No rainwater harvesting system or other non-potable water supply system shall be <br /> installed and used by a customer connected to the OWASA Potable Water System <br /> and/or the Sanitary Sewer System unless first reviewed and approved by <br /> OWASA. <br /> For rainwater harvesting systems that will directly or indirectly result in the generation of <br /> wastewater to be discharged to the OWASA Sanitary Sewer System, OWASA will allow <br /> and accept such discharges provided they fully meet the requirements of OWASA's <br /> Sewer Use Ordinance. <br />