Save Money and Mother Earth with the RainReserve System

Repurposing our precious resources is a vital part of ensuring smaller bills and a sustainable future. 

A rainwater catchment system is a great way to conserve water and embrace an abundant resource that is often ignored.

Wisconsin-based RainReserve has made the process simple and easy-to-maintain with their unique rain diversion system (shown at left).

The water you collect can be used for countless chores, including watering plants, washing your car, or even industrial cooling.

Read on to find out more about RainReserve in our interview with the company's owner, Omar Galal.

How did the idea for the RainReserve come about?

With the ultimate goal of saving rain water, RainReserve was developed in 2005 by Sustain Dane, a Madison, Wisconsin-based non-profit organization dedicated to creating sustainable communities and promoting environmental responsibility.  Sustain Dane witnessed a swift adoption and great response from the local Wisconsin community and immediately approached Enginuity, LLC to further the venture.  Enginuity, LLC is an environmentally conscious engineering and custom manufacturing company based in Hartville, Mo.  The two companies came together to design, enhance, manufacture and distribute a branded product under the name RainReserve.  The final result was 3 kits: The Basic Diverter Kit, Complete RainReserve System and the Complete RainReserve System (Double Capacity).

Currently RainReserve is one of the only branded products at a high quality and a low price.  An important feature of the product is its sustainability.  Rain Reserve is manufactured and shipped with minimal impact to the environment with a commitment to researching advancements in sustainable materials and developing products that offer increased functionality.  The product design of RainReserve is constantly improved to maximize the benefit to the environment.

Why have a RainReserve kit and a rain barrel instead of just a rain barrel?
A rain diverter kit is needed for the rain to divert and filter into the barrel from the roof.  The RainReserve Diverter Kits work in tandem with any type of closed tank or barrel.   RainReserve is sold separate of rain barrels, but purchasers can find large tanks to meet this need at many local vendors and suppliers.  RainReserveTM does not ship barrels for sustainability reasons – but the website also offers a rain barrel search system to find a nearby retail location.  Additionally, the site offers a lengthy list of examples of suitable containers.
 
Other than reusing rainwater, what other eco-benefits are there to using a RainReserve?

Reusing rainwater is both environmentally friendly and cost friendly.  It is very important and crucial that rain water is harvested because it decreases a very high demand for domestic water.  Residential irrigation is said to account for 40 percent of consumption. RainReserve is an efficient method to reduce the cost of household water usage and helps users avoid being the victim of imposing water shortages.  One can save enough water to not have to use a garden hose once all season.  That can save a decent amount of money for the average household.

In places where water is in short supply – collecting rain water ensures future availability, whether it’s for the garden, or for emergency situations.

Have you encountered any strange misconceptions about reusing rainwater?

People think that they do not get enough rain to fill the barrels.  A 1000 square foot roof, can collect enough water to fill almost twelve 55 gallon barrels (620 gallons) with just one inch of rain.

What do you think the next trend in green home & garden will be?

I think that going green in the home and garden is the first place that people will start to make a difference.  It is what we have most control over.  People will realize that a green home is a safer, healthier, cheaper and more satisfying environment.  One of the most life critical items in every ones home is their water supply.  We have taken advantage of near free water from our cities for long enough.  Times will come when water will go up in price or become scarce, and our life will depend on our sustainability.  Ben Franklin said “when the well is dry, we know the worth of water.”

Is RainReserve involved with any local or international charities?

RainReserve partners with Sustain Dane, a non-profit organization based in Madison, Wisconsin that is committed to creating a community that deeply enjoys, cares for and is sustained by its unique environment.  Sustain Dane co-sponsors events and collaborates with over 50 local, national and international organizations.

Are there any plans to add other products to the RainReserve line?

RainReserve recently added a lower-priced option of the simple diverter, without the entire kit.  Though most consumers upgrade to the full RainReserve diverter kit, we wanted to give purchasers the option with a smaller price tag.  Additionally, pumps, decorations, adding wooden barrel flexibility, and many other things are in the pipeline.