If an inlet on your rainwater harvesting tank is too small, what do you do?  Turns out, you can drill out a larger hole "over" the smaller hole with a little ingenuity.  When a hole is drilled in a tank the first time, typically you drill a pilot hole, and then use a hole saw mounted on an arbor.  The hole saw arbor has a center guide drill bit that follows through the pilot hole.  Well, lets say that hole fits a 2" bulk head adapter, but you need a 3" bulkhead adapter to manage the volume entering the tank.  The following pictures give you an idea on how to do this making a template out of an old piece of plastic, attaching it to the tank, and using it to guide the hole saw with a new pilot hole.  I use an old plastic food grade barrel to practice on before I do this at a customer site.  Holes saws are dangerous tools so please take precautions to use it in a safe manner!

Another way is to cut out a wooden template the size of your desired hole and use a hot glue gun to attach it to the tank over the old smaller hole.  Wait for the glue to dry and then cut the new hole with your hole saw.  See the pictures below.  In this case Daniel re-cut a 3" hole that was fitted with a 1.5" bulk head adapter into a 3.75" hole for a 3" multitite gasket.

My wife and I were driving in Sonoma a few years back wandering from here to there and came across this sign.  I had to stop and take a picture.  I think I looked both ways more than my usual number of times at the intersection on the other side of the gate!

Recently I have advised a couple in Carmel about rainwater harvesting.  They called me and were interested in getting my opinion on gutters and downspout placement since they were installing a new roof.  They had done a tremendous amount of planning where to put a rainwater harvesting system and studied it on line as well.  They drew up their plans and went to the Carmel Planning Department where 2 of the 3 cisterns requested were approved.  Two proposed in the back yard were approved but one proposed in their front yard wasn't approved, even though it would not be seen from the street.  Several weeks later they went to the Planning Commission meeting to request a variance to set back rules, but were denied any use of above ground cisterns, whether unseen in the backyard or front yard.  This was primarily because two of the commissioners didn't like the looks of above ground cisterns, calling them "garbage cans" and not wanting the city of Carmel to look like "Prunetucky", wherever that is?  Their comments were disrespectful in general and especially considering the second applicant, also denied, recently moved from Kentucky and asked to install three above ground cisterns in her backyard.  Even with her landscape designer and rainwater harvesting expert on hand, the Commissioners decided not to approve!  The landscape designer said they would do whatever necessary to avoid any impact on any neighbor.  Both applicants wanted to harvest the rainwater to use for irrigation only.  The commissioners had lots of questions they asked among themselves and couldn't answer.  But, rather then tabling the discussion until all their questions were answered, they just said no!  A week later the Carmel Pine Cone published a front page article about water rationing starting in two years based on input from the Monterey Peninsula Water Management District.  It seems absurd that a citizen anywhere can be told they don't have the right to harvest rainwater in above ground cisterns to use in their garden when the area, like many in the U.S., is threatened with a lack of water availability.  These citizens wanted to use rainwater harvesting to reduce their municipal water usage further and they were denied.  At the same time we read almost daily about the proposed desalination plant that isn't funded, where water rights are uncertain, where conflict of interest is running rampant and proposed costs for development are $400 Million or more.  Cost of an acre foot is estimated at $4,000 to $7,000.  Imagine a proposal to spend $400 Million but a local citizen in Carmel by the Sea cannot collect the water that falls on their roof into an above ground cistern?  Even the Carmel by the Sea Planning Departments own Low Impact Development (LID) guidelines allow for the use of cisterns as a "BMP" or best management practice.  I urge you to voice your concern about this denial in the Carmel Pine Cone with Letters to the Editor, or to write the Planning Commissioners directly.  My letter to the editor is as follows and I'm hoping it will be published the week of 9/23.  If you want to see the video of the proceedings go to the City website.  Click here to see the Planning Commission Meeting video from 9/24/2011.  Then click on the "jump to" button and watch item 5 and 6 to see the full discussion with both applicants.  I also urge you to write to Governor Jerry Brown to voice your support for AB 275 (The Rainwater Capture Act of 2011) sent to the governor for signature several weeks ago.  This bill passed unanimously with bipartisan support through the process and now sits waiting for signature.  Please ask the governor to sign the bill asap.  Following is a link to AB 275.  Click here to see AB 275.

Dear Editor:

I found it ironic the current issue of the Pine Cone has a front page article on water rationing possibly as soon as two years away, yet at last weeks Carmel Planning Commission Meeting two citizens were denied their applications for harvesting rainwater and storing it in above ground cisterns.   The applicants purpose for collection and storage of rainwater was to irrigate their landscape and avoid additional use of precious Carmel River or Seaside Aquifer water from Cal Am.  Planning Dept Staff presented both applications and recommended approval with conditions.  However, planning council members decided that above ground cisterns ("garbage cans") located in someone's backyard were not acceptable.  Carmel by the Sea's own Low Impact Development Guidance manual on the City website lists using a cistern for "maximizing rainfall interception" as a best management practice.  Cisterns by any definition today are water storage devices used above or below ground.   A state bill, AB 275, The Rainwater Capture Act of 2011, has been sent to the governor for signature.  This bill recognizes the seriousness of water conservation and encourages the use of rain capture systems proposed by the applicant.  We read about our local water problems daily and should encourage citizens to conserve water every way possible.  Every other city on the peninsula allows for the use of above ground cisterns for water conservation and I hope the Planning Commission reconsiders these applications after they educate themselves on rainwater harvesting.  As I currently understand from the MPWMD a moratorium on new water meter applications is currently in place and rationing is a high probability.  Folks who want to install rainwater harvesting systems, above or below ground, should be encouraged and supported! 

We traveled to Vancouver in April this year and  visited the Aquarium in Stanley Park.  As we walked by the green roof I noticed the above sign identifying the capture and usage of rainwater.  The Aquarium is a must see if you go to Vancouver and it is great to see the sustainable practices.

What a nice surprise I had when I stopped by the garden today to see how the rainwater capture system was working and found the tank had been painted.  This adds a nice flavor to the garden and highlights the system from the street.  And the garden is still yielding lots of vegetables!

Update: Governor Brown vetoed this bill.  After unanimous support through the legislature Governor Brown vetoed the bill.  What does this mean?  Basically, it means the state of California is not regulating or providing guidelines for  rainwater harvesting.  So, if you want to put in a system talk to your local city planning department and county planning department to find out if they have any guidelines or requirements before you move forward.

Good news on the Rainwater Harvesting front.  AB 275 has passed the Senate.  Several amendments have to be finalized and then it can be sent to Governor Brown for signature.  Please support this process by sending an email or letter to Governor Brown asking for him to sign AB 275.  This bill was introduced by Assemblyman Jose Solorio (D-Santa Ana).  To view the bill click on the following web address.                               http://www.aroundthecapitol.com/billtrack/text.html?bvid=20110AB27595AMD
  
Following is a summary

AB 275 (Solorio)
Rainwater Capture Act of 2011.
(1)Under existing law, the State Water Resources Control Board (state board) and the California regional water quality control boards prescribe waste discharge requirements for the discharge of stormwater in accordance with the national pollutant discharge elimination system (NPDES) permit program and the Porter-Cologne Water Quality Control Act. Existing law authorizes a city, county, or special district to develop, jointly or individually, stormwater resource plans that meet certain standards.

This bill would enact the Rainwater Capture Act of 2011, which would authorize residential, commercial, and governmental landowners to install, maintain, and operate rain barrel systems, as defined, and rainwater capture systems, as defined, for specified purposes, provided that the systems comply with specified requirements. The bill would require a local agency to provide notification to the operator of a public water system, as defined, if the local agency chooses to adopt a permitting program for rainwater capture systems and approves a permit for a rainwater capture system connected to the public water system.

(2)Existing law, the Contractors’ State License Law, creates the Contractors’ State License Board within the Department of Consumer Affairs and provides for the licensing and regulation of contractors. Existing law authorizes a landscape contractor working within the classification of his or her license to enter into a prime contract for the construction of a swimming pool, spa, or hot tub, an outdoor cooking center, or an outdoor fireplace, if certain conditions are met. Under existing law, a violation of these provisions and related provisions of existing law is grounds for disciplinary action.

This bill would additionally authorize a landscape contractor working within the classification of his or her license to enter into a prime contract for the construction of a rainwater capture system, as defined, if the system is used exclusively for landscape irrigation. The bill would authorize a landscape contractor holding a specified classification to design and install all exterior components of a rainwater capture system that are not a part of, or attached to, a structure.

After virtually unanimous approval by the state senate and assembly, Gov. Schwarzenegger decided to veto AB 1834 sponsored by assemblyman Jose Solorio.  Click on the following link to read the bill and view its history.  http://www.aroundthecapitol.com/Bills/AB_1834    California is behind many other states in defining Rainwater Harvesting guidelines, yet we are also a state which has tremendous risk with drought and lack of water.  Please review this bill and support assemblyman Jose Solorio 916-319-2069 to reintroduce this bill under Gov. Brown.  Also call our local assemblyman Bill Monning at 916-319-2027 to support reintroducing AB 1834.

Roger Manley will present Rainwater Harvesting Basics on 12/11/10 at 9am at the Hilton Bialek Habitat.  Call 831-624-2785 x162 to reserve at seat.

Jason Sharrett, Assistant Director of Development in front of new RWH installation.