The first rain to fall on a roof washes off dirt and debris, which has accumulated since the last rain. This debris ends up in your cistern and impacts the taste, color and odor of the collected water. The Rainwater Management Solutions’ Filtering Roofwasher collects rain water from down spouts, and then filters it before it enters the cistern.

As the first and dirtiest water enters the roofwasher, screens in the “leaf catcher” compartments remove the larger debris. The first water, which never enters the cistern, is collected and held in the bottom “quiet chamber.” Once the “quiet chamber fills, additional incoming water begins passing through the filter element and into the cistern. A small “weep-hole” in the overflow/clean-out pipe discards the dirty water and allows the “quiet chamber” to drain between rains.

Rainwater Management Solutions’ filtering roofwasher is constructed of heavy-duty fiberglass, PVC, and stainless steel, and it uses a standard replaceable filter element. A filtering roofwasher can be installed at any point in a system between the down spout and cistern or water storage tank. An advantage of using a filtering roofwasher is the minimization of organic matter. The filtering roofwasher decreases the amount of leaves, twigs, insects and other matter in the cistern, improving the taste, color and odor of the cistern water. In addition, most cisterns require cleaning at least once per year but with the filtering roofwasher, the cistern requires cleaning only every five to eight years.

Earlier this year, Rain Water System, Inc. of Virginia and Rattenbury Engineering, LLC, of Massachusetts merged to form Rainwater Management Solutions (RMS). John Rattenbury, a principal of RMS, was the first United States engineer to provide Siphonic Roof Drainage systems engineering design services. Among his notable achievements are the designs of Siphonic Roof Drainage Systems for the Boston Convention Center and for numerous IKEA stores.

Rainwater Management Solutions brings a common sense, cost effective and sustainable approach to addressing the escalating issue of water conservation and stormwater runoff through its rain water harvesting and storm water management services and solutions The RMS expertise encompasses industries directly impacted by water management issues, including commercial, residential, institutional and agricultural.