Golisano Institute for Sustainability Chemical Free Treatment of Rain Collection System
08.27.2018
Steve Chewning
Collecting rain water is a time honored method of storing water for later use. The most amazing water collection system I’ve ever seen is at Masada around the Dead Sea in Israel. King Herod built Masada as a fortress retreat on top of a mountain overlooking the Dead Sea. It’s a desert so they receive as little as 0.10 inch of rain a year. He built water collection aqueducts around the mountain that funneled all the water to a cavern carved into the solid rock. This cistern kept the water cool and reduced evaporation.
The same cistern system is used all over the world in homes, businesses, and industry. Keeping the water in the cistern fresh and free from organic contamination buildup has been a chronic problem for centuries as it sits at room temperature for long periods of time.
Rochester Institute of Technology, Rochester NY, has a rainwater collection system on the Galisano Institute for Sustainability which was built in 2013. The water was originally treated with high doses of ozone that caused both odor and corrosion issues. The cistern holds approximately 1500 gallons of water that is used to flush toilets. The system became fouled with organic contamination that stained the toilet bowls, fouled pumps, and produced foul smells in the building. Mike Bromley from Water Wise of America, was asked to consult on possible solutions. He recommended and installed their ProMoss™ program on the cistern. ProMoss™ is a treatment process that uses the leaves from a particular species of Sphagmum Moss that growths naturally on the US-Canadian border. Sphagnum moss has been used for centuries to purify water and inhibit microbiological activity.
They used a contact chamber and a pump to remove water from the cistern, expose it to the ProMoss™ and return the treated water to the cistern. The cistern water became clear, the foul smell went away, staining of the toilet bowls stopped.
Rochester Institute of Technology, for the eighth consecutive year, has been named one of the greenest universities by The Princeton Review—while also placing on an even more exclusive list at the same time. RIT is commended for being on “the cutting edge of innovation and sustainability,” achieving a “Green Rating” score of 96 out of a possible 99—the school’s highest rating ever. The university is commended for its fervent focus on Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED)-certified new construction; RIT’s Golisano Institute for Sustainability, which is committed to advancing education and research in sustainability, remanufacturing and the circular economy; and serving as headquarters to the New York State Pollution Prevention Institute.
The implementation of this innovative sustainable treatment process at RIT not only solved a problem but further enhanced their position as a leader among universities promoting a sustainable business platform.
