Why Your Rainwater Harvesting System May Need A First Flush Diverter

When it rains, water slowly builds up in the roof gutter system before it exits through the downpipe. The first flush of water from the roof can contain amounts of bacteria from decomposed insects, lizards, bird and animal droppings and concentrated tannic acid. It may also contain sediments, water borne heavy metals and chemical residues, all of which are undesirable elements to have in a water storage system.

If you are collecting rainwater for eventual potable use, a first flush diverter can divert the first “x” amount of gallons of contaminated water away from the rainwater collection tank. There are a wide variety of diverters to choose from. The type of first flush diverter that you should use is dependent upon your home’s roof size.

This Rain Harvest First Flush Diverter is the smallest one we offer for residential use. It utilizes a dependable ball and seat system – a simple automatic system that does not rely on mechanical parts or manual intervention. As the water level in the diverter chamber rises, the ball floats, and once the chamber is full, the ball rests on a seat inside the diverter chamber, preventing any further water entering the diverter. The subsequent flow of water is then automatically directed along the pipe system to the tank.

For larger dwellings, this first flush diverter treats large volumes of water, so in many cases one unit is sufficient. The diverters can be mounted on a wall, post or stand, and can be adapted to suit a wide range of applications.  They receive single or multiple pipes coming from the roof.

Remember, the first flush diverter does not filter the rainwater for drinking standards. There are many options for filters that do treat the water so that it is suitable for consumption. Depending on your preferences, here are some of the more popular filters for filtering water to drinkable standards:

This Viqua system system filters water all the way down to 1-micron contaminants, which is better than most water municipalities. Its chemical-free operation includes high-flow filters to keep the water pressure consistent. It also comes with indicator lights when system maintenance is required.

The Viqua D4 system , similar to the one featured above, is a reliable, economical and chemical-free way to safeguard drinking water in any residential application. The quality of drinking water can change with time and become contaminated with harmful bacteria. This system has been designed and tested to ensure quality drinking water, and incorporates high-output UV lamp technology couple with a new “S” shaped flow-through design for increased flexibility and ease of installation.

These products are especially necessary if you’re moving “life off the grid,” whether it’s at your primary home or your getaway cabin in the woods. There are numerous options and setup variations, depending on the application and your preferences. Call us at 800-654-9283 for more details. We would be happy to walk you through the many options that are available for you!