So it looks like the East Multnomah Soil and Water Conservation District has some money available to do many exciting projects including rainwater harvesting. Please check out their website and click on the Grants and Cost-Share link. For the larger projects three competitive bids are required. Please call or email me if you would like to have me come out and give you a bid.
Here is the link. It is also on my links page.
http://www.emswcd.org/grants-cost-share
So I have been getting calls from a few people lately, both locally and in other parts of the country asking for advice on starting a rainwater business. Now first I must say there are much more experienced people out there who have more wisdom on this than me. But this is my blog, so you are going to get my wisdom. So here is my rant.
First off, if you are just starting to get into this thing called rainwater catchment install a few rainbarrels or simple cistern system at your house or a friends house. Keep an eye on the system. Make sure it does not leak. Make sure the roofwasher works and the overflow is not flooding the basement. Water likes to get out of things. Kind of like people, it does not like to be confined (well I guess there are some people who do like to be confined, but most of us do not). Anyways, kick the tires and see if you like to do such work. If you do, buy some more tools and do a few more jobs. If you like it, get legit. Another option is to work for someone doing it in your area. Figure out what licenses you need to do the work. Maybe start a partnership with a green plumber or landscaper.
OK. So what are some other things you might like to know? Here are a few:
1. Do not charge too little for your work. Look, in the beginning you should underbid a little since you are learning. Do not get in a habit of doing this. We live in a capitalistic system. It is not evil to make money for what you are worth. I have learned most people will respect you more if you respect yourself and charge what you are worth. I still goof stuff up and you know what? That is how we all learn.
2. Realize how much time it can take to prepare a site. When you do that bid, look at where the cistern or rainbarrel is going to go. Is it concrete and level? Lucky you, pretty easy install. Is it really uneven or have a serious slope? Bummer. Realize that one gallon of water weighs 8 lbs. So when that cistern fills up it will weigh a lot more and if you just put soil down it WILL move/settle in the way you do not want it too. 1000 of pounds of water leaning against your clients house is not a good business model.
3. Do NOT install white barrels or cisterns. If a client insists send them to someone else. It will grow Algae and smell like a pond since light can enter the tank. This is not a problem with below ground cisterns. Even the blue barrels can grow algae if they are on the south side getting direct summer sunlight.
4. Learn your strengths and weaknesses. Right now my business is just me. It takes two people to install a gutter properly. Long story short I will probably not install a gutter again. Subcontract out stuff that require specialty tools/skills.
5. Build a rapport with your suppliers. Figure out which person really knows what he/she is talking about and put their name in your phone. Ask for them next time. Give them a 6 pack of some type of beverage of their choice during the Holidays. Respect their time. Make sure they are available before you come over for them to help you figure something out.
I could go on, but I will call it quits for now. Let me know you have any questions or comments. Good luck. Brad
I plan on making this a blog about running a rainwater harvesting business. I have been doing this since 2001 and I am still learning things about this industry all the time. I hope to post lessons learned from what I have found out the hard way. Hopefully if you plan on starting a business like this one, you will learn from my mistakes and save yourself a little bit of pain and agony.
For starters I strongly recommend reading the book “Rainwater Collection for the Mechanically Challenged.” I wish I had bought this book when I first started. It has a lot of great practical knowledge about all aspects of rainwater catchment. You can find it at Amazon and other places.
Stay tuned for more information.
Enjoy the rain!