Rainwater Collection and Redistribution System

Abstract

A system and method for collecting and redistributing rainwater by catching rainwater using a conventional roofing and guttering system, piping the rainwater into a collection vessel for storing the rainwater, pumping the rainwater from the collection vessel through a hose; and redistributing the rainwater from the collection vessel via the hose. The system can comprise a rainwater filter that provides one or more filtration stages to rainwater collected. The rainwater filter has a filter reservoir that includes one or more outlets to communicate filtered water to the collection vessel and one or more overflow ports. The filter may also include a shutoff valve to regulate flow of water into the collection vessel, and a filter reservoir drain to avoid stagnation of water in the filter reservoir.

1 . A system for collecting and redistributing rainwater comprising:
 a) a conventional roofing and guttering system;   b) a collection vessel for storing the rainwater, wherein the collection vessel is a flexible bladder; and   c) piping for directing the rainwater from the conventional roofing and guttering system into the collection vessel.   
     
     
         2 . The system as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising a pump for pumping the rainwater from the collection vessel for redistribution. 
     
     
         3 . The system as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising a filter for filtering debris from the rainwater. 
     
     
         4 . The system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the rainwater is redistributed to a landscaping area. 
     
     
         5 . The system as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein the filter comprises:
 a) a filter reservoir having an inlet for receiving rainwater;   b) an outlet for communicating filtered rainwater from the filter reservoir to a collection vessel for storing the rainwater;   c) a filtration medium interposed between the inlet and the outlet; and   d) an overflow port for communicating excess water from the filter reservoir to a groundwater drainage system.   
     
     
         6 . The system as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein the filter comprises:
 a) a filter reservoir having a first stage filter at an inlet thereof;   b) an outlet having a second stage filter therein, the outlet communicating filtered rainwater from the filter reservoir to a collection vessel;   c) an overflow port having a second stage filter therein, the overflow port communicating excess water from the rainwater collecting system to a groundwater drainage system; and   d) a filter reservoir drain, for communicating residual water from the filter reservoir to the groundwater drainage system.   
     
     
         7 . A system for collecting and redistributing rainwater comprising:
 a) a conventional roofing and guttering system for collecting rainwater;   b) a multi-stage filter in communication with the guttering system for filtering debris from the rainwater;   c) a collection vessel for storing the filtered rainwater, wherein the collection vessel is a flexible bladder; and   d) piping for directing the rainwater from the multi-stage filter into a collection vessel.   
     
     
         8 . A method for collecting and redistributing rainwater comprising the steps of:
 a) catching rainwater using a conventional roofing and guttering system;   b) piping the rainwater into a collection vessel for storing the rainwater, wherein the collection vessel is a flexible bladder; and   c) redistributing the rainwater from the collection vessel.   
     
     
         9 . The method as claimed in  claim 8 , further comprising the step of filtering debris from the rainwater prior to piping the rainwater into the collection vessel for storing the rainwater. 
     
     
         10 . The method as claimed in  claim 8 , further comprising the step of pumping the rainwater from the collection vessel to a means for redistributing the rainwater prior to redistributing the rainwater from the collection vessel. 
     
     
         11 . The method as claimed in  claim 9 , further comprising a filter reservoir for filtering debris from the rainwater, wherein the filter reservoir comprises a first stage filter for filtering debris from the rainwater prior to the rainwater entering the filter reservoir, and passing the rainwater through the first stage filter prior to the rainwater entering the filter reservoir. 
     
     
         12 . The method as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein the filter reservoir further comprises a second stage filter for filtering debris from the rainwater prior to the rainwater entering the collection vessel, and passing the rainwater through the second stage filter prior to the rainwater entering the collection vessel. 
     
     
         13 . The method as claimed in  claim 12 , further comprising a third stage filter interposed in an outlet of the filter reservoir to a rainwater collection vessel, and passing the rainwater through the third stage filter prior to the rainwater entering the collection vessel.