Start Rainwater Harvesting with MasterShield

We know, all you really want is not to deal with cleaning clogged gutters again. But did you know when you install MasterShield, you’ve already taken the first step in setting up a rainwater harvesting system? Or if you live near a watershed area of any kind, you’ll be able to do your part to help end storm runoff issues?

Rainwater harvesting with MasterShield is easy! While you’re protecting your gutters from clogging and eliminating the need to clean them again, MasterShield is able to collect clean rainwater right at the point of your home where you naturally collect it – your gutters.

The Product

MasterShield is committed to supporting environmentally friendly practices. Proudly manufactured in the USA, rainwater harvesting with MasterShield means your buying products with recycled content of more than 95% in the aluminum and at least 30% in the stainless steel (a higher recycled content would not meet surgical grade standards). Any metal trimmed from the product during installation is also 100% recyclable. Furthermore, our adhesive meets requirements that would allow it to be in contact with edible products.

Committed to Building Green

We are members of the USGBC (US Green Build Counsel) and, along with several of our dealers, ARCSA (American Rainwater Catchment Systems Association). Rainwater harvesting with MasterShield can be specified in building projects aimed at achieving LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification, as improved water efficiency is one aspect that LEED measures. Their Water Efficiency credit category “encourages smarter use of water, inside and out.”

Protecting a Resource

Rainwater harvesting with MasterShield allows you to collect water in a rain barrel, tank or cistern which can be put to good use on plants, feed your lawn and nourish your landscaping. Getting started is easy and the water you collect is free!

We know water is a precious resource and we want to help protect it. Consider these facts from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA):

• The average American citizen uses 400 gallons of water per day; 30 percent of this is used for outdoor purposes.
• Washing a car uses 50 gallons per wash
• Watering a lawn uses 300 gallons per watering
• The United States uses approximately 346 BILLION gallons of fresh water every day.

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Rising Water Costs lead people to consider Green Alternatives

According to the Earth Policy Institute, the price of water is increasing, sometimes dramatically, throughout the world. In the United States, they noted that municipal water rates had risen by an average of 27% from 2002-2007. They also noted that 40% of municipal suppliers do not charge enough to meet their basic operating and maintenance costs, implying that the hyper-inflation annual rate increases are likely to continue. When you consider that the average American household consumes about 127,400 gallons of water a year, it won’t be long before a larger percentage of the population takes a serious look at what they are paying for access to water and what they can do to better manage it.

Stormwater Runoff

Gardeners prefer rainwater since it’s naturally soft, always at an ambient temperature and free from chemicals.

Stormwater runoff occurs when rain or snowmelt flows over the ground. Your home and neighborhood likely have a high percentage of area where water hits an impervious surface (your roof, driveway, sidewalk or street), which prevents it from soaking into the ground. This water is directed into underground sewers and then flows untreated into bodies like lakes, streams, rivers, coastal waters or wetlands – water we use for drinking or for numerous recreational activities like fishing or swimming. Stormwater picks up chemicals (fertilizers, car oil, tire wear, etc.) as well as dirt, leaves, garbage and other pollutants. According to the EPA, polluted stormwater runoff affects the habitats of plants, insects, animals and people – our entire ecosystem, in fact. In early 2010, the EPA started soliciting input into how they could reduce stormwater runoff in areas of new development and redevelopment so they can implement, no later than November 2012, national rulemaking to strengthen the stormwater program. According to the EPA, storing and recycling rainwater is an excellent way to minimize your contribution to stormwater runoff; your efforts can ensure that rainwater is put to good use in your landscaping, filling your pool, or supplementing what you use in your home.

The Supply from the Sky

Rainwater harvesting systems have been around for centuries and are widely used where people need to supplement or rely on rain for their water supply. It’s also the best water you can give your plants and grass. It’s fresh, naturally soft, and hasn’t been treated with chemicals like fluoride or chlorine. You’d be surprised by the amount of rainwater you can collect every time it rains—each rainfall is an opportunity to reduce dependency on your municipal water supply, particularly in the hot summer months when water restrictions are often put into effect. Imagine being able to water your lawn or fill your pool for free and “off the grid”. You can maintain your lifestyle while doing your bit for the environment by reusing one of its resources. Water is collected on your roof and channeled to your gutters where you can collect it – pre-filtered to 50 microns – when you’ve enclosed your gutters with MasterShield. It can be captured in above or underground cisterns or in rain barrels. Our filtration standards surpass municipal drinking water tolerances (rainwater is not potable unless properly treated). It’s also easy to get started “going Green” with your rain water and, apart from the cost of a collection barrel, it’s free. By routing the flow of water from the rain gutter downspout to the landscaping or into a barrel or water tank, MasterShield customers can help reuse a precious, natural resource.

The Green Standard of Gutter Protection

Rainwater harvesting systems with MasterShield collect water as cleanly as possible, directly from its source thereby ensuring the highest quality.  If debris is collected with rainwater, it will start decomposing in the water, adding additional impurities and changing its natural pH balance. The best way to harvest rain is simply to place a barrel connected to a downspout where MasterShield is protecting and enclosing the water from the moment it’s captured. Your MasterShield dealer can help determine the ideal location to start a system. Look for rain barrels that have faucet attachments so you can easily attach a hose to re-use the captured water.

Rainwater harvesting with MasterShield helps us help the planet. Contact a MasterShield dealer today and ask about rainwater reclamation while you’re discussing how to end the hassle of gutter cleaning.
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