Gutter: Rainwater Harvesting Term of the Week

This week’s word of the week is Gutter. Guttering is generally installed around the roof surface to direct water off the roof in an orderly fashion instead of the water running off the roof in every direction all helter skelter.

Gutter is defined as the following according to dictionary.com:

gut·ter

  [guht-er] 

noun

1.

a channel at the side or in the middle of a road or street, forleading off surface water.

2.

a channel at the eaves or on the roof of a building, for carryingoff rain water.

3.

any channel, trough, or the like for carrying off fluid.

4.

a furrow or channel made by running water.

5.

Bowling. a sunken channel on each side of the alley from theline marking the limit of a fair delivery of the ball to the sunkenarea behind the pins.

verb (used without object)

8.

to flow in streams.

9.

(of a candle) to lose molten wax accumulated in a hollow spacearound the wick.

10.

(of a lamp or candle flame) to burn low or to be blown so as tobe nearly extinguished.

11.

to form gutters, as water does.

verb (used with object)

12.

to make gutters in; channel.

13.

to furnish with a gutter or gutters: to gutter a new house.

Origin: 
1250–1300; Middle English gutter, goter  < Anglo-French goutiere, equivalent to goutte  drop (see gout) + -iere,  feminine of -ier -er²

Gutters are very important in the rainwater harvesting process. Keeping them clean and free of debris for optimum water flow as well as water quality is important. Branches may need trimming to achieve this. There are several methods of keeping the actual gutter trough clean as well. Screen is an option but still allows small debris to travel with the water. We prefer a fine gutter foam that installs right into the gutter and prevents most of the larger debris from entering the rainwater harvesting system. This foam can be taken out of the gutter and hosed off as well much as you can hose off a re-usable air filter for your air conditioning system in your home.

Guttering the entire catchment surface gives you optimum rainwater harvesting capability. If guttering is already installed then you are left with deciding where to put your tank or cistern and where to direct any overflow. This determines where the downspout and first flush diverter (FFD) will be placed.

If you do not have gutters already installed, it is easy to have them put up. They can also be placed where the downspouts are already in the proper placement for optimum rainwater output. If you are unsure about whether you have the proper guttering to install a system designed to capture all the rainwater your roof can provide, give us a call. We specialize in estimating and designing a system that is tailored to your needs with maximized water efficiency in mind. We also offer maintenance programs that ensure your system is at it’s peak performance year round with no need for cleaning gutters anymore!

Next week we will discuss and define another Rainwater Harvesting System Term. Follow our Blog so you don't miss it! Thank you for sharing this info with your friends or people you think are interested in it. 

Comments and/or questions are Welcome!

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