Site:
Errson House
Owner:
Ole and Maitri Errson
Address:
SE Portland
Portland, OR
Contact:
Ole Errson

Comments:
Ole Errson’s 1500 gallon above ground cistern captures 29,000 gallons of stormwater each year from his 1200 square foot roof. Errson was also the first person to receive a city permit to use rainwater they’ve collected for showers, toilets, cooking, laundry, and irrigation. From September through June the Errson family relies almost entirely on rainwater for household use, thanks to a system of microbial filters, ultraviolet light sterilizers, and periodic cleaning and testing. Photo courtesy of Ole Errson.

Site:
People’s Food Coop
Owner:
People’s Food Coop
Address:
3029 SE 21st Avenue
Portland, OR 97202
Contact:
Erica Smith
503.232.9051

Comments:
People's buried a 1500 gallon cistern that captures nearly all of People's roof runoff. Buried under the front clover/grass mix courtyard, water from the cistern irrigates the surrounding vegetation. The cistern was installed with the capability to eventually incorporate a grey water system.

Site:
Pistils Plant Nursery
Owner:
Amy Twilegar
Address:
3811 N. Mississippi
Portland, OR 97227
Contact:
Amy Twilegar
503.288.4889

Comments:
Rainwater that isn’t absorbed by Pistil’s ecoroof is transported by a traditional gutter system to a buried 1500 gallon cistern. Stormwater from two small outbuildings flows to another cistern. Combined capacity is 3000 gallons – which given the nature of the nursery business – significantly helps with summer irrigation.

Site:
Oregon Natural Resources Council
Owner:
Oregon Natural Resources Council
Address:
5825 N. Greeley
Portland, OR 97217
Contact:
Erin Fagley
503.283.6343

Comments:
As part of their green building campaign, the Oregon Natural Resources Council installed a 2000 gallon cistern to store and use rainwater for irrigation. And potentially in the future, for grey water applications. The pictures show the concrete cistern being installed and then covered by pervious pavers and native plants.

Site:
da Vinci Middle School
Owner:
Portland Public School District
Address:
3508 NE Everett
Portland, OR 97232
Contact:
Dan Evans
503.916.5356

Comments:
Two above ground cisterns collect water from portable classrooms at SE Portland’s da Vinci Middle School. A spider web of pipes connect the downspouts to the cisterns. The cisterns slowly drain through a series of flow forms into a small pond, which overflows, when sufficient rainfall occurs to an infiltration garden. Science teacher Dan Evans and teams of students and volunteers conceived and implemented the project. See Integrated Site Examples for more information.

Site:
Heritage House
Owner:

Address:
NW McKenna Drive
Portland, OR
Contact:
Ray Pavlik
503.297.9300

Comments:
A residential winner in the 1996-1997 Stormwater Design Award Competition, this house in Portland’s Forest Heights utilizes a 500-gallon cistern to collect and store rainwater from the roof. Cisterns can be stored above or below ground. (Photo from “Winning Project; Stormwater Design Award Competition 1996-1997)