Rainwater Harvesting

By:By:Justin CuppJustin Cupp

ownerownerHome Improvement & Home Improvement &

Maintenance, Inc.Maintenance, Inc.

Water ConservationWater Conservation

•• Regional SpecificRegional Specific•• Drinkable Water is an Drinkable Water is an

Issue EverywhereIssue Everywhere•• Dry Toilets (Dry Toilets (EwwwEwww?)?)•• Turning off the faucet Turning off the faucet

in between usesin between uses•• Low flow fixturesLow flow fixtures

‘Water’ The Facts

•• Water makes up 70% of the human bodyWater makes up 70% of the human body•• The Earth is covered with 70% waterThe Earth is covered with 70% water•• Fresh Water accounts for only 1% of all Fresh Water accounts for only 1% of all

water found on Earthwater found on Earth•• Drinking Water is less than 0.1% of 1% of Drinking Water is less than 0.1% of 1% of

the total water found on Earththe total water found on Earth•• 70% of potable water used goes to the 70% of potable water used goes to the

landscape except in Civanolandscape except in Civano

Creating a Water BudgetCreating a Water Budget

•• Start by calculating how much water you Start by calculating how much water you use in the landscapeuse in the landscape

•• Approximately 0.67 gallons of rainwater Approximately 0.67 gallons of rainwater per square foot, per inch of rain can be per square foot, per inch of rain can be captured from a rooftopcaptured from a rooftop

•• On 2000 sq. ft., 1340 gallons of rain is On 2000 sq. ft., 1340 gallons of rain is shed on 1shed on 1”” of rain!of rain!

Factors That Determine Landscape Factors That Determine Landscape Watering NeedsWatering Needs

•• Determine the type of Determine the type of water use plants that are water use plants that are in your landscapein your landscape–– VLVL-- Very low water use Very low water use

(Cacti, Native Species)(Cacti, Native Species)–– LL-- Low water use plantsLow water use plants–– MM-- Moderate water use Moderate water use

plantsplants–– HH-- High water use High water use

vegetation (grass)vegetation (grass)

•• EvapotranspirationEvapotranspiration-- the the amount of water that is amount of water that is evaporated through the evaporated through the hydrologic cycle and how hydrologic cycle and how much water is lost when much water is lost when a plant transpires or a plant transpires or ““sweatssweats”” through its through its leavesleaves

•• Landscape AreaLandscape Area

CalculationsCalculations

•• Sq. Ft. * rainstorm event * Runoff Sq. Ft. * rainstorm event * Runoff Coefficient * 7.48gal/cu.ft. = Total Coefficient * 7.48gal/cu.ft. = Total catchment in gallonscatchment in gallons

•• Et * Plant Factor * Area * 0.623 = Total Et * Plant Factor * Area * 0.623 = Total plant water demand for landscape plant water demand for landscape

•• [(Et * PD = PWN) * 0.623 = GPS] * LA = [(Et * PD = PWN) * 0.623 = GPS] * LA = LCDLCD

Contours of Landscape (contContours of Landscape (cont’’d)d)

•• The contour and grade of The contour and grade of the landscape plays a the landscape plays a major role in how the major role in how the landscape will perform landscape will perform and how water shed and how water shed erodes the surface on site erodes the surface on site and downstreamand downstream

•• Different techniques have Different techniques have different qualities but different qualities but when combined create when combined create optimal conditions for the optimal conditions for the landscape and naturelandscape and nature

The Inconvenience IssueThe Inconvenience Issue

•• The C.A.P. program is already The C.A.P. program is already showing signs of stressshowing signs of stress

•• Water limits have already been Water limits have already been unofficially set for areas such unofficially set for areas such as Sahuarita and Green Valleyas Sahuarita and Green Valley

•• With the population of people With the population of people growing by the minute, the growing by the minute, the current resource supply will current resource supply will not meet the demand.not meet the demand.

•• Most HOA boards & Most HOA boards & bureaucrats prevent the ability bureaucrats prevent the ability to utilize rainwater collection to utilize rainwater collection except for Civano!except for Civano!

Now ItNow It’’s Time to Start Collecting!s Time to Start Collecting!

•• Once you have determined the water use Once you have determined the water use for your specific situation itfor your specific situation it’’s time to start s time to start exploring your options!exploring your options!

Two Primary StrategiesTwo Primary Strategies

•• There are two There are two primary ways to primary ways to harvest rainwater: harvest rainwater:

•• Passive Rainwater Passive Rainwater HarvestingHarvesting

•• Active Rainwater Active Rainwater HarvestingHarvesting

Passive Rainwater HarvestingPassive Rainwater Harvesting

•• Rainwater Collection Rainwater Collection is the intentional is the intentional contouring of contouring of landscape to utilize landscape to utilize the water shed off of the water shed off of a surface without the a surface without the use of a containment use of a containment systemsystem

Passive Rainwater HarvestingPassive Rainwater Harvesting

•• BermsBerms and Swales and Swales •• Curb CutsCurb Cuts•• Raised Walk PathsRaised Walk Paths•• Sunken landscapeSunken landscape•• ChannelingChanneling•• GabionsGabions•• Retention/Detention Retention/Detention

basinsbasins

Curb Cuts and GabionsCurb Cuts and Gabions

Raised Walk Paths & Sunken Raised Walk Paths & Sunken LandscapeLandscape

Active Rainwater HarvestingActive Rainwater Harvesting

•• Active Rainwater Active Rainwater Harvesting is the use Harvesting is the use of containment of containment systems to store systems to store rainwater for rainwater for beneficial use over a beneficial use over a period of time.period of time.

What Type of Containment What Type of Containment System?System?

•• Above or Below Above or Below Ground?Ground?

•• FiberglassFiberglass•• Steel CulvertSteel Culvert•• PlasticPlastic•• MasonryMasonry•• Reinforced ConcreteReinforced Concrete

Digging Area, Setting Pipe/Rebar & Digging Area, Setting Pipe/Rebar & Pouring the FoundationPouring the Foundation

Set in Place and StabilizeSet in Place and Stabilize

Stabbing the OverflowStabbing the Overflow

Put a Lid On ItPut a Lid On It

• Covers on storage tanks are necessary to prevent animals and debris from entering and potentially causing clogging the system

• Prevents algae growth inside tank

• Discourages mosquito harboring & breeding

‘‘WaterWater’’ the benefits?the benefits?

•• ItIt’’s s ““freefree””!!•• Reducing, Reusing and Recycling!Reducing, Reusing and Recycling!•• Plants love rainwater! As a result they grow Plants love rainwater! As a result they grow

better, faster and require less wateringbetter, faster and require less watering•• Recharge the groundwater supply onsite versus Recharge the groundwater supply onsite versus

sending it downstream to cause erosion and sending it downstream to cause erosion and flood damageflood damage

•• Tax Incentives from the State of Arizona Tax Incentives from the State of Arizona through 2011. 25% or up to $1000through 2011. 25% or up to $1000

http://dennismaplanningdept.files.wordpress.com/2009/04/rainwater-cistern-large.jpg

Now ItNow It’’s Time to Sit Back and s Time to Sit Back and Watch as you CollectWatch as you Collect……

Contact Info:Contact Info:

Justin CuppJustin Cupp520.981.4747520.981.4747

rainwatercupp@yahoo.comrainwatercupp@yahoo.comwww.rainwatercupp.com coming www.rainwatercupp.com coming

soon!soon!