How it Works
Water harvesting is, simply, catching rain where it falls. Strategies include:
1) Water Harvesting Earthworks- If your objective is to irrigate a landscape which is primarily native, drought-tolerant plants, consider contouring the earth to catch and store rain in the soil. In a small yard or multi-acre landscape, constructing stabilized berms and mulched basins can direct rainwater where it can be used most efficiently by plants, often eliminating the need for supplemental irrigation.
Case Studies: East Tucson Residence
2) Infiltration Chambers- Infiltration chambers are plastic half-pipe structures buried near or underneath water-intensive plants. Connected to a downspout, graywater line, or tank overflow, they allow water to collect near thirsty plant roots and slowly leach into the soil, minimizing evaporation and maximizing efficiency.
Case Studies: Durham Residence
3) Aboveground Gravity Cisterns- If your objective is to manually water a few water-intensive trees or a small vegetable garden, an aboveground tank provides a simple rainwater source during Tucson’s dry months. This tank has a standard hose spigot for gravity supply of water, requiring no electricity.
Case Studies: Bolding Residence, Central Tucson Residence
4) Aboveground Pressurized Cisterns- If an electronic irrigation system is already an integral part of an established landscape, this irrigation can be retrofitted to supply rainwater by installing an aboveground tank with a pump system.
5) Underground Pressurized Cisterns- If aboveground space is not sufficient for the desired storage capacity, a cistern can be buried underground. Since the tank is now lower than the water destination, a pump is required whether the water is supplied at a hose spigot, automatic irrigation system, or inside the house.
Additional Water Harvesting System Features
Rainwater Incentives
Environmental Benefits
How to Proceed
Balancing Your Water Budget