Basic overview of techniques for harvesting and using rainwater in the landscape.

1. Rainwater Harvesting
By:
Justin Cupp
owner
Home Improvement &
Maintenance, Inc.

2. Water Conservation
• Regional Specific
• Drinkable Water is an
Issue Everywhere
• Dry Toilets (Ewww?)
• Turning off the faucet
in between uses
• Low flow fixtures

3. ‘Water’ The Facts
• Water makes up 70% of the human body
• The Earth is covered with 70% water
• Fresh Water accounts for only 1% of all
water found on Earth
• Drinking Water is less than 0.1% of 1% of
the total water found on Earth
• 70% of potable water used goes to the
landscape except in Civano

4. Creating a Water Budget
• Start by calculating how much water you
use in the landscape
• Approximately 0.67 gallons of rainwater
per square foot, per inch of rain can be
captured from a rooftop
• On 2000 sq. ft., 1340 gallons of rain is
shed on 1” of rain!

5. Factors That Determine Landscape
Watering Needs
• Determine the type of • Evapotranspiration- the
water use plants that are amount of water that is
in your landscape evaporated through the
– VL- Very low water use hydrologic cycle and how
(Cacti, Native Species) much water is lost when
– L- Low water use plants a plant transpires or
– M- Moderate water use “sweats” through its
plants leaves
– H- High water use
vegetation (grass) • Landscape Area

6. Calculations
• Sq. Ft. * rainstorm event * Runoff
Coefficient * 7.48gal/cu.ft. = Total
catchment in gallons
• Et * Plant Factor * Area * 0.623 = Total
plant water demand for landscape
• [(Et * PD = PWN) * 0.623 = GPS] * LA =
LCD

7. Contours of Landscape (cont’d)
• The contour and grade of
the landscape plays a
major role in how the
landscape will perform
and how water shed
erodes the surface on site
and downstream
• Different techniques have
different qualities but
when combined create
optimal conditions for the
landscape and nature

8. The Inconvenience Issue
• The C.A.P. program is already
showing signs of stress
• Water limits have already been
unofficially set for areas such
as Sahuarita and Green Valley
• With the population of people
growing by the minute, the
current resource supply will
not meet the demand.
• Most HOA boards &
bureaucrats prevent the ability
to utilize rainwater collection
except for Civano!

9. Now It’s Time to Start Collecting!
• Once you have determined the water use
for your specific situation it’s time to start
exploring your options!

10. Two Primary Strategies
• There are two
primary ways to
harvest rainwater:
• Passive Rainwater
Harvesting
• Active Rainwater
Harvesting

11. Passive Rainwater Harvesting
• Rainwater Collection
is the intentional
contouring of
landscape to utilize
the water shed off of
a surface without the
use of a containment
system

12. Passive Rainwater Harvesting
• Berms and Swales
• Curb Cuts
• Raised Walk Paths
• Sunken landscape
• Channeling
• Gabions
• Retention/Detention
basins

13. Curb Cuts and Gabions

14. Raised Walk Paths & Sunken
Landscape

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

16. What Type of Containment
System?
• Above or Below
Ground?
• Fiberglass
• Steel Culvert
• Plastic
• Masonry
• Reinforced Concrete

17. Digging Area, Setting Pipe/Rebar &
Pouring the Foundation

18. Set in Place and Stabilize

19. Stabbing the Overflow

20. Put 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

21. ‘Water’ the benefits?
• It’s “free”!
• Reducing, Reusing and Recycling!
• Plants love rainwater! As a result they grow
better, faster and require less watering
• Recharge the groundwater supply onsite versus
sending it downstream to cause erosion and
flood damage
• Tax Incentives from the State of Arizona
through 2011. 25% or up to $1000

28. Now It’s Time to Sit Back and
Watch as you Collect…

29. Contact Info:
Justin Cupp
520.981.4747
rainwatercupp@yahoo.com
www.rainwatercupp.com coming
soon!