Water
Conservation.
WATER
COLLECTION & HARVESTING
Water Collection and Harvesting
practices capture water that would otherwise pass through the landscape and
hardscapes with the assistance
of man-made diversion and collection systems and recycle them on site for
irrigation purposes. These efforts regain rainfall and gray water to supplement
irrigation systems as drought conditions and watering restrictions dictate.
Another approach is reclaiming urban green space with green roofs.
Modified Gutter
Systems
For starters, residences in the
Southeast might harvest thousands of gallons of water per year from modified
gutter systems, depending on roof size and annual rainfall. A system that
channels rainwater from the roof into collection vessels can be connected to an
irrigation system with basic plumbing equipment. A 1500 square foot roof
collects 8000 gallons of harvested rainwater per year in Tucson, Arizona.[1]
A simpler program is possible with rain barrels which can be retrofitted to
gutter downspouts.
Properties with extensive
gardens can benefit from rainwater harvesting , thus allowing irrigation schedules to
proceed while still observing water restriction laws. These gardeners
contribute to the civic environment by reducing storm water load on sewer
systems. By some estimates, an inch of rain collected from a 1000 square foot
roof can produce 420 gallons of harvested rainwater.[2]
That roof might produce an average 20,500 gallons of harvested rainwater per year in
the state of Georgia.[3]
Gray Water
Gray water is reclaimed water
from household dishwasher and washing machine cycles, showers, baths, and
dehumidifiers. This water can be collected in buckets or in cisterns, conducted
through a piping system. It is estimated that the washing machine uses 35 – 70
gallons per load. Although the soap water is not recommended, even 80 – 100
gallons of rinse water alone can be reclaimed per week from a family of four
with normal household activity. Gray water is considered safe on ornamentals,
however it is recommended that it be alternated with pure irrigation water.
Gray water is not recommended for vegetables, container plants, young plants or
plants with high salt sensitivity. One should be cautious of potential negative
effects gray water causes soil organisms.[4]
Calhoun, Scott. "Harvesting the Rain." Horticulture.
Feb. 2005: 22.
Ibid.
Meeuswissen, Harrie, "Georgia Weather and Climate." 3 Jan 2005.
HM USA Travel Guide. 19 Feb 2005, chart.
<http://www.hm-usa.com/climate/ga.html>
Weinstein, Gayle. Xeriscape Handbook. Colorado:
Fulcrum Publishing, 1999, p. 126.
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