Submitted By: Karen Maggio (kjmaggio@pomrg.com)
Challenge
Having been involved in planning, teaching and green building for many years, I often use my own home as a test site for new ideas, colors and technologies. I have experimented with solar lighting, rain chains, rain barrels, composting, mulching, nitrogen fixing plants for a class demonstration, bio swales and the list goes on. Recently I have turned my attention to water.
Part of my inspiration came from being involved in two water catchment projects for Mills College in Oakland. The new Natural Science Building captures rainwater from a roof gutter system that flows down an artful tiered waterfall into an above ground holding tank. The water is treated and pumped to the dual flush toilets and to the surrounding native landscape. Over 57,000 gallons of water are saved annually just from rain catchment and another 280,000 gallons from the use of efficient fixtures. The success of the science project spawned a second Mills project that also incorporates water catchment in an artful display. The new Mills College Graduate School of Business, currently under construction, will collect rainwater from the roof that will dramatically fall 26 feet from a zinc butterfly roof to a iris pond before it is treated and reused.
Solution Details
While working on these projects, and as part of my experimental nature, a rain catchment system also landed in my backyard. Although not nearly as elaborate as the ones at Mills, a simple rain barrel now waters the nearby rose garden. Having experienced the joy and frugality of captured water to irrigate, it pains me to turn on the hose and pour drinking water on the ground. I can see that more experimenting is about to take place with a goal of eliminating the use of more domestic water in my garden.
Rain barrels have reappeared with the advent of the drought and can be found at reasonable prices at your local hardware store. Some barrels have attachments that allow connection to multiple barrels increasing storage capacity as needed. Most containers under 100 gallons are easy to install. Containers large enough to supplement internal water use are also available and several local companies can assist homeowner in assessing size, materials needs as well as perform installation.
One word of caution for those shopping for the best price, take into account the location of your purchase. You could pay more in shipping than the actual price of the barrel. By shopping close to home, your purchase will not only save water but gasoline as well.
Informational Links
Read a longer article that I wrote titled “Exploring Water Catchment”
Read about the water catchment system at the Sunset Idea House
