Water Conservation Alliance of Southern Arizona

If water from your clothes washer, bathtub, shower, or bathroom sink is going down the drain, you're losing a great water resource. Water that drains from these fixtures can be used again. It's called graywater and it can be a great source of irrigation water for your landscape.

Using your graywater is great way to practice the motto Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. By using graywater, you reduce the need to pump precious groundwater, and you reuse a resource so valuable in the desert. Graywater can also save you money on your water bill. Consider that a family of four generates 69.6 gallons of graywater per day. That's a lot of water going down the drain that has already been paid for and that can be used again to water your plants.

In most cases, graywater is most effective as a supplemental irrigation source. You generate graywater every day you are home. However, when you are away, you need to consider the water needs of your plants while no graywater is being generated. So, it's best to integrate the use of your graywater into your overall landscape water budget. Graywater is most appropriate for ornamental vegetation, citrus, nut, stone fruit trees, and compost piles.

If you want to use your graywater you will want to use it safely, so please get a copy of the new Arizona Rules for using graywater. You can get a copy of the rules on the internet at: http://www.sosaz.com/public_services/Title_18/18-09.pdf

Or, if your water provider is a member of Water CASA, you can request a copy of the new rules from their office...

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Now is a great time to plan for harvesting the gentle winter rains - should we ever get them! This is a wonderful free source of water for your landscape. For many homeowners, almost half of their water use is for their landscapes. By harvesting rainwater, you can reduce your water bill and create a lush landscape that provides shade, food, and beauty. Rainwater harvesting is the capture and use of rainwater for either immediate or later use. Harvesting rainwater has many benefits and rewards such as:

• Reduction in the use of groundwater,
• Lower water bills,
• Reduced flooding and erosion, and
• More productive landscapes.

Systems for harvesting rainwater can be simple or complex. But every system requires a catchment area, a method of storage or holding, and a method of moving the harvested rainwater to the desired location. In addition, each system requires thoughtful observation of drainage patterns on the site, design, planning, and maintenance. Each system has its advantages and costs.

The simple system requires few tools, is inexpensive, and immediately delivers water to a landscaped area. Simple systems use catchment areas such as roofs, sidewalks, and patios to direct rainwater runoff to vegetation. With a simple system, rainwater is stored in the soil. By using a shovel or hoe, you can create basins and berms to slow and direct rainwater to trees and vegetation. (Before you do any major digging, call Blue Stake 1-800-782-5348 to avoid damaging utility lines.)

A complex system harvests rainwater into storage containers for later use during dry periods and drought. A complex system requires an investment in materials, time, and perhaps professional expertise. This system utilizes gutters and downspouts to direct water from roof catchment areas to storage containers. Storage containers come in all shapes and sizes from 20 gallon metal trash cans to 55 gallon plastic barrels to concrete cisterns that will hold hundreds of gallons of rainwater. A complex system is most effective when it includes the strategies of simple systems.

It’s exciting to think of all the possibilities when beginning to harvest rainwater. There are many local resources to get you started. The University of Arizona Cooperative Extension/Low 4 Program has literature and offers workshops. The Sonoran Permaculture Guild also offers workshops on rainwater harvesting. Tohono Chul Park and the Tucson Botanical Gardens have water harvesting demonstration areas as does the Mason Audubon Center.

Whether you choose a simple or complex system, harvesting the winter rains can help reduce your water bill and nourish your landscape.

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As the clouds build up and the wind starts to blow, we sense that monsoon season is upon us. With the monsoon comes our much needed rains. Did you ever think there might be a way to actually capture and use that wonderful rainfall to benefit not only your plants, but your water bill? It is called Water Harvesting.

What is water harvesting? It is making use of the rain that falls on your roof or any other hard surface such as a patio or a driveway, by capturing and directing that rainwater into your garden or into a storage container. There are both active and passive ways for harvesting rainwater. Actively, you can place gutters and downspouts along the edge of your roof . You can then guide the water right into the garden, or into a storage container for later use. Passive water harvesting takes advantage of a sloped sidewalk or driveway directing water to trees or other plants. Another passive water harvesting method is contouring your site to move water to your plants, as opposed to moving water off of or away from your yard. Each of these water harvesting methods saves you from using tap water to irrigate your plants.

For those who want to do more than simply direct rainwater runoff, it is easy to set up a storage system such as one or more 50-gallon drums or a larger custom storage container. From any storage system, an irrigation system (either hose or drip) can be run into your landscaped areas. This allows you to save water for use following the rainy season.

In addition to saving you money on your water bill, harvested rainwater is very good for your plants. It is the cleanest of water sources, and it is virtually salt free. As the clouds are building overhead, give some thought to water harvesting. You won't regret it.

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