Harvest the Winter Rain

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:

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.