Harvest All That Monsoon Rainfall!

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? 

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.