I’m Obsessed With Water
By Loren on Dec 18, 2008 in Uncategorized
I’ve been mentioning my new project at the 10News Ranch a lot lately. I harvest rainwater and reuse it in my gardens and orchards for irrigation. Here is a video we produced when I installed the system a while back http://www.10news.com/video/13679766/index.html
The practice of harvesting the rain is as old as mankind. In modern times we use the roofs of our homes to gather the water. In simple terms, it rains, hits the roof, run down gutters and into a tank or tanks. They can be as simple as 40- or 50-gallon rain barrels on up to multi-thousand gallon tanks and cisterns. So far this rainy season I’ve been able to capture and use in excess of 5,000 gallons of rainwater.
During the steady rain today I worked to rehab the earthen basins surrounding the lemon trees in my small orchard. Despite this weeks heavy rains, I was surprised to see as I tilled, that just a couple inches below ground it was still bone dry. The soil in my grove has been constantly amended with compost for 5 years so the soil is very rich and absorbent; still the rain alone has not done the trees much good.
Last night’s rain filled my 1,100-gallon storage tank and this morning it was still raining heavily, so I put a small pump and garden hose in the tank and directed the hose to the various trees in my orchard. I pumped steadily for 5 hours and thoroughly soaked the tree basins with good sweet rainwater. At the same time new rainwater was refilling my tank as I went, so despite using at least 1,000 gallons on my trees, tonight my tank is still full. I feel sorta like a guy who discovers a pirate cave full of gold coins. His wealth is limited only by what will fit in his pockets. My ability to harvest the rain is limited only by the size of my roof and the capacity of my collection tanks.
In the coming weeks I’ll be speaking to various city councils and water boards, trying to convince them that our civic designs to whisk water away and out to sea as fast as possible may not be the wisest idea.
In arid communities around the world villages design their communities to slow water as it passes through low lying areas so the maximum amount will soak in and replenish aquifers, or fill collection tanks. Not only does it treat water as the valuable commodity it is, but it reduces the urban pollutants that get swept out to sea as well.
In the past, my fascination with revisiting old-time practices like composting, organic gardening, and non toxic methods of dealing with pests have drawn posts from people who believe the only way forward is through new improved technologies. It baffles me to think that because an idea is tried and true it must be harebrained and silly. In the ’90s, nurseries and commercial farmers told me organic methods were nutty and would never catch on. Now they all sell and use organic fertilizers. Soon I hope these same retailers will see the value of harvesting the water that falls from the sky and acknowledge it is valuable in its scarcity.
As a side note the only retail outlet in the ’90s who embraced the organics trade was Grangetto’s Farm and Garden Supply. Today I spoke with Kevin Grangetto who told me he’ll be happy to try selling rain barrels too. Kevin, you rock!
So what do you think? Is rain harvesting part of the solution to our region’s water woes? Is this just another of my hippy, Al Gore loving, tofu eating, peace sign throwing, goofball ideas? I’d love to see what you think.
Thanks for tuning in, logging on and speaking up.
Loren,
Thanks so much for posting Volunteer San Diego as a link on your blog. We appreciate the add and all that you do for the community!
Kelli Ochoa
Volunteer San Diego
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Kelli Ochoa | Dec 18, 2008
Hi Loren. I am trying to set up a rainwater harvesting system at my house using 4X 2000 Gal. Draco tanks to be buried in my front yard.I will use a “First Flush” diversion off each rain gutter down spout, into 5X 60 Gal. “catch” tanks, which have pumps to move the water to the main 8000 Gal. in the front yard. A pressure pump, in the main tank system, will be used to water the yard & garden. The problem I have is finding competent help, to install the system. I would sure like to find out who did your system and more details as to its components. I am also trying to purchase an Atmospheric Water Generator that generates drinking water out of moisture in the air. I am trying to convince http://www.airwaterworldusa.com to sell me an AW250 that will produce 250 Liters/66 Gal per day. They are made in Israel, and sold world wide, but not in the U.S. If you did a video program on it, perhaps they would believe me that there IS a market here in the U.S. for their products. F.Y.I. my house is powered by a 7000 Watt P.V. array. We will be increasing the size soon to power a PHEV Prius and a pure electric Phoenix sport utility truck. We are also adding a room & remodel built to “green specs”, and solar hot water. You can do a video on my place, but it will be torn up until at least June, when the work is complete. Many thanks for your help. Bruce Haupt
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Bruce Haupt | Dec 18, 2008
Wow Bruce, it sounds like a dream system, home and effort. I will look forward to seeing it next summer. My immediate question is about cost. What has all this cost you, and how long will it take to recoup your investment? I understand that doing the right thing does not always have immediate returns in terms of $$$$ saved, but is what you’re doing in reach to the average person?
I will definitely check out the water generator web site. Sounds promising if it isn’t too energy hungry.
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Loren Nancarrow | Dec 19, 2008
Dear Loren,
I am obsessed with saving water too. Although I do not have the land space for a big water tank as you do, I have managed to save 300 gallons of rain water in garbage cans and storage bids. I use these containers with lids because my roommate is fearful of the mosquitos making their maternity ward out of my standing rain water. So in order to appease my roommates fear and my obession to harvest rain water I use containers with tight sealing lids.
Keep up inspiring your viewing to practice concervation heathly habits.
MERRY CHRISTMAS!
Mem
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Mem Mattson | Dec 19, 2008
Thanks Mem, I’m happy to learn there are more of us out there. Your roommate makes a good point and the tightly sealed top is essential for mosquito control. It’s also a good idea to prevent accidental drownings if kids are around. Your trees must love the additional water to help leach out the salts from our city water. More rain is coming soon so use all you can to make room for more.
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loren nancarrow | Dec 19, 2008
All this is wonderful! I am learning so much. Thanks everyone!
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John Mustol | Dec 21, 2008
I am also doing some small time rain harvesting. But I cover the water collection jugs, etc. because our beautiful bees seem attracted to the water and end up drowning.
I wish I had room for a large tank and sump but being in the City I simply don’t. So I’ll be collecting large barrels this year to collect what I can. Also I killed my urban lawn a couple years ago and planted natives..they are amazing and beautiful this year! Thanks Loren for such a great column!
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Nadia | Dec 24, 2008
Dear Loren, Great website! One of my resolutions was to install gutters on my roof and harvest rain and dew (I live by the ocean) for my garden in rainbarrels. Trouble is, I can’t find any rainbarrels in San Diego. As I peruse the web I find other cities selling them quite cheaply (Tempe Milwakee etc.) and encouraging water conservation in various ways. I commend you for going to the cities and water authority and hope they will help encourage this program. Currently I don’t wish to buy something this expensive sight unseen and Grangetto’s has not found a supplier. I’ll continue to use old plastic garbage cans for rain and dipper out water. Let us know about any progress with the cities or anyplace in San Diego selling rain barrels. Jane Swanson
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Jane Swanson | Jan 2, 2009
Loren, I was watching your segment tonight and you caught my attention about the feedback you received on rain barrels. I have your solution!! I just started marketing a collapsible rain barrel that is perfect for San Diego. During our dry months you can roll it up and store it like a tent. My company is all about water saving solutions/products. Visit my website at http://www.WaterSaverSolutions.com. I think you and your audience will find my site resourceful. It’s full of information about our drought condition, useful links such as rebate programs, and water saving products that actually work.
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Chuck Bragdon | Jan 7, 2009
Like others, I was disappointed to learn San Diego doesn’t have a rain barrel program. So I went to one of the Mayor Sander’s water conservation forums last fall and asked why. He felt that we just don’t get enough rainfall to justify the cost, especially during the current budget crisis. Possibly so.
Undeterred, I still want rain barrels. Any suggestions for suppliers and is anyone interested in getting together on a bulk purchase?
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In response, on January 7, 2009, loren nancarrow said:
Oh great! Another brilliant comment from the Mayor. The lack of rain in San Diego is the REASON why rain harvesting makes so much sense.
We rely on water which is transported from hundreds of miles away and discount that which falls here. I repeat, I’ve harvested more than 5 thousand gallons during just three rain storms. I have not irrigated with city water since the last rains 3 weeks ago. Here is an idea of what’s possible. 1000 square feet of roof area can produce 600 gallons of water from an inch of rain. Since irrigation is the largest consumer of water in San Diego rain harvesting DOES make sense, but some politicians don’t make sense.
I am working on getting rain barrels in SD and hope to have something to report soon.
James Short | Jan 7, 2009
Grangetto’s and Walter Andersen Nursery now has rain barrels.
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Chuck Bragdon | Feb 16, 2009
Hi Loren,
Keep up the Good Work!
I’ve heard that lawns require the equivalent of 100 inches of rain per year. That concept convinced me that southern California needs another type of landscaping. Please feature the many ways gardens can be planted to be both beautiful and appropriate for the 10 inches or less of precipitation we get.
If just a few people on each block change their ways it will catch on. Many homes in Mission Hills have made the change. Send out a cameraman!
Thousands of homes in the suburbs were planted with huge wrap-around lawns. People need ideas other than crushed rocks and cactus.
Thanks!
Sherry Engberg
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Sherry Engberg | Mar 1, 2009
Good Loren:
With all the worry about sparse rainfall in our region, I wonder why no mention is made of cloud seeding. I understand that the Chinese have experienced a measure of success in some of their “drought” areas using this approach.
It appears to me that some of our “low to no rain” episodes might be quite productive if cloud seeding was utilized.
As a meteorologist, what think you?
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James Mullin | Mar 20, 2009