WaTEr
WATeR – uSe iT WiSely
with RainwatER haRvEstinG “Rain is the embodiment of life. It infuses water into our springs, rivers and aquifers. It cools us, greens the lands, and nourishes the plants that feed us. It cleans the air, washes salts from the soil, and makes the animals sing.” - Brad Lancaster, author of Rainwater Harvesting for Drylands and Beyond bY tIna sleeper
I
t never rains in Phoenix, right? Born and raised in the leisurely route that improves water quality and adds beauty. Valley, I bought into our collective story and eagerly added I was hooked. I read and learned from others. But most to its narrative: We live in a hot, dry place. It’s a desert! importantly, I watched. Successful harvesting starts with And it never rains. That’s why I was skeptical the day I first extended observation of how water flows in the yard. Observe saw a rainwater harvesting cistern in the city. during different times of the day, seasons and storms. Once Valley residents Ryan and Ericka Wood had opened their you begin, start small and high on your home watershed, as home to the community for a tour of their permaculture any change made will affect the lower areas. Always plan for garden. I was impressed at their shade structures, healthy overflow and direct it safely away from your home. As with vegetable garden, and any home project, make sure to check with the local Planning outdoor shower. But when Office for permits and call Blue Stake to locate utility lines. BEfoRE Ryan pointed out the funky Here at Water – Use it cylindrical metal container Wisely, our motto is “There in their yard – a cistern, he are a number of ways to explained, for storing saltsave water, and they all start free rainwater that plants with you.” And when you love – I was skeptical. start – no matter how small How much water could – you start to see the bigger they possibly harvest here in picture of green living. With dry, hot Phoenix? Someone each harvesting project, aftER threw out the statistic: a I realize that it’s about so 1,000-square-foot roof can runoff about 600 gallons of much more than collecting water in a one-inch rainstorm. A seed was planted in my water. It’s about being in mind, but I still wasn’t quite convinced. tune with our land and “doing labor with your neighbor.” It’s A few months later I attended my very first Phoenix about learning how to be a steward of the land by seeing each Green Living co-op where volunteers worked side-by-side residential yard as a significant part of the greater watershed. digging and moving the soil to shape basins and swales and And it’s about the pursuit of health for people, plants and the build berms. We planted low-water-use bushes, trees and environment. In the end, isn’t that what it’s always about? groundcover, and then layered mulch over the soil. The instructor described how shaping the soil, called earthworks, Tina Sleeper is a Water Resource Specialist with the City of Phoenix, one encourages rain to slow, spread, and sink into the soil. of 15 Water – Use It Wisely partners to offer water-saving advice and programs. Learn more about rainwater harvesting and other ways to save Traditionally, landscapes are graded so that rain is water at wateruseitwisely.com. directed quickly off our properties, potentially flooding our neighborhoods and polluting the Salt River. Using earthworks Photo credit: Projects designed and installed by Watershed Management can direct this salt-free water instead into the soil to help Group through community workshops. landscape plants thrive. Since plants are part of the water for more articles about water visit greenlivingaz.com/water cycle, this water isn’t hoarded; instead, it takes a more
10 greenliving | October 2015
greenlivingaz.com