Rainwater harvesting is the collecting and storing, of rainwater for reuse, before it reaches the aquifer.

 

 

The simplest way to collect rain water is to channel the water off your roof into gutters and down pipes that pour into a rain barrel.

Normally, this type of storage system is above ground and is gravity fed with a spigot at the bottom of the barrel to connect a water hose.

Harvested rainwater has many uses- from watering your garden and topping off your pond to washing your car or supplying drinking water for your livestock.

 

What if you had a large garden you wish to irrigate using harvested rainwater?

You may need more than one or two rain barrels.

Why not create a  water storage system that would also add beauty to your yard?

 

 

The concept is the same; you collect rain from the gutter downspout just as you would for your rain barrel.

Water is then routed into an underground cistern you created by using liner, pump vault and eco-blox.

 

 

 

Now for the best part, a layer of permeable pavers or a pond-free water feature covers your underground cistern, creating a usable space in your yard.

Using 45mil EPDM liner as your base allows you to make your cistern as large as you need.

Eco-blox are important components in your cistern.

 

They are produced by Atlantic Water Gardens to help hold as much water as possible in your cistern while making it strong enough to hold the pavers or rock for the water feature.

A submersed pump draws the water from the cistern to your garden when needed.

 

There are a few  things to consider when creating a cistern:

1. If you wish to use your stored water to top off your fish pond or supply drinking water for livestock, you will need clean water.
2. After a dry spell, the first water from your roof will contain pollutants that must flush to waste.
3. You can also add a filter to your downspout to help remove these pollutants.

 

Waste, dirt, and debris are removed from your rainwater using the Atlantic Water Gardens Clean Rain Ultra.

Mosquitoes may be another concern.

Add biological mosquito control from Microbe-Lift to keep mosquitoes from breeding.

Microbe-Lift is safe for fish and animals.

 

Rain harvesting is just one example of how you can conserve water and give back to the environment while making your private space a bit more enjoyable.