Rainwater Harvesting Solutions by Enviroscape LA
Rainwater harvesting is a system that collects rainwater from where it falls rather than allowing it to drain away. The reasons why rainwater harvesting is gaining attention are many. As the economy tanked, pond manufacturers wondered what would become of the pond world. If we think the good ride is over respecting ponds and water gardens, we are probably right (for now). There is an emerging world being born as you read this. This is the world of saving water.
A majority of the United States is undergoing severe drought. Water bills are escalating. We can be a part of the problem or a part of the solution. Smart business people will choose to be a part of the solution. Rather than costing our client's money (by using lots of water), we can save them money by helping them save water. How so? By collecting rainwater for future landscape irrigation reuse.
At the beginning of the year, I had a swimming pool in my backyard. I live a mile from the beach. Each month, it had cost me $$ to heat the pool, run the filtration equipment, and keep it clean with chemicals. Let’s not forget the evaporation of water lost each day. The average pool (uncovered) evaporates about 2,400 gallons per year. The cost of having a pool did not make sense to me, considering I live so close to the beach.
I decided to take a revolutionary step and fill in my pool with what we in the pond world know as “pondless” waterfall boxes. I installed an autofill to the lower end of the pool and tied my roof drains into the system (to fill it up), and a small pump pushes the water into the drip irrigation I have for my native plants. I predict that instead of needing 12 months of expensive tap water per year, I will only need 1 to 2 months of tap water per year. I am building a new patio on top of the system; thus, my patio will keep my plants alive.
I used to think that this type of work was futuristic; however, I believe that now is the time to learn and begin doing rainwater harvesting systems on a grand scale. What we are talking about is sustainability. Rather than rainwater going to the ocean and bringing with it tons of pollution, we now have the ability to keep runoff out of our oceans and reuse water for irrigation. Frayne McAtee, a specialist with ProEco Products (who make the pressurized water pump used in the system), said that rainwater harvesting doesn’t have to use a pool. A collection tank can be smaller and placed anywhere, even under a driveway. Mary Angle, a consultant with EcoRain, estimated that I would recoup the $20,000 cost of installing this system in less than 6 years through water savings.
I decided to host an event in conjunction with my building of the rainwater harvesting system. I invited the local press, politicians, contractors, the water district, municipalities, vendors, the CLCA, and potential clients. The local paper ran a big two-page article on the event. Google Mike Garcia/Easy Reader newspaper, and you can read the favorable press this event got and the mayor of my town endorsing me as the local source to call when you need this kind of work done, as well as branding me as the go-to guy for rainwater harvesting in Los Angeles!
Many onlookers came to the event I had in conjunction with building my rainwater harvesting system. I did the heavy labor before the event, so the event itself was more of an educational event. Word has spread quickly, and I am receiving requests from municipalities and water districts for tours on how to install a rainwater harvesting system in a backyard. This technology is nothing new. People are interested in novelties, but I think rainwater harvesting is here to stay.
We recently installed our first rainwater diversion system under a driveway. This works on the same principle as a rainwater harvesting system but without the liner. The rainwater diversion system keeps rainwater from the roof out of the ocean. Pond contractors are natural for this kind of rainwater harvesting work.
Are you seeking out this type of rainwater harvesting work? We’d love to hear from you.
Landscape Design and Installation of low water use native gardens, waterfalls, ponds, drip irrigation, and rainwater harvesting.
Your Gardening Guide in the Los Angeles South Bay
Enviroscape LA is located in Los Angeles and offers landscaping services in Manhattan Beach, Redondo Beach, Torrance, Gardena, Hermosa Beach, Palos Verdes, Hawthorne, and El Segundo.