'Rainwater Harvesting' by Brad Lancaster

[dug]

I used to live near Brad when I was in Tucson. It was amazing to see the transformation of his dry barren lot into a productive, lush oasis using nearly 100% rainwater. I think anyone owning property in arid lands would do well to read his book (there is a volume 1,2 and 3) and employ some or all of the techniques he describes. I just finished volume one and can't wait to start digging and berming so I can "farm" water that has been previously running off my land.

One thing I found interesting is that cisterns, though good and useful, are a mere drop in the bucket compared to the water your soil can hold underground.

Phiri Maseko, a fellow from Zimbabwe who was eloquently quoted in Brad's book said "before you plant trees, you must plant water". Wise words in many respects.


A short primer for the video inclined-http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k9Ku_xpyLK4

[Windpower]

Excellent, dug

I am getting ideas for the farm already.

[Squirl]

Wow.  That was great.  That was presented in a simple way of an idea I never thought about.  One of the immediate things that ran through my mind was a natural way to harvest rain in an area where the laws might prohibit traditional cisterns.

Thank you for sharing.

[peternap]

interesting video dug.
I suppose we are blessed in Virginia because we have plenty of water. I have several freshwater springs and 2 1/4 miles riverfront and all that water is mine for the taking.

[Native_NM]

Just do it on the sly, because in much of the southwest it is actually illegal to harvest rainwater; certain states or municipalities have sold their water rights, which include runoff, to somebody else.  The next wars will be fought over water. 

[dug]

The next wars will be fought over water

That does seem an inevitable eventuality. I think it will probably be some time yet before folks will be banned from landscaping their property to prevent erosion and runoff though. I hope.

[Ajax]

Just do it on the sly, because in much of the southwest it is actually illegal to harvest rainwater; certain states or municipalities have sold their water rights, which include runoff, to somebody else.  The next wars will be fought over water.  

I believe it's only illegal in Colorado and Utah, and think the the Colorado law has been modified recently.

New construction in the US Virgin Islands requires RW harvesting

[Squirl]

I know it is illegal, but the method seems like it would subvert many definitions of traditional water catchment.  I would love to see the language of the actual law and the case law interpretations to see if his method would conform.