DRIP - Demonstrating Rainwater Irrigation Possibilities
In early February 2008, several members of the Bainbridge Island Watershed Council joined with the Bainbridge Island Permaculture Guild, and other local volunteers to brainstorm ways to help residents install water catchment systems on their property for the purposes of providing a “guilt-free” supply of water for garden irrigation during the dry summer months.
PROBLEM: As natural areas are replaced by impervious paved surfaces, rainfall can’t soak into the ground to recharge our drinking water supply. Stormwater too often ends up running off roads into Puget Sound instead of being absorbed by soil to slowly trickle into groundwater aquifers. Large amounts of pollutants are washed with it into open water bodies. Watering of lawns and gardens accounts for a large increase in City water usage every dry season. Pumping precious drinking water for watering our gardens can be expensive, particularly for residents using limited City water supplies.
ONE SOLUTION: Why not capture excess rainwater off the roof of your house to water your plants in the dry season,and reduce stormwater runoff from your property?
Jim Gleckler, who had recently purchased two 3000 gallon food-grade plastic cisterns that he hoped to install in his yard for irrigating his gardens, was willing to host a workshop on April 5, 2008 at his site where local landscape consultant/engineer Brian Bonifaci demonstrated the mechanics of hooking cisterns up to house downspouts, piping the water through the yard, and using gravity to move water through the system. Of the 33 workshop participants, several immediately purchased cisterns and several are working on establishing other means of water catchment on their site through ponds or underground systems.
PROBLEM: As natural areas are replaced by impervious paved surfaces, rainfall can’t soak into the ground to recharge our drinking water supply. Stormwater too often ends up running off roads into Puget Sound instead of being absorbed by soil to slowly trickle into groundwater aquifers. Large amounts of pollutants are washed with it into open water bodies. Watering of lawns and gardens accounts for a large increase in City water usage every dry season. Pumping precious drinking water for watering our gardens can be expensive, particularly for residents using limited City water supplies.
ONE SOLUTION: Why not capture excess rainwater off the roof of your house to water your plants in the dry season,and reduce stormwater runoff from your property?
Jim Gleckler, who had recently purchased two 3000 gallon food-grade plastic cisterns that he hoped to install in his yard for irrigating his gardens, was willing to host a workshop on April 5, 2008 at his site where local landscape consultant/engineer Brian Bonifaci demonstrated the mechanics of hooking cisterns up to house downspouts, piping the water through the yard, and using gravity to move water through the system. Of the 33 workshop participants, several immediately purchased cisterns and several are working on establishing other means of water catchment on their site through ponds or underground systems.
