Rainwater Reuse, Low-impact Rainwater Reuse, Low-impact Design and New Water-Design and New Water-

storage Technologystorage Technology

A water conservation and smart A water conservation and smart irrigation demonstration project irrigation demonstration project

for the Eco-Living Center for the Eco-Living Center landscape landscape

Rainwater catchment Rainwater catchment

• Benefits: Benefits: – Reduces use of potable water for irrigationReduces use of potable water for irrigation– On site reuse reduces quantity of stormwater On site reuse reduces quantity of stormwater

runoffrunoff

• Applications:Applications:– New constructionNew construction– RetrofitsRetrofits– Commercial propertyCommercial property– Residential communitiesResidential communities

Above ground rainwater Above ground rainwater storage storage • Rain barrels, cisterns, rigid tanksRain barrels, cisterns, rigid tanks

– Benefits: Benefits: • No excavationNo excavation

• Low-costLow-cost

• Easy to build, install and accessEasy to build, install and access

– ConcernsConcerns• Space considerationsSpace considerations

• AestheticsAesthetics

• CapacityCapacity

• OverflowOverflow

A simple cisternA simple cistern

In-ground rainwater storageIn-ground rainwater storage

• Rigid tanksRigid tanks– Benefits: Benefits:

•AestheticsAesthetics•CapacityCapacity•Zero impact on landscape spaceZero impact on landscape space

– Concerns:Concerns:•AccessAccess•Lack of material flexibilityLack of material flexibility•Excavation needsExcavation needs

• Matrix storageMatrix storage– BenefitsBenefits

• AestheticsAesthetics• Capacity Capacity • Zero impact on landscape spaceZero impact on landscape space• Modular cells enhance layout flexibility for space Modular cells enhance layout flexibility for space

efficiencyefficiency• High strength; can be installed under drivewaysHigh strength; can be installed under driveways• Lightweight and collapsible for easy transportLightweight and collapsible for easy transport• Up to 95% void space for enhanced volumeUp to 95% void space for enhanced volume• Lightweight enough for green roof applications Lightweight enough for green roof applications • More green spaceMore green space

– ConcernsConcerns• AccessAccess• Excavation Excavation

Eco-Living Center Roof Eco-Living Center Roof RunoffRunoff

Yellow area: 2,467 Sq Ft

(typical household roof)

1” rainfall = 1262 gal before evaporation

50/50 split between the rain garden and rainwater catchment system could net 36,000 gal, assuming 57” annual rainfall

Atlantis Matrix applicationsAtlantis Matrix applications

In-ground rainwater storage In-ground rainwater storage installationinstallation

The matrix will hold water for The matrix will hold water for irrigating the coontie bed in irrigating the coontie bed in front of the Eco-Living Centerfront of the Eco-Living Center

Microjet placement on coontie Microjet placement on coontie bedbed

LEED PointsLEED Points

A builder using this water storage A builder using this water storage technology would achieve as many as 12 technology would achieve as many as 12 creditscredits

CategoryCategory Credits possibleCredits possible

Sustainable sitesSustainable sites 44

Water efficiencyWater efficiency 44

Materials & Materials & ResourcesResources

33

Innovation & DesignInnovation & Design 11

Marketing anglesMarketing angles

• Reduce water/sewage costsReduce water/sewage costs• Reduce sewage assessments calculated Reduce sewage assessments calculated

based on a homeowner’s impervious based on a homeowner’s impervious surface areasurface area

• Competition – Wouldn’t you love to have a Competition – Wouldn’t you love to have a productive garden even when your productive garden even when your neighbor’s lawn is turning brown?neighbor’s lawn is turning brown?

• Emotional buy-in – Homeowners can be Emotional buy-in – Homeowners can be part of the solutionpart of the solution

• Property values – Enhanced from low-Property values – Enhanced from low-impact development practicesimpact development practices

DO try this at home!DO try this at home!

• It’s not hard to institute a small-scale It’s not hard to institute a small-scale rainwater catchment system.rainwater catchment system.

• Alternative water source during an Alternative water source during an emergency, like a hurricane.emergency, like a hurricane.

• Create a beautiful “waterscape” Create a beautiful “waterscape”

• Your neighbors might catch on to what Your neighbors might catch on to what you’re doing and want to try it themselves. you’re doing and want to try it themselves.

Four pinnacles of creating a Four pinnacles of creating a greener communitygreener community

• EnergyEnergy

• Bio-diversityBio-diversity

• Healthy livabilityHealthy livability

• WaterWater

Nine principles of Florida Nine principles of Florida friendly landscapingfriendly landscaping• Right plant, right placeRight plant, right place• Water efficientlyWater efficiently• Fertilize appropriatelyFertilize appropriately• MulchMulch• Attract wildlifeAttract wildlife• Control yard pests responsiblyControl yard pests responsibly• RecycleRecycle• Reduce stormwater runoffReduce stormwater runoff• Protect the waterfrontProtect the waterfront

ResourcesResources

• Florida Yards and Neighborhoods Florida Yards and Neighborhoods http://fyn.ifas.ufl.eduhttp://fyn.ifas.ufl.edu

• Lee County Extension Service Lee County Extension Service http://lee.ifas.ufl.edu/http://lee.ifas.ufl.edu/

• Elemental Stone and Waterworks, Elemental Stone and Waterworks, Inc. Inc. www.artofwelcome.comwww.artofwelcome.com

• Florida Yards and Neighborhoods Florida Yards and Neighborhoods http://fyn.ifas.ufl.eduhttp://fyn.ifas.ufl.edu

• Lee County Extension Service Lee County Extension Service http://lee.ifas.ufl.edu/http://lee.ifas.ufl.edu/

• Elemental Stone and Waterworks, Elemental Stone and Waterworks, Inc. Inc. www.artofwelcome.comwww.artofwelcome.com

Produced for Florida Yards and Produced for Florida Yards and Neighborhoods, in Neighborhoods, in collaboration with Elemental collaboration with Elemental Stone and Waterworks, Inc.Stone and Waterworks, Inc.

Other contributors:

Jeff Paul, Jeff Paul Enterprises - Irrigation

Eric Thornton, R.S. Walsh Landscaping – CAD illustrations