Aug 31, 2014
Passive Water
Harvesting
Protect Surface Water
Improve Soil Fertility
Prevent Flooding & Overloading of Infrastructure
Essential Properties of Water
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Essential Properties of Water
● Water flows at right angles to contour
Essential Properties of Water
● Water flows at right angles to contour
● Faster flow = greater capacity to carry pollutants & sediments and more power to cause erosion
Essential Properties of Water
● Water flows at right angles to contour
● Faster flow = greater capacity to carry pollutants & sediments and more power to cause erosion
● It is much easier to manage small volumes of slow moving water than it is to manage large volumes of fast moving water
HydrologyHydrology
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WatershedsWatersheds
source: LA DEQ
“The BioSand Filter uses both physical and biological mechanisms to remove the following contaminants: more than 96% of fecal coliforms, 100% of protozoa and helminthes; 50-90% of organic and inorganic toxicants; more than 75% of iron and manganese; and suspended sediments.”
- UN FAO
Earthworks!
Berms
Basins
Swales
Bioswales
French Drains
Check Dams
Terraces
Gabions
Greywater Systems
Greywater Systems
> Greywater is wastewater that does not include sewage
Greywater Rules
1. Never let greywater collect on the surface
Greywater Rules
1. Never let greywater collect on the surface
2. Never pour bleach, drain cleaner, or any other toxic material down any drain connected to a greywater system
Greywater Rules
1. Never let greywater collect on the surface
2. Never pour bleach, drain cleaner, or any other toxic material down any drain connected to a greywater system
3. Always protect surface water
A Simple, Expandable Greywater System
-Branched Drain System
Branched Drains
House
Deep mulch filled basins
Black pipe
'Y' fittings