WaterLifeblood of Urban Sustainability

Ray Ely 502.896.0635 rgely@iglou.com

Blog with info from class http://waterlifeblood.blogspot.com/

Contacts

Saves on the expense of water plus sewer surcharge

Environmental consideration due to combined sewer overflow, sedimentation, and pollution runoff

Water may be better for plants Make a “visible” environmental statement

Why Collect Rainwater?

Water cycle to Ocean

Ogallala Aquifer Depletion

Watering during rain

Amount of water needed to make a bottle of water

Water required per pound of beef Percentage of water that goes to irrigation Percentage of corn grown with irrigation How far from Louisville to Fiji Amount of sugar in Vitamin Water compared

to Coke

Fun (and Scary) Water Facts

Amount of water needed to make a bottle of water (2 bottles)

Water required per pound of beef (450 to 2500 gallons)

Percentage of water that goes to irrigation (37%)

Percentage of corn grown with irrigation (20%)

How far from Louisville to Fiji (7400 miles) Amount of sugar in Vitamin Water compared

to Coke (33g vs. 39g)

Fun (and Scary) Water Facts

The Natural Water cycle

Urbanized Water Cycle

Rain Barrels Cisterns Rain Gardens Swales (Permaculture) Bioswales

Types of Water Catchment

Typical Rain Barrel

Usually 55 Gallons Should be Food Grade Plastic

SAFETY IS IMPORTANT!!

Rain Barrels

Guard against tipping Guard against drowning Guard against water damage from overflow Guard against Mosquito larvae Not for consumption (No Pets either!)

Rainbarrel Safety

Inlet Overflow Outlet Stand

Components of Barrel

Should strain out debris Should not restrict flow Can use corrugated hose from downspout to

barrel Screen for mosquitos?

Inlet

Should be large enough Should be as high as possible in barrel (Should not be above bottom of grate) Should direct flow away from house

Overflow Properties

Brass Hose Fitting (insufficient flow) Sump pump discharge kit 2” PVC

Overflow Materials

Should be close to the bottom of barrel Should be large opening for maximum flow Tight joint in barrel Can use bulkhead fitting Use valve that has hose thread built in

Outlet

A higher stand gives more pressure 1 psi of pressure for each 2.3 feet of height Stand needs to be level so barrel will

balance Certain barrels are more prone to tipping Consider securing barrel to wall for safety

Rainbarrel Stands

Barrel Stability

Rainbarrel Stands

4 blocks, 16 inches 16 Blocks plus paver,26 inches

Rainbarrel Stands

Wood Stand

Rainbarrel Stands

Retaining Wall Blocks

Accessories for RainbarrelsFirst Flush Device

Accessories for RainbarrelsLeaf Screen

Accessories for RainbarrelsDiverter

Increasing Storage

Rainbarrel Aesthetics

Barrel with Planter on Top

Rainbarrel Aesthetics

Oak Whiskey Barrel

Rainbarrel Aesthetics

Terra Cotta Olive Barrel

Rainbarrel Aesthetics

Painted Barrel

Rainbarrel Aesthetics

Surrounded by Flowers

Rainbarrel Aesthetics

Making a Statement!

Be a Critic!

Be a Critic!

Outlet too high

Be a Critic!

Be a Critic!

Ready to topple, not balanced or

secured

Be a Critic!

Also…….is there an overflow?

Hose between barrels too small

Be a Critic!

Be a Critic!

Child Drowning risk

Be a Critic!

Mosquito larvae in red barrel

My largest home system

265 Gallon TankValve is 52 inches above ground.Inlet with overflow and integral strainer

Inlet Detail

4 x 2 Sanitary Tee used to provide integral overflow. Tote lid drilled for tight fit. Strainer between T and pipe

Inlet Detail

4 x 2 Sanitary Tee used to provide integral overflow. Tote lid drilled for tight fit. Strainer between T and pipe

Frame Detail

4 x 6 post 2 feet deep4 x 4 frame bolted to post

Outlet Detail

Converted “nonstandard” thread to pipe threadFull flow quick opening ball valve w/ hose thread

Upside Down Barrel

Outlet pipe fitting installed in existing barrel bung. The bung has a built-in ¾ inch pipe thread

Double Barrel Orchard Irrigation

2 horizontal 55 gallon barrels plumbed together

Double Barrel Orchard Irrigation

2 inch piping tied together with “no-hub” band. Small pipe allows bottom barrel to vent

Double Barrel Orchard Irrigation

Outlet showing ball valve and irrigation filter with hose connected

Double Barrel Orchard Irrigation

Espaliered Apples

Double Barrel Orchard Irrigation

Base of Apple tree fed with ¼ inch adjustable flow line off of ½ inch header

Double Barrel Orchard Irrigation

Detail of ¼ inch shutoff valve in ½ header, with ¼ inch drip tube running to tree

Rain Garden

About 100 square feet of raingarden planted with fruit trees and medicinal/ edible plants

Rain Garden

Downspout converts to corrugated tubing, to atrium grate, to pvc pipe running underground

Rain Garden

Showing corrugated pipe attached to atrium grate

Larger Storage!!

Rain Gardens

A rain garden is a planted depression that allows rainwater runoff from impervious urban areas like roofs, driveways, walkways, parking lots, and compacted lawn areas the opportunity to be absorbed

Definition of Rain Garden

Size is primarily function of roof area Also should consider soil permeability Percolation test can be performed Rule of Thumb………30% of the roof area At least 10 feet from house Natural low spot……….or dig a hole

Sizing and Placement of a Raingarden

Often use native species Wet loving plants in the bottom Dryer plants at the edge Pay attention to sun/shade requirements Species available from local sources List of Native plants in MSD pamphlet

Plants for a Rain Garden

Raingarden Components

Swales Think of a swale as a linear raingarden Plants are often planted on the lower berm Swales are usually constructed along

contour lines A contour line is a line in which each point is

the same elevation above sea level

Understanding Contour lines

Finding contours with an A-frame

Digging swales by hand

Bioswales Bioswales are landscape elements

designed and built to remove silt and pollution from surface runoff water. These “swaled” drainage courses are, in a sense, gently sloped ditches that contain plants, compost and/or riprap. The sloped sides are usually less than six percent slope. These are often constructed of “engineered soil”.

Bioswales

Bioswales Think of a bioswale as a raingarden in which

the water has a “destination”. Although designed to slow, clean, and cool water flow, they are not designed to strictly infiltrate the water into the soil.

Thinking outside the box

Thanks!