Harvesting Rainwater for Landscape Use

Abstract

In the arid Southwest, rainfall is scarce and evapotranspiration rates are high. Only natives and some desert-adapted plants can live on 10 or 11 inches of annual rainfall. Other plants require some supplemental irrigation and harvesting rainwater can reduce the use of drinking water for landscape irrigation. This publication discusses the water requirements for some plants and the way to collect rainwater. Its topics include: - Water Harvesting System Components - Simple Water Harvesting System Design and Construction - Complex Water Harvesting Systems