Rainwater Reuse, Low-impact Design and New Water-storage Technology A water conservation and smart irrigation demonstration project for the Eco-Living Center landscape

Rainwater catchment Benefits: Reduces use of potable water for irrigation On site reuse reduces quantity of stormwater runoff Applications: New construction Retrofits Commercial property Residential communities

Benefits:

Reduces use of potable water for irrigation

On site reuse reduces quantity of stormwater runoff

Applications:

New construction

Retrofits

Commercial property

Residential communities

Above ground rainwater storage Rain barrels, cisterns, rigid tanks Benefits: No excavation Low-cost Easy to build, install and access Concerns Space considerations Aesthetics Capacity Overflow

Rain barrels, cisterns, rigid tanks

Benefits:

No excavation

Low-cost

Easy to build, install and access

Concerns

Space considerations

Aesthetics

Capacity

Overflow

A simple cistern

In-ground rainwater storage Rigid tanks Benefits: Aesthetics Capacity Zero impact on landscape space Concerns: Access Lack of material flexibility Excavation needs

Rigid tanks

Benefits:

Aesthetics

Capacity

Zero impact on landscape space

Concerns:

Access

Lack of material flexibility

Excavation needs

Matrix storage Benefits Aesthetics Capacity Zero impact on landscape space Modular cells enhance layout flexibility for space efficiency High strength; can be installed under driveways Lightweight and collapsible for easy transport Up to 95% void space for enhanced volume Lightweight enough for green roof applications More green space Concerns Access Excavation

Matrix storage

Benefits

Aesthetics

Capacity

Zero impact on landscape space

Modular cells enhance layout flexibility for space efficiency

High strength; can be installed under driveways

Lightweight and collapsible for easy transport

Up to 95% void space for enhanced volume

Lightweight enough for green roof applications

More green space

Concerns

Access

Excavation

Eco-Living Center Roof Runoff 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 applications

In-ground rainwater storage installation

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

Microjet placement on coontie bed

LEED Points A builder using this water storage technology would achieve as many as 12 credits 1 Innovation & Design 3 Materials & Resources 4 Water efficiency 4 Sustainable sites Credits possible Category

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

Marketing angles Reduce water/sewage costs Reduce sewage assessments calculated based on a homeowner’s impervious surface area Competition – Wouldn’t you love to have a productive garden even when your neighbor’s lawn is turning brown? Emotional buy-in – Homeowners can be part of the solution Property values – Enhanced from low-impact development practices

Reduce water/sewage costs

Reduce sewage assessments calculated based on a homeowner’s impervious surface area

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

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

Property values – Enhanced from low-impact development practices

DO try this at home! It’s not hard to institute a small-scale rainwater catchment system. Alternative water source during an emergency, like a hurricane. Create a beautiful “waterscape” Your neighbors might catch on to what you’re doing and want to try it themselves.

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

Alternative water source during an emergency, like a hurricane.

Create a beautiful “waterscape”

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

Four pinnacles of creating a greener community Energy Bio-diversity Healthy livability Water

Energy

Bio-diversity

Healthy livability

Water

Nine principles of Florida friendly landscaping Right plant, right place Water efficiently Fertilize appropriately Mulch Attract wildlife Control yard pests responsibly Recycle Reduce stormwater runoff Protect the waterfront

Right plant, right place

Water efficiently

Fertilize appropriately

Mulch

Attract wildlife

Control yard pests responsibly

Recycle

Reduce stormwater runoff

Protect the waterfront

Resources Florida Yards and Neighborhoods http://fyn.ifas.ufl.edu Lee County Extension Service http://lee.ifas.ufl.edu/ Elemental Stone and Waterworks, Inc. www.artofwelcome.com Florida Yards and Neighborhoods http://fyn.ifas.ufl.edu Lee County Extension Service http://lee.ifas.ufl.edu/ Elemental Stone and Waterworks, Inc. www.artofwelcome.com

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

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

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

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

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

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

Produced for Florida Yards and Neighborhoods, in collaboration with Elemental Stone and Waterworks, Inc. Other contributors: Jeff Paul, Jeff Paul Enterprises - Irrigation Eric Thornton, R.S. Walsh Landscaping – CAD illustrations