Design a rainwater harvesting system for any home in any climate.
Water is a crucial resource increasingly under stress. Yet rainfall,
even in arid climates, can make up a sizable portion of any home,
acreage, or farm's water requirements if harvested and utilized with
care. The key is appropriate planning and high-quality site- and
climate-specific design.
Essential Rainwater Harvesting is a comprehensive manual for designing,
building, and maintaining water harvesting systems for the warm and cold
climates of the world. Presenting design considerations and approaches
for the most common household rainwater supply scenarios - primary,
supplemental, and off-grid supply - this step-by-step approach covers:
- Considerations for full-property water security
- Demand planning and conservation strategies
- Supply calculations and design implications for extreme rainfall and
drought
- Materials selection and water quality
- System and site assessment
- Sizing and design of gutters, conveyance, tanks, and pumps
- Pre-filtration, filtration, and disinfection options
- System maintenance and upkeep
This practical resource provides DIYers, trades, and rainwater
practitioners with the essential tools, methods, and technical know-how
to design, build, and maintain rainwater harvesting systems anywhere.
Rob Avis, P.Eng and Michelle Avis, P.Eng own and operate
Adaptive Habitat, a leading edge property design firm for resilient
homes, acreages, and farms and Verge Permaculture, a globally recognized
award-winning education business. They have over 20 years of combined
experience in project management, ecological design, and sustainable
technologies, which they share at vergepermaculture.ca from their
suburban house and yard that they've transformed into a model of cold
climate urban permaculture in Calgary, Alberta.
