Environmental sustainability continues to remain popular in residential landscaping, as the American Society of Landscape Architects named harvesting rainwater and graywater as the top consumer trend for 2016.
The organization’s survey of landscape architects found that 88 percent said the project with the highest demand among clients was harvesting rainwater or graywater, which is relatively clean water from baths and sinks. Harvesting rainwater and graywater helps the environment by reusing water and reduces water costs.
Reusing rainwater
Assembling a system for gathering and reusing rainwater for a lawn or garden can take less than one hour and cost as little as $60, said Ben Kent, Atlanta section chair of the ASLA’s Georgia chapter and a landscape architect for Arborguard Tree Specialists in Atlanta.
A simple design for catching rainwater involves placing rain barrels under downspouts to collect roof runoff. Homeowners need to shorten the downspout enough so that a rain barrel can fit underneath. Use a pair of garden clippers and attach a flexible downspout elbow, which usually costs $3, at the end. Then, position the rain barrel under the downspout to collect water.
Harvesting rainwater also can protect a house’s foundation, prevent moisture issues, such as mold or mildew, and provide a backup water source in the case of a future drought.
Most rain barrels, which cost between $60 and $120 depending on size and quality, include a mesh filter to prevent debris such as leaves or shingle chunks from entering, Kent said. If the rain barrel does not have a filter, a mesh screen, which usually costs $10, will need to be placed at the top of the downspout. Small sediments will still enter the barrel, but will settle to the bottom and can be removed with a shop vac, said landscape architect Jay Gehler, a member-at-large at the ASLA Georgia chapter.
Although the process seems simple, Kent said homeowners make common mistakes when setting up a rainwater harvesting system, such as failing to frequently clean the collection system. Many rain barrels become home to larvae and mosquitoes if the barrel is translucent and exposed to sunlight or isn’t properly sealed with a screen mesh.
More complicated systems include burying rain barrels or using a cistern, which is a centralized underground water tank. These systems provide more functionality and hide rain barrels, but Gehler and Kent say they would cost more. They also recommend that homeowners work with a landscape architect for proper installation of piping systems and to avoid damaging buried piping and wires.
Giving graywater a try
Graywater consists of water from bathroom sinks, dishwashers and showers that may contain soap, dirt, food and hair, yet is still usable on a landscape. It’s basically any wastewater that’s not from toilets. Because installing a graywater system involves meddling with plumbing, both Gehler and Kent recommend hiring a plumber to assist. Gehler said the cost to install may range between $5,000 and $25,000.
Pipes are rerouted so that instead of sending wastewater to a sewer line, it is sent to a cistern. The water can be used to water plants or wash cars, which Gehler said can save money on water usage and sewer bills. Because the water comes from bathtubs and sinks, homeowners must monitor what they dispose down the drain. Using heavy detergents or pouring out grease could be harsh on the environment and, if it runs off onto someone else’s property, might be deemed as pollution, Kent said.
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