As water harvesters we remember one thing; water will follow its physically provided course. We are devoted to physics and will choose our Blue Route wisely.
Gravity
The primary force that helped create our universe is key to the high success of the Blue Route. Systems that would normally require pumps to enhance their capabilities are clean and without support from the built environment. The settings of the sloped areas, the geography of their location and the planning of SWRPys, brooks and rills allow for unimpeded flow mastery – gardens, water troughs, swales all receive water without the on and off switches. This system operates itself.
The re-cycling of water starts when rain falls. Our harvesting devices include:
All flat roof areas
- Rain falls on the almost flat roof surfaces
- From there it moves to the scuppers
- The scuppers are aimed toward the settling entry to the SWRPy
- Some scuppers deliver water to holding tanks TBD
- These tanks distribute water to drinking filters, gardens, barnyard containers for animals and other possible uses
Mansard roofs
With a 10’ drip edge and over 400 lineal feet of mansard a lot of water will be filling the settling pond that empty into the SWRPys. The drip edge comes down on a compacted slope that delivers water into the footing drain.
Settling pond flows into the SWRPy
- Settling pond flows into the SWRPy
- Brooks flow out of the SWRPys, waterfalls are created
- Brooks conclude in a rill pond, delivering small amounts of water that disappear into the aquifer
- Some sinks into the ground, some is condensed and rises as scheduled
- Process begins again
Most rain will fall on the site and will be absorbed immediately. It will never leave the site.
Everything wet, including swales and septic systems, is powered by gravity.
SWRPys are good for a lot more than water storage – swimming, fishing, canoeing and other activities are possible. Sand beach? Why not? Waterfalls? Of course.
One of the biggest SWRPys is right outside the kitchen – breakfast on the beach? Sounds good.
These water use scenarios depict actual events and adhere to the ILFI standards of water use.
We have discovered that a 300’ well, on our site, is a strong possibility. Most local wells are nowhere near that deep, so we would not be using water that could impact the use for neighbors’ wells. Considering the time line involved we would want to be sure of our supply.