Harvesting Rain Water

If you choose to use plants that are not indigenous to Arizona in your landscaping, I hope that you also choose to use some form of rain harvesting.  This is one of the methods that Arizona's early settlers used to give them their much needed water supplies.  Today we use these methods mostly for landscaping.  Although rainfall in our area is very scarce, it does occur (see our page on Monsoons).

If you want to be part of the smart Arizona team of water conservationists, there are many rain harvesting methods that are relatively easy.  Even a simple landscaping technique of using berms and gullies can help conserve water.

Water collection and distribution systems are often used to conserve on landscaping water use.  One of the simplest types of collection systems is the use of rain from your home's gutters.  This can be accomlished by the use of berming around the plants that require water and are near the gutters; or digging gullies that divert the water to the plant area.  You can also harvest water by using rain barrels, placed under your rain gutter downspouts.  This allows you to store the water for later use.  A warning about using this technique - make sure you cover the rain barrels and keep out the mosquitores.

To learn more, you can read or download the University of Arizona's book on the topic:
--> Harvesting Rainwater

Or you can attend one of Tucson's many workshops:
--> Water Smart Workshop Scedule & Info

Topics covered at these workshops include:

• Xeriscape Principals
• Rainwater Harvesting
• Drip Irrigation

For questions, to reserve a space, or for more information on these classes or other workshops given by the SmartScape Program, contact the Arizona Cooperative Extension SmartScape Program office at (520) 626-5161.