Community Project: Water Conservation

By Anthony Paredes, Desert View Landscape, LLC

The community wanted the rainwater system to command attention. An oasis was created using the recirculation water feature of the retention tank and inlaying a Dobson Ranch logo in the permeable paver patio to capture the attention of those passing through the building entrance; to help visualize this unique water conservation feature they paid to have installed. Photos courtesy of Desert View Landscape, LLC

Desert View Landscape, LLC, is investing in eco-friendly sustainable landscape solutions. ''We are the first Phoenix area landscape contractor to embrace the new regulations by donating equipment, materials and resources to showcase a mid-sized commercial rainwater harvesting system for the Dobson Ranch community in Mesa, AZ'' reported owner Anthony Paredes.

The promise of rainwater harvesting is exceptionally attractive and no place more so than the Desert Southwest. It was a milestone for water conservation when the City of Tucson passed the nation's first rainwater/capture and reuse ordinance. With other cities posturing to follow Tucson's lead and with some states offering tax credits toward rainwater harvesting installations the timing is right for communities to move ahead.

The Right Product

Considerable thought was given to just what should comprise a rainwater harvesting system. Desert View Landscape worked closely with Dobson Ranch to develop a complete rainwater harvesting systems that consisted of: components to collect the rainwater run-off and channel it to storage; underground storage of the harvested rainwater with a water feature to keep the water fresh; permeable pavers to increase the amount of rainwater captured; suitably sized irrigation pump to meet the landscape irrigation demand; ET based smart controller to schedule the irrigation of the landscape; sensors to monitor the amount of stored water; an alternative source of irrigation water for dry periods; control logic to switch between sources of water to fully utilize the stored water; sensors for monitoring the amount of water collected and delivered to the landscape; fittings, valves and piping to route, fill and protect the alternative water supply and retention tank from backflow.

The sub-surface tank, unlike an above ground steel cistern, makes room for an aesthetically pleasing functional use of the landscape. Placing the tank under a patio lined with permeable pavers enables the patio as an additional rainwater capture area.

The Right Community, The Right People

Anthony Paredes offered a pro-bono community service proposal to the community of Dobson Ranch, Mesa, Arizona. The goal was to ascertain if a suitable rainwater harvesting system could capture, retain and distribute a significant, i.e., greater than 50% of the landscape annual watering demand for a midsized commercial building in the Desert Southwest.

The proposed site at the Ranch offered a 5,500 square foot roof, a 400 sq ft permeable paver patio and another 1,500 sq ft wash area that is channeled to a rainwater sub-surface collection tank. The proposal included installing Belgard permeable pavers to make a dual use patio. Belgard Environmental donated the project pavers and Desert View Landscape donated equipment, plants, labor and planning assistance to the project. Other local industry experts, all members of the Arizona Landscape Contractors Association gathered to help in the project.

Installation began the last week of March 2010 and completed in time. The promise of rainwater harvesting is alive in the Desert Southwest!