Permaculture 07 - Water-Miser for Permaculture
The fuel of life... Water and Oxygen. Did you know that over 97% of the water on the planet is salt water? Fresh water only accounts for 3%, and of that more than two-thirds is locked away in Glaciers, Polar Ice Caps, and a large portion as well resides in the soil and underground aquifers.
Preservation, Storage, and Retention of Fresh water provided to us should be among our first priorities as permaculturists. We all know that the site we've chosen for our little piece of heaven was – in part – chosen due to the adequate access to water. But once this is accomplished, you can use permaculture design techniques to assure that you always have access to that fresh water supply.
The use of swales, now very common in the design of enlightened city's plots, were begun by those attempting to retain water, and have been incorporated into our permaculture techniques. Using a relatively small “ditch” you can capture water and temporarily hold it, thus allowing it time to be absorbed into the earth. When you add trees, you are making sure that your new swale can become a flourishing ecosystem over time.
Or, as in a previous post, you can create a simple rainwater catchment system that holds the rain from your downspouts for later use on your property. It doesn't take much room, as in my project, where only a 4 foot by 4 foot space is used, but you could even go so small as a bucket or a barrel. Using this water to irrigate your garden not only saves from runoff, but also saves your wallet when time comes to pay your utility.
Not all of us can create a dam to retain water, but if you could all it requires is soil with at least 40% clay content in order to protect from seepage. Now, combined that dam with diversion drains or spreader banks and you could irrigate all your property (Please seek appropriate governmental authority before attempting to dam any water supply).
Efficient use of water inside our own homes can also benefit our permaculture sites. Separating your gray water drains (Bathtubs, Sinks, Washing Machine) from your black water drains (Toilet) you can then use the gray water to fill your toilet tank, or even use gray water to irrigate!
Using water in your home inefficiently is of benefit to your utility company! Higher bills, along with poorer use of sewage (sometimes passed to our oceans and rivers without much in the way of treatment) keep us sometimes unaware of the alternatives we can do with our gray water (See this article on Mother Earth News, posted back in 2011). Besides, changing up your gray water can encourage more hand-washing! Do take some time to think about reuse of your other water sources.
You can even utilize your black water in unimaginable ways! An upcoming project, that we're testing right now (and consulting with the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality) involves the creation and use of a Biodigester! Not at all as crazy as it sounds once you realize that the number one system for treating black water wastes in countries like China, India, Bangladesh, and even Sweden is the use of a Biodigester. Side benefits include home-based gas production and an effluent fertilizer for your garden that could turn your permaculture plot into a jungle! But, we're saving that project for a later day.
When fresh water is so very precious, why don't we look for as many ways as humanly possible to be absolutely sure we don't waste a drop of it?
Jimmy Barrett is a work-at-home Dad who enjoys the journey of learning about Permaculture, Homesteading, Sustainability, Simplicity, and Disaster Preparedness. Please note that opinions expressed by Jimmy Barrett may not be shared by Heart 2 Heart Farms, should you have any questions please feel free to email us directly. You can email Jimmy directly at: jd@simplifiedoffice.us.