Grantee Research Project Results
Final Report: Solving a Hidden Problem: Rainwater Catchment to Offset Groundwater Depletion
EPA Grant Number: SU833939Title: Solving a Hidden Problem: Rainwater Catchment to Offset Groundwater Depletion
Investigators: Bank, Larry , Potter, Kenneth W.
Institution: University of Wisconsin - Madison
EPA Project Officer: Page, Angela
Phase: I
Project Period: April 21, 2009 through April 21, 2011
Project Amount: $10,000
RFA: P3 Awards: A National Student Design Competition for Sustainability Focusing on People, Prosperity and the Planet (2008) RFA Text | Recipients Lists
Research Category: P3 Challenge Area - Safe and Sustainable Water Resources , Pollution Prevention/Sustainable Development , P3 Awards , Sustainable and Healthy Communities
Objective:
These students contributed to this project: Bachrach, Andrea - UW-Department of Biological Aspects of Conservation; Bianco, Stephanie - UW-Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering; Bradford, Anna - UW-Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering; Jones, Parker - UW-Department of Landscape Architecture; Kenney, John - UW-Department of Mechanical Engineering; Santarius, Kate - UW-Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering; Utschig-Samuels, Stephen - UW-Department of Chemistry; Zeise, Lea - UW-Department of Mechanical Engineering; Zimmerman, Brian - UW-Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
Through our research, we hope to bring the often overlooked issue of groundwater depletion to light in order to gain the public attention it deserves, and to encourage people to actively seek out sustainable solutions to this serious problem. Aquifers worldwide are being depleted at much greater rates then they are being replenished. The use of groundwater for irrigation greatly contributes to the exhaustion of this precious resource. Impervious surfaces such as roofs, streets and parking lots also contribute to the depletion of groundwater. These surfaces cause large amounts of runoff, which flows into rivers and lakes and is not allowed to replenish the groundwater. Furthermore, the nutrients this runoff water collects leads to the eutrophication of lakes and streams, which threatens aquatic life. Continued trends of unsustainable infrastructure design and inefficient irrigation methods will severely limit access to clean water and will destroy the beautiful habitats that are not only home to millions of plants and animals, but are also an important part of our livelihood, identity, and community.
Summary/Accomplishments (Outputs/Outcomes):
The knowledge our team gained through work on our Phase I project came from research and also from experiences with the university's approval process. While doing laboratory research we learned a number of key things. Setting up a smallscale cistern and pump system allowed us to test our irrigation system and familiarize ourselves with its components. We set up plots with two different types of soil to be irrigated by this pumping system, and installed soil moisture sensors and a data logger to track data. We tested on different soil types to account for different infiltration rates. This allowed us to confirm that the system would deliver an appropriate amount of water to keep each of the soils at a desired moisture level. This proved useful in showing that each individual component of the irrigation system works together, which will be essential when installing the Phase I cisterns. Through other experiments, we determined that the flow valves require high water pressure in order to be actuated by the control unit. Therefore, the pump we use in the cisterns will need to provide an adequate amount of water pressure. Ideally, soil will be kept at maximum saturation, allowing for the plants to be well fed, and the aquifer to be replenished at the highest possible rate. This condition will be achieved through the use of the soil saturation sensors. Overall, the laboratory research has provided us with a knowledge base to draw from when installing the Phase I cistern, as well as confidence in the system we are going to use.Conclusions:
Using stored rain water for irrigation is an effective way to offset the use of groundwater and reduce runoff, which has important implications for people, our prosperity, and the planet. Implementing rain cisterns is a solution to two major issues with water management: the excessive pumping of groundwater for irrigation purposes, and the runoff that results from unsustainable building design. Furthermore, when catchment systems are used in conjunction with soil saturation sensors, there are additional water and cost savings as opposed to using traditional timed irrigation systems. Catchment systems can be as sophisticated or as simple as you like, from basic rain barrels to systems like ours. No matter how simple or complex the system, it is an effective solution to an understated, yet pressing issue.Journal Articles:
No journal articles submitted with this report: View all 4 publications for this projectSupplemental Keywords:
irrigation, cistern, rainwater, rainwater catchment, groundwater, aquifer, groundwater depletion, water conservation, sustainable water management, soil moisture, groundwater recharge, rain garden, hydrological model, impervious surfaces, unsustainable infrastructure design, runoffRelevant Websites:
http://www.wbcsd.org/DocRoot/1akheXxfOpeGtgrJS8sI/Water_facts_and_trends.pdf
http://pubs.usgs.gov/fs/fs-103-03/
http://www.groundwater.org
http://www.wnrmag.com/supps/2006/apr06/intro.htm
http://co.water.usgs.gov/nawqa/hpgw/factsheets/DENNEHYFS1.html
http://www.sciam.com/article.cfm?id=facing-the-freshwater-crisis&page=5
Progress and Final Reports:
Original AbstractThe perspectives, information and conclusions conveyed in research project abstracts, progress reports, final reports, journal abstracts and journal publications convey the viewpoints of the principal investigator and may not represent the views and policies of ORD and EPA. Conclusions drawn by the principal investigators have not been reviewed by the Agency.