Rainwater Harvesting Vol. 1, Second Edition

Guiding Principles to Welcome Rain into Your Life and Landscape

by Brad Lancaster

Praise

Brad Lancaster offers simple, time-tested solutions to making better use of the water falling on properties. The tools and strategies presented have the potential to help homeowners replace nearly all their landscape water use with water derived from onsite sources: rainwater, stormwater runoff, and greywater.

—Water Engineering Australia

This important and timely water-harvesting book reads like a conversation with a trusted friend. As such, it is an effective how-to and why-for manual for living within our means in our shared watersheds. Heartfelt thanks, Brad, for spotlighting the route to abundance in these arid climes!

—Barbara Clark, project manager, Teran Watershed Project, Cascabel, AZ

I've been looking for a book like this for a long time. That is, one that will tell me, armed with a shovel and not a great deal of mechanical fussing or back-straining, to begin saving rainwater immediately. And in the process, save money, salve my conscience, and, best of all, come out ahead with a greener life.

—Peter Wild, U.S. Water News

"In a time of escalating resource scarcity and global conflict, this essential book helps us regain control of our water by showing us how to enhance our water supply with simple, fun, and effective strategies at home and beyond."

—Maude Barlow, author of Blue Covenant and Senior Advisor on Water to the President of the United Nations General Assembly

This book and the thinking behind it should be part of the basic education of civil engineers, architects, landscape architects and planners everywhere. As a civil engineer working for a progressive municipal water utility in an arid climate, I can see if a majority of our citizens followed these practices, many of our current and future challenges would be alleviated. The positive side benefits in terms of erosion-control, creation of bird habitat, and natural cooling would be exceptional.

—Patricia Eisenberg, P.E., Past president, Arizona Society of Civil Engineers

"Brad Lancaster's Rainwater Harvesting for Drylands and Beyond is an important book. Its teachings should not just be applied to drylands. It's about using hydrological cycles to create and support sustainable landscapes, and the lessons are universal and useful wherever you live. This book is where to start with environmental restoration. His story of "The Man Who Farms Water" in Africa is a microcosm and metaphor for the brilliant use of Nature's operating instructions. Most highly recommended!"

—John Todd, Ph.D., Research Professor and Distinguished Lecturer, The Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources, The University of Vermont: President, Ocean Arks International