WaterWired

May/June 2008 Southwest Hydrology: Aquifer Recharge, Storage, and Recovery

The current issue of Southwest Hydrology features Aquifer Recharge, Storage, and Recovery.

In my day, it was just "artificial recharge". Times have changed.

From the introduction:

In this issue we define the deliberate recharge and temporary storage of “excess” (unneeded) water in an aquifer, with the intent of recovering that water for future use, as aquifer storage and recovery (ASR). The technique is increasingly being used as a water management tool. The implementation of ASR projects varies widely in the type of water used, method of recharge, aquifer type, and engineering of the project, as described in these feature articles. Furthermore, water quality changes resulting from mixing two different waters must be considered, as well as regulatory and policy constraints. And do you really get that water back? Read all about it…

As with all issues of Southwest Hydrology, you can download the entire current issue or individual articles free.

"History, like beauty, depends largely on the beholder." -- Desmond Tutu

Volume 2 of 'Rainwater Harvesting for Drylands and Beyond' Now Available

Volume 2 of Brad Lancaster's Rainwater Harvesting for Drylands and Beyond: Water-Harvesting Earthworks is now available. It currently is being offered for 20% off at the publisher's WWW site.

From the WWW site:

Earthworks are one of the easiest, least expensive, and most effective ways of passively harvesting and conserving multiple sources of water in the soil. Associated vegetation then pumps the harvested water back out in the form of beauty, food, shelter, wildlife habitat, and passive heating and cooling strategies, while controlling erosion, increasing soil fertility, reducing downstream flooding, and improving water and air quality.

Building on the information presented in Volume 1, this book shows you how to select, place, size, construct, and plant your chosen water-harvesting earthworks. It presents detailed how-to information and variations of a diverse array of earthworks, including chapters on mulch, vegetation, and greywater recycling so you can customize the techniques to the unique requirements of your site.

Real life stories and examples permeate the book, including:

• How curb cuts redirect street runoff to passively irrigate flourishing shade trees planted along the street
• How check dams have helped create springs and perennial flows in once-dry creeks
• How infiltration basins are creating thriving rain-fed gardens
• How backyard greywater laundromats are turning “wastewater” into a resource growing food, beauty, and shade that builds community, and more
• How to create simple tools to read slope and water flow
• More than 225 illustrations and photographs

I don't qualify as an expert in this field, so I cannot provide a true review. But my perusal of the book reveals an ample number of diagrams and photographs and easy-to-understand text.

Your comments on the book are most welcome.

Lancaster is apparently working on another volume to conclude his trilogy on rainwater harvesting.

"Let the rain kiss you. Let the rain beat upon your head with silver liquid drops. Let the rain sing you a lullaby.The rain makes still pools on the sidewalk. The rain makes running pools in the gutter. The rain plays a little sleep-song on our roof at night. And I love the rain." -- Langston Hughes, April Rain Song