Student: Sophia Joy De La Cruz Study:
Home Garden Drip Irrigation - Recycling Water from Sump Pumps Keywords:
building-scale, water Sump pumps have been discovered to be a great opportunity for home owners to recycle water into their home gardens. Reported to be in 60% of American homes, a sump pump is a relatively common fixture (Anderson). A sump pump is a mechanical device implanted into the basement or lowest point of a home in order to protect the home from flooding and mold related issues. The water is collected in a basin and then redirected outside of the home, usually into a dry well, local creek or pond, or a neighborhood basin (Woodward). The place in which the water is drained can be affected by the regulations of the city or a homeowners association (Anderson). However, some homeowners have found a more rewarding use for the water collected by sump pumps. For those who are interested in cultivating their own produce, sump pump water can be redirected into a home drip irrigation system. Drip irrigation is one of the more efficient and easiest ways to water plants. This system can function with low pressure and low volume for drier months and is capable of targeting very specific areas to water. Unlike overhead sprinkler systems, there is no water loss in evaporation and
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weeds are not able to soak up excess water (“Drip Irrigation with PVC Pipe”). The relevance of this system lies in its ability to take advantage of readily available resources and re-purpose them in a way that is both easily understandable and beneficial to the public. The sump pumps are capable of collecting perfectly clean and reusable water that would otherwise cause damage and health hazards in a home giving it dual functionality. By re-purposing the water in a home or community garden there is added value in the fresh produce it nourishes. The price of the pump (models ranging from $100-500 USD) is the biggest investment to take into account as the drip irrigation can be constructed with recycled pvc pipes or garden hose, a sharp pocket knife, a punch and a flathead screwdriver(“Drip Irrigation with PVC Pipe”). It also important to note that this system was not designed by a group of architects or engineers but by a group of people who the system directly benefits. Born from a basic need and a bit of creativity.
