Residential Rainwater Harvesting System, Los Gatos, CA

• 30,000-gallon rainwater harvesting system with above ground tanks

• 1.5-acres of landscaped garden irrigated by rainwater

• The clients now have their own independent water source and have said that the only thing they would have done differently was, "We would have done it sooner since the water catchment system designed by Earthcraft is paying for itself."

Residential Rainwater Harvesting System and Landscape Design, Los Gatos, CA

• 10,000-gallon system with above ground tanks

• One-acre of landscaped garden irrigated by the rainwater system

• This site presented an erosion and storm water management challenge due to the steepness of the slope. The overflow from the rainwater tanks becomes a cascading water feature, helping to divert storm water into a retention pond below. Native plantings were established to stabilize the hillside and reduce soil erosion, replacing invasive and exotic plantings.

Residential Rainwater Harvesting System, Aptos, CA

• 22,500-gallon rainwater system with above ground tanks

•This site presented erosion, storm water management and irrigation challenges. The accomplished goal was to protect the owners' investment of their newly installed landscape and provide independence during a drought. The rainwater system intercepts, filters and distributes the roof runoff and stores the rainwater in tanks. Now, the rainwater irrigates their gardens and helps prevents erosion and pollution of the nearby seasonal stream.

Residential Rainwater Harvesting System, Scotts Valley, CA

•11,500-gallon rainwater system with above ground tanks

•A ¾-acre of landscaped garden irrigated by the rainwater system

•The client wanted independence from municipal water supply. As the landscape was being installed, the rainwater was used for various on-site construction needs thereby reducing water costs. Currently, the rainwater system supports the client's new landscape during the hot, dry months.

Rainwater Harvesting System Design (new residential construction), Carmel Valley, CA

• 27,300-gallon rainwater system with above ground tanks

•Currently one of two Platinum LEED projects in California, this project was an ideal blend of sustainable modern architecture by Feldman Architecture, combined with low impact aesthetic landscape design by
Joni Janecki and Associates.

Design challenge was to quantify how much rainwater was needed to implement and maintain the integrity of the landscape design.

Commercial Rainwater Harvesting System Design (new multi-unit residential construction), Salinas, CA

• 19,000-rainwater system with above ground tanks

• This senior residential living community, by the non-profit corporation, First Community Housing, is a model example of how Earthcraft consults with multiple industry professionals to design rainwater systems. Earthcraft collaborated with Rana Creek Living Architecture to design the rainwater harvesting system that will irrigate the green roof.

Image courtesy of OJK Architects in San Jose.

Rainwater Harvesting System and Grey Water Design (new residential construction), Los Altos, CA

• 11,000-gallon rainwater harvesting system with an underground tank

• The grey water system will recycle water from a Japanese bath to irrigate the entire landscape and then percolate to the underground aquifer. This is a closed loop system.

• In Construction.

Rainwater Harvesting System and Grey Water Design (new residential construction), Scotts Valley, CA

• 35,000-gallon rainwater harvesting system with above ground tanks

• Grey water system

• Rainwater and Grey water used to irrigate 1.5 acres of landscape plantings

• Design challenge is to give clients an independent water source to irrigate their extensive permaculture gardens.

Rainwater Harvesting System (new residential construction), Monterey, CA

• 80,000-gallon underground rainwater system

• The client desired a vast, lush landscape where the tanks could be housed under a boulder and berm landscape feature. The design challenge was to reduce water-loving lawns into smaller lawn zones to maximize irrigation efficiency. As a stormwater mitigation strategy, all rainfall from the house will be captured, filtered, and retained in an underground storage tank to be used for landscape irrigation.

Rainwater Harvesting System, Carmel Valley, CA

• 20,000-gallon rainwater harvesting system with above ground tanks

• In the dry Carmel Valley, the clients wanted to ensure sufficient water to irrigate their gorgeous landscape in times of drought. A 20,000 gallon system, screened by native and drought tolerant plants, is tucked into the hillside where it catches rainwater and drip-irrigates the expansive gardens.

14,200 gallon rainwater harvesting system, Tiburon CA.

• The rainwater harvesting system was designed to be located in a space available below the main deck of the residence System functions to substantially reduce potable water usage for irrigation of the site’s 6,000 sq. ft. primarily native and drought tolerant landscape.

The system is continually monitored for rainwater entry and exit  and is globally accessible via internet Tanks are seismically restrained for earthquake protection.

5,000 gallon rainwater harvesting system irrigating a hillside of native and drought tolerant plantings.

CPMC Hospital

This holistic hospital to be located in San Francisco will be applying for LEED Gold Status. The hospital features green roofs with accessible areas for patients to enjoy throughout the healing process, as well as a 90,000 gallon underground rainwater harvesting system that will provide for the living roof's sub surface irrigation needs.

The design also includes a state of the art monitoring system which will give on demand feedback regarding water inputs and outputs.

Eco home

•Closed loop design – rainwater and greywater systems

An eco-home located in Pacifica, CA will contain many sustainable elements to reduce total energy and water consumption including solar, geothermal, radiant flooring, and an onsite rain/greywater harvesting recycling system. Rainwater will be harvested from the roof of the dwelling and stored in an underground 7,000 gallon tank to provide high quality water for irrigation, washing machine, hot tub refill, and toilet flushing, while greywater will be recycled from the washing machine, shower, and hot tub to be utilized for sub surface irrigation of the site's native and drought tolerant plantings.

This project is currently in the design phase with ground breaking to begin November 2009.

Rainwater Harvesting System, Aptos, CA

This quaint residence located on a bluff in the Aptos area had a lush existing native and drought tolerant landscape. The client was interested in reducing outdoor irrigation and decided to remove the water using lawn and replace it with a lower water using native variety. During this lawn removal three 2,500 gallon tanks were placed beneath the ground to capture, store, and reuse the rainwater draining from the roof surfaces.

Now the almost invisible rainwater harvesting system provides high quality water for the lush landscape while preventing erosion of the hillside bluff.

Los Altos Hills

• Rick Pendleton and Leah Drake of Artisan… owner is applying for water conservation award

This project has an underground 20,000 gallon rainwater harvesting system to provide irrigation for a small orchard, vegetable garden, and native drought tolerant landscape.

The tank is located beneath the driveway and seamlessly fits into the overall site plan and landscape design. Earthcraft joined efforts with Rick Pendleton of Artisan Home Resorts to make this project a success.

Los Altos Hills

• Closed loop design – rainwater and greywater systems

Two 20,000 gallon underground rainwater tanks will provide for the modern landscape’s water features and irrigation demands. Earthcraft Design, Noel Cross Architects, and Suzman and Cole Design Associates have collaborated to reduce the site’s water demand to make the most effective use of the integrated rainwater harvesting system. The system also allows for a substantial reduction in stormwater infrastructure as it drastically reduces site runoff that comes from the large living roof and solar panel surfaces.

A greywater system has also been designed by Earthcraft which will use shower, laundry, and bathroom sink water to irrigate the site’s small orchard.

Boulder Creek

•Closed Loop Design

This project is a perfect example of a well designed landscape and integrated water system. Because the client contacted us early in the design phase and requested water harvesting systems and landscape design, we were able to utilize our landscape architecture and sustainable water system design expertise to the fullest. The landscape features Japanese elements to highlight the Japanese style building and architecture, designed by Kurt Cline, while still being composed mainly of drought tolerant specimen plantings smartly chosen and located.

The gardens also include organic vegetable planting areas and unique fruit tree species incorporated into the patio areas providing shade as well as organic edibles. Located out of view and properly screened is a 45,000 gallon rainwater harvesting system that will capture rainwater from the glazed tile roof to supply above ground irrigation needs. Also featured is a greywater system which will utilize a sub surface irrigation system to irrigate the shrubs and trees on site. This is a site that will be drought proof in the event of an outdoor water moratorium and well protected in the event of a fire.

Aptos Solar rainwater harvesting for Horse Barn

To solve the problem of constantly hauling water for horses at a school in South Santa Cruz County, the idea for a rainwater catchment system was thought of and evolved into a demonstration project for the public and community. The horse barn provided an ideal catchment surface and a simple 3,000 gallon rainwater harvesting system was designed and installed while Earthcraft answered questions and showed basic rainwater harvesting techniques.

A small solar powered pump was also used to mitigate for a lack of electricity at the project site. These types of small systems can very often be the solution to addressing inefficiencies or water shortages on farms or similar areas that need a constant supply of water in an undeveloped rural setting.

Boulder Creek

• Closed loop design

To be able to maximize a site’s water resources it is important to plan a comprehensive approach taking into account not only the amount of available water but also the applications which will be using the water. In this project, Earthcraft designed the landscape utilizing many native and drought tolerant varieties while directing all runoff into rain gardens dotted with specimen boulders, riparian/wetland plantings and other decorative stone materials.

A rainwater harvesting system was located beneath pool decking using specialized low profile tanks for a total of 8,800 gallons to be used for irrigation. Often, tanks can be designed into areas that would typically not be utilized. This project not only captures and stores rainwater for irrigation but also encourages infiltration of surface runoff which helps restore community aquifers and native plant life.

Tiburon Rainwater as Site Feature

This project and associated residence was unique as it was modeled after an old lighthouse which also included a request to use a rainwater tank as a site feature. Through a collaboration with Holscher Architecture, the 17,000 gallon wooden tank will not only compliment the architecture and aesthetic design of the buildings but also works to create awareness of the water aspect contributing to the property.

Instead of creating erosion and flowing into the San Francisco Bay, the rainwater from the roof surfaces will be collected, pumped, and stored to be utilized for the site’s low water using landscape, designed by David Schwartz.

Bonny Doon Estate

•Closed loop design

This 48 acre site was the location for an asphalt mining operation from the mid 1800’s to the early 1900’s. The area was highly degraded with a large quarry pit, as well as talus, and tailings strewn about with large expanses of very low nutrient soils. Earthcraft was brought on board for landscape architecture, habitat restoration, and rainwater harvesting system design. Collaborating with Bill Wilson of Carlisle Macy and green architect Marilyn Crenshaw allowed for a diversity of creative approaches as far as utilizing all of the site natural resources. The various buildings will utilize several integrated rainwater tanks for domestic and outdoor use.

In addition to the rainwater harvesting system, a black water system will utilize all wastewater for sub surface irrigation of native and specimen plantings. A large quarry “borrows pit” will be restored into a scenic pond with aerating waterfalls receiving passively filtered stormwater to bio remediated through natural ecological processes. Finally, a solar energy system provides power for the sustainable water systems and more. Soil conditioning and restoration has been accomplished utilizing special earthworks and mycoremedial strategies that work to recreate the soil ecosystem to allow for nutrient assimilation and increased water retention. This is truly an outstanding project and a prime example of how to restore degraded land to create a sustainable and vibrant environment.

Portola Valley

• Closed loop design

This project featured a 30,000 gallon rainwater harvesting system that functions to curtail water use substantially when coupled with various earthworks and a full irrigation system retrofit. As the first permitted rainwater system in Portola Valley, the client is very satisfied with the over 70% reduction in on site water use. The above ground tanks were nestled under small a small oak grove which provides shade to keep the rainwater cool as well as natural screening to make the system almost invisible to anyone passing by.

Soil from grading the tank pad was used to berm around existing fruit trees thereby allowing surface water to be infiltrated and utilized for enhanced passive irrigation and aquifer recharge. An ET controller was also installed which drastically limited unnecessary water use for the site’s existing established native and drought tolerant landscape. The front and back lawns will be removed and will be replaced with native low water using varieties to mimic a native meadow which pre-dominated the landscape in predevelopment times.

Aptos

Potential erosion concerns can be detrimental to a project’s permit approval which is why this client contacted Earthcraft. Having been a student at one of Earthcraft’s Rainwater Harvesting Classes the client wondered if he could capture and use the abundant volumes of water coming off of the roof areas available from the planned building on the 1.5 acre sloped site. The answer was yes and Earthcraft was hired to design the landscape and integrated rainwater harvesting system to supply irrigation as well as creative overflow water diversion throughout the property.

The design includes a 15,000 gallon rainwater harvesting system that allows excess rainwater to flow to a dry creek bed which then cascades into a fountain with a seatwall, which finally overflows into a decorated stone pond complete with a private dock for recreation and relaxation. The site is designed to create usable recreation space for the client’s large extended family while adhering to an old Spanish mission motif that is prevalent through throughout the site.