Water Conservation and Catchment
Date: Sunday, November 17
Location: Museum of Northern Arizona
Facilitated by: Dr. Matthew Goodwin, NAU Philosophy Department
2:00 p.m.
Welcome and Introductions
Dr. Heidi Wayment, Director of NAU’s Compassion Project and Psychology
Department Chair
Andrea Houchard, Director, Philosophy in the Public Interest
2:15 p.m.
Dr. Matthew Goodwin, NAU Philosophy Department

Do you think having clean, potable water is a right?

Where does our water come from and who is responsible for securing it?

Should there be more incentives for water conservation and catchment?

3:20 p.m.
Should there be more penalties for wasting water?
Recap of discussion
We are grateful for support from NAU’s McKenzie Endowment for Democracy and the Richard Wood Fund.
What is Rainwater Catchment/ Harvesting?
Rainwater catchment, also known as harvesting, is the practice of collecting and/or utilizing rainwater from roofs,
constructed catchment surfaces, driveways, streets, sidewalks, and parking lots. Below is a diagram of a simple rain
catchment system:
Generally, rainwater catchment is implemented
on a residential scale. The common uses for
rainwater catchment are landscaping, in-home
use, wildlife, livestock, fire protection, storm
water management, and rain gardens. One exclusion from the use of rainwater is that it is not
potable or fit for consumption by humans in its
raw form. The rainwater must be treated before
it can be consumed.
What are Government Incentives?
Image Credit: Wikimedia Commons, via CC
Government incentives are measures taken by
the government to promote the development of
industry in specified areas. These incentives
include: governmental grants, labor subsidies
and tax breaks. Some popular examples of
government incentives are tax subsidies for the
installation of solar panels or on building wind
turbines.
Another, example are the tax breaks the
government gave to automobile companies that
were willing to build fully electric and hybrid
cars. All of these incentives are focused on
getting these industries up and running as well as
focusing on environment sustainability.
Should Flagstaff, AZ Incentivize Rainwater Catchment/ Harvesting?
The city of flagstaff currently has a rainwater harvesting ordinance that was enacted in 2012 which is called Rainwater
Harvesting Ordinance No.2012-03. This ordinance mandates that:
“Active rainwater harvesting systems are mandatory, with a storage tank sized to capture a minimum of 1" of rainfall
from the roof, or to provide anticipated annual landscaping water demand, whichever is less, for new developments
(including those less than 1/4 acre) other than single family residential.” (www.flagstaffstormwater.com, 2012)
Along with the Rainwater Harvesting Ordinance, there is a $100 rebate for rainwater harvesting tanks. To apply for the
rebate the tanks must be 1,000 gallons or more, the rebate must be signed up for after July 1, 2012 and there must be an
onsite inspection.
While Flagstaff has one incentive for rainwater catchment/harvesting already; should there be more incentives? The
advantages and disadvantages as well as the impacts/issues and costs will be discussed to provide the appropriate information in order for the question to be answered.
This informational handout was prepared by Rebecca Wertz, an NAU student majoring in environmental engineering and the
Technical Lead for Philosophy in the Public Interest's Environmental Ethics Outreach at Winslow High School. Rebecca's work was
supervised by Dr. Matthew Goodwin, Lecturer, Philosophy and Faculty Supervisor for the Environmental Ethics Outreach and Dr.
Paul Gremillion, Associate Professor, Environmental Engineering and Co-Director, Watershed Research & Education Program.
Hot Topics Café, November 17, 2013
Disadvantages
Advantages
The disadvantages of rainwater catchment/ harvesting are
Advantages of rainwater catchment or harvesting are listed listed below:
below:
 The disadvantages of rainwater catchment/ harvesting
are listed below:
 Uses a natural resource

Reduces flooding, storm water runoff, and erosion

Diminishes the need for imported water

Excellent for landscape irrigation

Relatively simple to install

Promotes both water and energy conservation

No filtration system required for landscape irrigation

Several non-potable uses

Limited and uncertain local rainfall

The payback period varies depending on the size of
storage and complexity of the system

Can take considerable amount of time to "pay for itself"

Technical skills are needed to install and provide regular maintenance

If not installed correctly, may attract mosquitoes
which can lead to West Nile Disease and other waterborne illnesses

Once catchment is full, cannot take advantage of future rains
Costs
A rainwater catchment system can cost anywhere from $200 to $100,000 depending on the complexity of the system as
well as the size. Residential systems can cost in the range of $200 to $1000.
In conjunction with the advantages and disadvantages that were discussed before and the cost of the system, government incentives can be a great thing. The previously mentioned incentives can help a residential single family home
afford a rainwater catchment system. The motives would also allow for more community based catchment systems.
Impacts/Issues
On a residential scale the impacts and issues of rainwater catchment are miniscule. The story may be very different
when it comes to large scale operations for rainwater collection. Large scale rainwater harvesting, commonly known as
macro-rainwater harvesting, is simply the use of a very large area of land to collect rainwater before it evaporates or is
transpired by vegetation. Macro-rainwater harvesting can potentially have some major impacts associated with the
practice. The main impacts are water quality, water rights and environmental impacts.
One of the main goals of macro-rainwater harvesting is to use the water that is harvested to recharge aquifers. Water
quality becomes a big issue when the water they are using to recharge the aquifer is contaminated by the collection area. This could potentially put a lot of people who use well water at risk.
Water rights are another big issue because you need to know where the water you are collecting was originally being
used. This issue could result in many lawsuits and fines. In Colorado this issue is why they have an extremely strict
rainwater harvesting law. The law basically states that you can only use your gutter system to divert the rainwater to a
certain area. Also you are not allowed to store the water that is collected.
Lastly, one of the methods of macro-rainwater harvesting is to completely clear a large plot of flat land. This clearing
includes getting rid of any vegetation of animal habitats that reside on the plot of land. This impacts the area’s environment considerably as well as restricts the area in which native animals can inhabit.
These impacts/ issues have a significance to the citizens of Flagstaff. Arizona is currently looking into using macrorainwater harvesting for many areas including the Verde Valley to replenish the aquifer there. To fully understand the
risks and benefits of macro-rainwater harvesting Arizona has put forth a bill to establish the Joint Legislative Study
Committee on Macro-Harvested Water.
SOURCES:
“Advantages and Disadvantages of Rainwater Harvesting." Conserve Energy Future.
Web. <http://www.conserve-energy-future.com
Museum of Northern Arizona
Beverly, Gary, and John Zambrano. "Talk of the Town Column: Large-scale rainwater
harvesting: Is it worthwhile?" Daily Courier [Prescott] 22 April 2011, Print.
Hot Topics Café Community Committee
The “hot topics” in the Hot Topics Cafés are selected by community members represent
diverse constituencies and viewpoints. We thank our committee for their participation.
Flagstaff & Winslow
Allan Affeldt
Owner, La Posada; Founder, Winslow Arts Trust; Former Mayor, City
of Winslow; Board Member for: Arizona Town Hall, Arizona Citizens for
the Arts
Joe Boles
Professor Emeritus, Northern Arizona University
Scott Deasy
Deacon of Epiphany Episcopal Church, semi-retired OB/GYN
Coral Evans
Flagstaff City Council
Jean Friedland
Compassion Project
Patty Garcia
Coconino Community College District Governming Baord, Nuestras
Raices, Raymond Educational Foundation Board, US Geological Survey
Jacque Gencarelle
Prevention Program Manager, Northern Arizona Regional Behavioral
Health Authority
Tim Kinney
President and CEO of Kinney Construction Services
Wayne Ranney
Geologist, Author, Grand Canyon river and trail guide, Board Member
for: Flagstaff Festival of Science, Grand Canyon Historical Society
(President), and Museum of Northern Arizona (Emeritus)
Craig Van Slyke
Dean, NAU Franke College of Business
Michael Vincent
Dean, NAU College of Art and Letters
Mary K. Walton
Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction, Flagstaff Unified School District
Del Weston
Y.M.C.A. Board, Sedona
Nat White
Lowell Observatory- Retired, Governing Board Coconino Community
College
Randy Wilson
Editor, Arizona Daily Sun
Harriet Young
President, Flagstaff AAUW
Sedona & the Verde Valley
Jennifer Epperson
Executive Director, Imagiventure Foundation
Jane Hausner
Executive Director, Verde Valley Sanctuary
Angela LeFevre
Board and past president of the Democrats of the Red Rocks,
Board Member for: Arizona Planned Parenthood and Keep Sedona Beautiful
Dan McIlroy
Sedona City Council
Elemer Magaziner
Sedona Citizens for Civil Dialogue
John Neville
Executive Director, Sustainable Arizona
Judy Reddington
NAU’s Arts and Letters Advisory Council, Board Member for:
Museum of Northern Arizona, Sedona International Film Festival
Doug Von Gausig
Mayor of Clarkdale, Executive Director of Verde River Institute
Del Weston
Marketing, Hypertherm, Inc., Board Member for: Sedona
Y.M.C.A.
Jessica Williamson
Sedona City Council
NAU's Philosophy in the Public Interest is non partisan,
and does not endorse any position with respect to the
issues we discuss. Philosophy in the Public Interest is a
neutral convener for civil discourse.
Ex officio
Robert Breunig
Museum of Northern Arizona
Andrea Houchard
NAU, Philosophy in the Public Interest
Ron Hubert
Hozho InternationalScott Sanicki
Sedona Public Library
Robin Weeks
Osher Lifelong Learning Institute, Yavapai College, Sedona Center
Next Flagstaff Hot Topics Café
Community: What Is It?
Date: Wednesday, December 4, 2013
Location: The Museum of Northern Arizona