Welcome to the first in a recurring series of episodes on this podcast. This one features my swale fail. Here’s your backgrounder:
I bought my house in the fall of 2004, and by the end of 2006, my DIY landscaped yard was looking pretty good.
But there was one big problem.
During Tucson’s summer monsoon season, sudden storms can dump several inches in a matter of hours. And I’d watch from inside my house while the front and back yards turned into flood zones.
Would the water come into the house? A neighbor told me that a previous owner dealt with this very issue.
I figured that the flooding problem related to the grade of the backyard – it sloped toward the house.
My solution: A rock-lined diversion swale that pulled water out of the backyard and brought it into the already flooded front yard. I and a landscaping crew that I hired did the joint project of digging and installation. And, oh, did that swale look great.
By using Catalina Granite rocks that I found in various locations near my home, I couldn’t have been more local in my choice of materials. Those bright white rocks had flecks of mica that sparkled in the sunshine. Unfortunately, my lovely swale didn’t work.
In order to bring excess water out of my backyard, the swale had to make a 90-degree turn at the northeast corner of my house. During heavy storms, water would accumulate in that corner and I was afraid that it would undermine my foundation. Even worse, very little water made it past the sharp turn and continued flowing downhill into my front yard.
It was time to ask for help. And, lucky me, I found that there was plenty of low-cost, locally based help.
Over time, the helpers got my yard to the point where it’s no longer a flood zone during heavy rainstorms.
Among other things, they showed me how to design and build a properly functioning swale like the one shown above. No sharp turns for this swale. It’s just a straight run from the downspout to a basin that’s just a few feet away.
Another Learning Opportunity!
Check out Martha’s new audiobook and eBook, Water Harvesting 101. It will help you get your water harvesting journey off to a strong start.