Water Catchment SystemBy: Abraham, Kiara, and Serhiy

1/24/15

Taf Academy

Need For StudyWe built a water catchment system on a garden and see how it will help people in food deserts. Water catchment systems can help people in food deserts by giving them access to healthy and fresh food. The way this works is by “catching,” the rain water and then distributing the water throughout the garden therefore watering the plants. After the plants grow, people can just pick them and plant new ones in their place and the cycle repeats.

Is there a “machine” that will help control the water level in the soil for people in food deserts?

Driving Question

Materials

● 60 Gallon Rain Barrel● Hose or irrigation tape● School Garden● Runoff Pipes (If can be connected to

the catchment system)● Anything that can lift the rain barrel

(Concrete Blocks, Wood Platform, etc.)

Methods1. Gather all your materials together and have

them ready.2. Screw in the hose into the rain barrel and

make sure it fits.3. Elevate the rain barrel a few inches above

the garden by adding bricks, platforms, etc.4. After a few days come back to the garden

and check if the machine is fine and working.

5. Record if any of the plants grew and see if the machine actually “works."

ObservationSetting Turn Degree How Much Water Came Out

(Time)

Low (⅓) 2 liters of water came out in 1 min

Medium (⅔) 4 liters of water came out in 1 min

High (fully turned) 6 liters of water came out in 1 min

Results

The results are that the water catchment system works and it can be used to water plants at the right time so they do not die. Also it can help by reusing the rainwater catched and using the water when necessary.

Graphs and Images

Graphs and Images

Analysis and Conclusion

In conclusion, the water catchment system works and can be used to benefit a lot of people especially those in food deserts, and also, the water catchment system also saves a lot of water because it reuses rainwater.

Evaluation and Future ImplicationsAfter the trials and completing the experiment we were satisfied with the results. Even though we are satisfied we can have a hose reel (a hose storage) to be cleaner. We can update the project to address other problems. Like for example a self feeding garden or a water filtration system to use the rainwater to filter it and drink it

ReferencesThe ARCSA Mission. (n.d.). Retrieved January 7, 2015, from http://www.arcsa.org/

Agricultural Marketing Service - Creating Access to Healthy, Affordable Food. (n.d.).

Retrieved January 7, 2015, from http://apps.ams.usda.gov/fooddeserts/fooddeserts.aspx

DIG 1/4 in. x 100 ft. Dripline with 6 in. Emitter Spacing-SHB106 - The Home Depot. (n.d.).

Retrieved January 7, 2015, from

http://www.homedepot.com/p/DIG-1-4-in-x-100-ft-Dripline-with-6-in-Emitter-Spaci

ng-SHB106/204185819?quantity=1

Food desert. (n.d.). Retrieved January 7, 2015, from

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Food_desert

How to Build a Rain Barrel. (n.d.). Retrieved January 7, 2015, from

http://www.familyhandyman.com/smart-homeowner/how-to-build-a-rain-barrel/view-all

Measurement of Soil Moisture. (n.d.). Retrieved January 7, 2015, from

http://www.ext.colostate.edu/drought/soilmoist.html

Urban area. (n.d.). Retrieved January 7, 2015, from

http://education.nationalgeographic.com/education/encyclopedia/urban-area/?ar_a=1 Washington State University: Building a Rain Barrel Retrieved January 7, 2015, from http://whatcom.wsu.edu/ag/compost/pdfs/rainbarrels.pdf

The End