Stormwater for Veggie Garden Irrigation

Why stormwater?

Stormwater is any accumulation of water from precipitation, and may include groundwater and spring water. We often allow stormwater to drain naturally without much thought but if harvested, stormwater can be used as a way to irrigate your veggie garden during dry periods without having to rely on clean drinking water.

Urbanisation has an impact on stormwater quality and quantity due to an increase of impermeable surfaces that can cause flooding as well as pollutant run-off. Stormwater can pick up and carry various pollutants that may cause damage to the environment – which is why it’s best to keep your environment free of waste.

To achieve effective stormwater management and mitigate climate change impacts, we need to implement sustainable urban drainage systems in our gardens. This concept focuses on ensuring the sustainable management of stormwater run-off, that considers run-off quantity, quality, amenity, and biodiversity.

Stormwater harvesting and management is possible in both residential or commercial spaces, where stormwater can be collected and temporarily stored in an effort to reduce the use of clean drinking water, which is known as potable water. According to Fisher-Jeffes (2017) stormwater harvesting for irrigation and toilet flushing purposes can potentially reduce potable water usage by as much as 20%.

How you can harvest stormwater

The use of harvested stormwater as an alternative to potable water usage for garden irrigation is a great way to conserve water.

One simple method of harvesting stormwater is the installation of gutters and constructing reasonably-sized waterways for the transportation of run-off for storage in a retention pond or storage tank.

Stormwater can then be used to irrigate a vegetable garden provided there is an effective maintenance plan for the stored run-off in a retention pond or storage tanks.

The waterways and channels can be developed as a feature in the garden, so too could a retention pond. A retention pond will provide a stunning feature and focal point in the garden. Choose suitable wetland type plants to filter and keep the water clean. When starting out, keep the design and planting simple. The pond will also develop its own biodiversity system in the garden. It may not have water all the time so plan the plants (preferably indigenous) and groundwork with this in mind.

More water-saving practices on vegetable gardens and storm water ponds are available on the Water Wise website.