Loan and Grant Program for Limited-Income Families
Given the ongoing drought in the Southwest and the predictions that our climate will continue to get hotter and drier, approaches for cooling urban temperatures (e.g. shade tree irrigation) and more effective water management are increasingly important in our community. Rainwater Harvesting can help our community address the amount of cooling needed in homes and future water supply needs.
The limited-income families in our target area traditionally have fewer resources to purchase and install rainwater harvesting systems and maintain trees. Additionally, there are very few programs in our community that help limited-income families with rainwater harvesting. Through our Limited-Income Rainwater Harvesting Program we are increasing the number of rainwater harvesting systems for limited-income families through loans and grants and teaching workshops (open to the public).
Education and Resources
Coming soon.
Rain Barrels
We provide low-cost refurbished rainwater harvesting barrels to low-income families and non-profit organizations. During COVID-19 we are not taking rain barrels orders but if you would like us to add you to our waiting list please email us at seri@seriaz.org
Project Harvest
The Colorado River supplies drinking water to 40 million people in Arizona and six other states. The City of Tucson is allocated about 144,000 acre-feet of Colorado River water annually. Over-allocation, a severe 20-year drought, and human-caused climate change have caused the Lake Mead reservoir to plummet to critical levels.
A large percentage of Tucson drinking water is used for landscape watering. The city offers rebates to residents who install a rainwater harvesting system, which diverts rainwater from a roof into a cistern for storage. Project Harvest, a collaboration between SERI and the University of Arizona, is studying the chemistry of cistern water with samples from citizen scientists who own rainwater harvesting systems. The goal is to evaluate the safety of using cistern water. In June, one of the first papers from the study was published. The paper describes the demographics of Project Harvest participants.
La captura de agua de lluvia ayuda a reducir la temperatura urbana, las inundaciones en las calles y el consumo del agua residencial, se puede utilizar en el riego de árboles y pantas. Durante este taller, aprenderá sobre los beneficios de capturar el agua de lluvia, los sistemas activos y pasivos, incluyendo las consideraciones de diseño, planificación del proyecto, prácticas recomendadas, mantenimiento y mucho más. En la segunda mitad del taller recibirá información sobre el programa de reembolso de Tucson Water y el programa de SERI para familias de bajo ingreso, los beneficios y requisitos para participar y como aplicar para el programa.
Rainwater harvesting helps cool urban temperatures, reduce street flooding and is best used for irrigation. The water collected can be for your trees, plants and garden. During this workshop come learn about residential rainwater harvesting. Learn about passive and active systems including design considerations, planning your project, best practices, maintenance, and more. The second half of the workshop you will receive information on Tucson Water’s Rebate and SERI’s Limited-Income Loan and Grant Program including what you will receive by participating, requirements to participate and how to apply.
La captura de agua de lluvia ayuda a reducir la temperatura urbana, las inundaciones en las calles y el consumo del agua residencial, se puede utilizar en el riego de árboles y pantas. Durante este taller, aprenderá sobre los beneficios de capturar el agua de lluvia, los sistemas activos y pasivos, incluyendo las consideraciones de diseño, planificación del proyecto, prácticas recomendadas, mantenimiento y mucho más. En la segunda mitad del taller recibirá información sobre el programa de reembolso de Tucson Water y el programa de SERI para familias de bajo ingreso, los beneficios y requisitos para participar y como aplicar para el programa.
Rainwater Harvesting