Rain Water Harvesting

Question: We have had an abundance of rain this spring but I know I will wish I had stored some of it for the hotter and drier weather that is soon to come. Is it difficult and costly to install a cistern system to store water?

Answer: Cisterns have been used for centuries and the technology is well developed. We in the Southeast have not taken advantage of these systems as much as our neighbors to the west for many reasons. Cheap and plentiful water not to mention our fairly high average rainfall are the main reasons. Water is still pretty cheap considering it is necessary to sustain life but the cost has gone up dramatically over the past several years. A large percentage of potable water is used for landscape purposes and this must come to an end if we continue to increase in population in the Southeast. Cisterns offer a great opportunity to capture rain water during the rainy periods for later use in the landscape or possibly to even wash clothes or flush commodes.

Cisterns can vary tremendously in cost depending on size and desired appearance. If you want to try rain water harvesting on the cheap I would suggest you start with a simple rain barrel attached to your gutter downspout. A 55 gallon drum barrel can be attached in a couple hours with a few simple tools at a cost of fifty to a hundred dollars depending on how much of a “do it yourselfer” you are.

A rain barrel will not provide enough water to maintain a thirsty lawn or a large garden but would provide an inexpensive drink for a container garden or a small vegetable or flower garden. If the barrel is above the area to be watered or you are just filling up a watering can you will only need the help of gravity to water your plants. However, a small submersible pump can be dropped into the tank to pump the needed water out through a water hose to any part of the landscape.

Larger cisterns can be much more expensive but can be designed to provide all of your irrigation needs and some of your non potable water needs in the home. These systems may consist of large plastic, concrete or metal tanks that can be either above or below ground. You can even purchase large water bags that are flat when empty and expand as they fill. These bags can be stored under a porch in a basement or even in the crawl space of a home.

If you plan to irrigate a large area and you want enough water stored to do the job you will need to do some math. North Carolina State University has a great web site with lots of rain water harvesting information to help design a large system and to calculate the estimated time it will take to recoup your investment.

On a smaller scale the Alabama Cooperative Extension System will conduct a Rain Water Harvesting workshop at the Birmingham Botanical Gardens on July 14th , from 1:00 – 3:00 PM. This workshop will cover the basics of rain water harvesting and demonstrate the conversion of a 55 gallon drum into a ready to use rain barrel.

Cockroaches

Question: What can I do about the large cockroaches invading my house?

Answer: Cockroaches are problems to homeowners, and they may transfer diseases or cause allergic reaction. Some cockroaches live their entire lives inside homes or buildings. These are referred to as domestic cockroaches and the primary example is German cockroaches. The larger cockroaches like you are seeing live both inside and outside. The main species are the American cockroach, oriental cockroaches, and the smokybrown cockroach. They often move indoors when the weather outside becomes too cold, too hot, too wet, or too dry. Though they normally do not survive well inside, the American and oriental cockroaches can make a good living and successfully breed indoors if they can find an area with enough moisture and food.

Here are some tips for inspecting and managing these pest from Dr. Xing Ping Hu, Extension Entomolgy Specialist from Auburn University.

The best time to inspect is just after sunset when roaches become active. Inspection should start with checking the building exterior. Roaches may hide in cracks and crevices on outside walls and foundations, under siding and weep holes/openings around pipes, wire, and cables where they enter buildings.

Check landscaping and building surroundings: Since roaches like moist and shady areas, inspect around garbage cans and dumpster area. Check areas under trees and shrubs that have lots of leaf litter or mulch. Also, check rotting stumps or logs on the ground, wood piles and tree holes, compost or debris piles, planters and pots near the foundation of the building. Sewers are another place you should not miss, especially for the American cockroach that often lives and breeds in sewers and can invade buildings directly from the sewer system.

Check above, too. These cockroaches also can be found under roof overhangs and in roof gutters where they live and feed on collected leaves and debris.

The key to successful management involves an integrated approach of prevention, exclusion and pesticide usage. The following six-step program will greatly reduce your problem with these larger cockroach species.

One, when cockroaches are found on the exterior, treat the cracks and crevices where they are hiding with a residual insecticide. Use liquid insecticides or granular insecticides in infested sites around the foundation, especially around windows, doors and other entry points. Treat infested cracks and crevices with a liquid residual or dust based insecticide.


Two, make sure cracks and crevices are then caulked or sealed. Seal openings around windows, doors, vents, pipes and electrical conduits.

Three, install door sweeps, thresholds and weather seals on doors.


Four, reduce outside lighting and/or use yellow instead of white bulbs.

Five, move stacks of firewood, lumber, stones, etc., away from the homes foundation. Clean gutters and avoid heavy mulching around the foundation. Also, dead tree stumps and debris piles that can’t be moved should be treated with a granular bait insecticide.

Finally, apply a regular perimeter barrier insecticide treatment to keep these cockroaches from moving into the home.