Holistic + Integrated Water Management
Water supply in Southern California is a limited and vital resource. We, here at SDSLI, are working with residents, business owners, and city agencies to reimagine our communities as abundant, thriving, ecologically rich spaces built on resilient foundations requiring low carbon and water footprints.
Non-potable water reuse (greywater, rainwater, stormwater harvesting, and air conditioning condensate use) is a growing field in our region out of necessity. As codes and permitting for these systems begin to take shape, from state level requirements to local building codes and local practicalities, we want you to be on the forefront of appropriate technology to ensure that our region has leadership and experience in implementing these systems broadly. Non-potable reuse can be an efficient and low cost way to generate water onsite. Every dollar spent on backyard and onsite solutions saves many dollars in importation, treatment, and upgrades/maintenance for municipal systems.
Our water harvesting certification course is designed to train a new generation of leaders on the intricacies of rainwater, greywater, and stormwater harvesting. With decades of experience as licensed contractors, we can share with students of this certification opportunities to:
- Design and build out rainwater harvesting and grey water harvesting projects.
- Learn the ins and outs of codes and permitting through real experiences.
- Perform maintenance and fixes on existing projects to see how these projects perform over time.
- Experience small scale residential and large farm scale projects.
The pace of this course should allow you to take minimal time off your regular job but also allow you opportunities to work with local contractors on existing projects for pay.
Program Topics
Plumbing Basics
To install rainwater and greywater systems requires understanding the basics of plumbing. Learn this and some tricks of the trade.
Water Budgeting
Learn to calculate your water budget by understanding how to map your water supply and match it to your uses and needs.
Passive Earthworks
Learn how to shape and contour the landscape to passively harvest and catch rainwater when it rains to store in the largest tank we have....the soil.
Laundry Greywater
Learn how to reuse household wastewater from the washing machines into edible oasis's of food.
Rainwater Tanks
Learn how to size and install a variety of rainwater harvesting tanks to store water for when it is not raining.
Shower Greywater Systems
Learn how to install a greywater system from showers and sinksĀ through both gravity fed (branched drain) and pumped systems.
Appropriate Plants
Learn the basics of landscaping with plants suited to rainwater and greywater systems including some of the how, what, and where to plant.
Greywater Maintenence
Keeping greywater systems running smooth for years to come requires periodic upkeep. We will show you how to maintain all systems.
Why the Need for this Certificate Program?
Potential Jobs
- Rainwater Tank Installer
- Greywater Systems Installer
- Ecological Plumber
- Ecological Landscaper
- Water Consultant
The world needs people like you who can bring ecological change into reality! The demand for these skills is at an all time high and yet so few people understand integrated water design utilizing rainwater and greywater. You are the future and at the cutting edge of this field.
This program will not only give you the tools to design and install integrated water harvesting systems, but the confidence as well. Our team has decades of experience not only in professionally designing and installing these systems, but training others to do the same as well.
This certification is perfect for individuals who:
- Want to deepen their education in ecology, urban planning, and landscape design.
- Are in the current fields of plumbing, general contracting, landscape design architecture, and want to be prepared for the next generation of client work.
- Want a career in this field.
- Are looking to enhance their resume or gain a deeper understanding of ecological design.
Program Instructors
Brook Sarson
Brook started her rainwater and greywater harvesting business, H2OME, in 2008 with the mission to be a resource to the San Diego Community for water harvesting. She was determined to create change from the ground up by showing homeowners, educators, and policy makers how simple and effective rainwater harvesting and greywater recycling can be. Her continued mantra has been that individual contributions create tremendous impact toward a larger water conservation strategy. In 2017, Brook joined forces with Rosalind Haselbeck to start CatchingH2O, a licensed Water Harvesting Contracting business.
Josh Robinson
Josh has over 18 years of experience in the field designing, installing, and teaching about creating ecological abundant gardens, home, farms, and businesses. He holds a Master’s Degree in Ecological Landscape Design from Prescott College.
His work has received multiple awards as well as being featured in Toby Hemenway’s Gaia’s Garden and Art Ludwig’s Create an Oasis with Greywater. Josh has started two permaculture based landscaping businesses including his current business, Ecology Artisans, where he designs and leads crews in installing beautiful, functional, and abundant landscapes throughout San Diego.
Don't Miss this Opportunity!
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Program Partners
"The Water Harvesting Certification course was like no other and greatly exceeded any expectations I had. I didn't want the course to end. In class days are informative and give a foundation for hands on site work. Learning by doing and working with fellow students along side Brook and the other H20 Team was more than inspiring. We completed several projects at different sites from start to finish and maintained different kinds of systems all over San Diego. If you are looking for an authentic learning experience and to work towards something that makes the world a better place, this is the course for you."
-Barbara
"I learned a ton in this course - it's the perfect combination of classroom learning (so you understand the theory and where to start) with hands on implementation (so you can actually do it in real life). I also met a great group of fascinating people connected by a drive to take an active role in converting our fragile and desiccated Southern California landscape to one of resilient abundance. I really can't say enough good things about this course - it's more than worth your time and money."
-Andrew
"I had been researching rainwater/greywater for a few years now but didn't understand it completely. The course was exactly what I needed to fill in the gaps and necessary details in order to plan, build, and maintain successful strategies for water harvesting. The hands-on nature of the course was excellent and working alongside Brook and the rest of the course students was a great experience. Would definitely recommend to anyone who is serious about water harvesting!!"
