Salvatore "Sam" Maggiacomo in Tampa, Florida has patented his Water Conservation and Distribution System and is hoping to get his local Hillsborough County using it.
Sam devised the system about 10 years ago in his own garden in the community of Forest Hills and has not used a hose to water the plants since then. He laid perforated pipes underground in a bed of limestone gravel that he covered with 30 pound asphalt roofing felt and soil. He provided a means of cleaning out leaves and other material that would stop up the system with pipe cleanouts as seen in the picture.
In February 2010, with the assistance of Dade City patent attorney Edward Dutkiewicz, Sam obtained Patent No. 7,661,904 B2 for his idea. He was 94-years-old at the time and had never before then had a patent. Now he hopes to get Hillsborough County working on a permitting procedure for his system and interest the cities in using it. His big dream is even to help developing countries with it.
Sam has always been interested in water and really started studying it while reading Maude Barlow's book, Blue Covenant. He says, "When I got to reading books like this, I realized the world's interests in water." He worked on using rainwater splashing off his roof for his plant irrigation system. The certified general contractor now has a garden filled with healthy banana, pineapple and hibiscus plants, not to mention weeds, with water supplied underneath.
The system not only conserves water, but also controls mosquitoes by removing water sources where they can breed. The concept is green in taking rainwater runoff from the roof and injecting it into the ground. It replaces the percolation area that is disrupted when a house is built without a living roof. It is similar to a septic system for clean rainwater.
The idea has possibilities for areas where runoff is unavoidable like current impervious sidewalks and roadways. But living or green roofs would still be the most environmentally friendly way of harvesting rainwater, preventing stormwater runoff, and removing heat islands caused by hot asphalt and metal roofing materials. The earthship method of collecting the rain off metal roofs for use in the home, reusing it as greywater in indoor greenhouse gardens for food supplies, and finally as toilet flushing water is still the most green use of our water supply.
In the Greenville area, visit North American Rain Systems or call 864.316.5200 for rain harvesting supplies and information. Read the article about the Lyman, SC company below.
Watch the attached video of Maude Barlow, author of a new book called Blue Gold, telling Allan Greg why there is a worldwide water crisis and how our water supply will be wiped out if we continue emptying aquifers at the rate we are now.
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