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A window into the wall allows visitors to see the dual piping system that brings harvested rain to the toilets.
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Looking down into the rainwater storage cistern. The balloon helps assess water levels.
Metropolitan Planning Council:
Purple piping is often used to designate pipes carrying non-potable water, such as harvested rain.
Metropolitan Planning Council:
An ordinary toilet, but filled with harvested rain.
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Rainwater for irrigating gardens
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Nan Buckardt and an exterior cistern. Some projects use large underground cisterns as well.
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Welcome Center gardens
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Welcome Center gardens, with a chain that serves as a silent downspout. Water trickles down the chain slowly.
Metropolitan Planning Council:
Welcome Center gardens with chain-downspout system.
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Nan Buckardt shows off the center's rainwater-irrigated gardens
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Nan Buckardt and one of the center's rain gardens
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Downspouts collect rainwater from the roof
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Rainwater flows from downspouts into the cistern
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Nan demonstrates the permeable parking lot pavement
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Demonstrating the permeable pavement
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Soaks right in!
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Nan describes the porous asphalt as more like a rice krispie treat than a dense brownie (regular asphalt)
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Ryerson Woods Welcome Center
Metropolitan Planning Council:
Ryerson Woods entrance