Analysis of Unique System for Harvesting Runoff in Arid Environments.

Analysis of unique system for harvesting runoff in arid environments

Izhaq Zinger¹*, Amir Mor-Mussery^1#, Arie Budovsky²

¹Ben Gurion University of the Negev, Bee'r Sheva, Israel

²Judea Regional Research and Development Center, Carmel, Israel.

*Innovator, e-mail: yzinger47@gmail.com, USA Patent Nr. 8,978,296B2(Mar.17,2015)

#Presenting author

Worldwide processes such as enhanced population growth and global warming, may lead to inconsistencies in the amounts and distribution of the precipitations. This phenomenon, in addition to anthropogenic processes which  causes a  decrease in soil water availability, can results to massive floods, erosion, and at the end, inability to maintain agricultural use of the land. For coping with these problems, a comprehensive system was built and tested. The system includes unique 'apparatus' accompanied by bore holes and tunnels for spreading the water at the lower layers of soil, even in cases where the top soil is over-saturated with water. The apparatus has cylinder shape with two-stage filter which could be maintained for many years. While the primary filtration stage prevents large and medium sized objects from entering the system, the secondary filter is internal and prevents all particles, even of the smallest size, from penetrating into the soil. The tunnels system has vertical and horizontal tunnels drilled with special tools aimed to spread the water from the apparatus to the surrounding area. For testing the system four plots of 4X4m were dug to 0.3m depth, and the apparatus was placed down in the soil at the middle of them for catching the runoff, with underground tunnels to spread the water into the surrounding area. Even at the preliminary stage of the research, encouraging results were obtained from the experimental plots, as they had higher infiltration amounts when compared to the controls (without the apparatus). It has to be stressed that a patent was documented on the whole system in USA on 3/2015 (US8,978,296B2). In summary, the advantages of the system are well noticeable, not only for groves (enhancing growth and development), but for other agricultural uses as well. Those interested in collaboration are more than encouraged to contact the authors.