Permaculture 2: Ecosystem Mimicry FALL 2025

Catalog the water on your site and create a water assessment map. This is one of the most important assessments for your final design and will also support your work in the Practicum course.

Part 1: Identify and describe sources and sinks

A. Current Sources
Where is water currently entering your site? List and describe municipal sources, wells, springs, creeks, rainfall (from the previous activity), and others. Note both quality (excellent, medium, fair) and quantity. Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of each source.

Example:

• Well
  A drilled well at the southwest corner of the property services the house and barn. It is 135 feet deep with a recharge rate of 20 gallons per minute. The pump needs replacement every five years (~$1,000). Water quality is excellent; it has only needed shocking once in 20 years due to high bacteria counts.

• Seasonal Creek
  A small creek flows through the north corner of the property most years from November through late spring. In very wet summers, it trickles lightly. Average width is four feet. We do not currently use this water.

B. Future Sources
What potential water sources could you develop? What uses would they meet? What would the costs be? List advantages and disadvantages.

Example:

• Seasonal Creek
  Flow is too low to pump, but small dams could slow the water and create pools useful for emergency animal water.

• Rainwater Catchment
  From a previous exercise, we calculated 8,000 gallons/year could be collected from the barn roof. Three downspouts could connect to cube tanks (~900 gallons capacity). This water could be used for animals and fruit trees. Estimated cost: $500.

C. Sinks
Where does water leave your site? Are there problems like erosion or pollution? How can you capture more water before it leaves? How can you ensure it leaves clean?

Example:

• Seasonal Creek
  Water leaves the site quickly, likely carrying soil and pollutants. One option would be to create a small constructed wetland to slow water and settle sediment.

Part 2: Create a Water Assessment Map

Create a trace overlay map of your site showing:

• Water sources (location, quality, quantity, dependability, network layout, spigots, pipes, etc.)

• Watershed boundaries and flow patterns (roof runoff, driveway runoff, drains, flood-prone areas, temporary ponds)

• Pollution sources (cars, neighbors, nearby commerce, farms, entry points)

• Potential water sources (location, quality, quantity, cost)

• Existing infrastructure (culverts, wells, water lines, tanks, sewage, septic, cisterns)

• Erosion (existing and potential)

• Broadscale sources (springs, wells, streams, ponds, aquifers)

• Broadscale needs (irrigation, animals, aquaculture, domestic use, food processing)

• Domestic sources (wells, tanks, supply lines, taps, roofs, downspouts)

Refer to the example uploaded in this week’s course material.

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Submission

• Use the slideshow template provided at the start of the course to present:

  • Your narrative describing sources and sinks (Part 1).

  • An image of your water assessment map (Part 2).

Submit your assignmente here.