Create a Landscape Infiltration Basin

When you reduce landscape irrigation, the upstream environment and our coastal waters benefit.

This simple landscape infiltration basin was created with the average homeowner in mind. As you can see from the cross section drawing, it consists of little more than landscape cloth, gravel, sand and plant material. but what it does is most amazing: it captures rainwater and irrigation runoff from polluting our delicate coastal environment. It does this by giving runoff a place to go other than down the storm drain system and out to the ocean.

Other ways you can also help prevent runoff from finding its way into the marine environment are by watering no more than absolutely necessary and using generous amounts of mulch (about 3″) around your planted areas. Not only does this mulching prevent the loss of irrigation water, but it also helps to capture rainwater runoff and benefits the soil.