Rainwater Harvesting and Management

Since 2003, Gaia College has been offering holistic horticulture education to students all over the world. Our courses integrate essential knowledge of ecology, permaculture and organic gardening to build a solid ecological foundation for your career and/or personal life.

Course Overview

Overview

Rainwater Harvesting Image As an ancient, yet ever new practice, the harvesting and use of rainwater is fast becoming a major issue, not only in third-world countries, but also in more developed regions, and in particular, large urban centers. This course covers the foundation of rainwater harvesting and management. Using the concepts of rainwater management, and implementing key components of rainwater harvesting, professionals and trades practitioners will be able to design, create and manage quality systems in a sustainable and environmentally ethical manner.

Topics covered include:

Access to quality drinking water world-wide and at ‘home’
Processes for harvesting and managing rainwater
Rainwater availability
Regulations governing system implementation
Components of RWH/M systems
Design parameters of RWH/M systems

Who should consider this course?

Landscape architects, architects, engineers, and landscape/garden designers
Irrigation, water treatment, roofing, gutter and siding, and plumbing trades specialists
Permaculturists, farmers, community garden organizers
Land planners, decision-makers in municipal offices, educators

This course is applicable across a wide range of trades and professional practice, and offers a general overview of practical rainwater harvesting and management. Certifications of rainwater practitioners are available through CANARM (Canadian Association for Rainwater Management www.canarm.org), and through ARCSA (American Rainwater Catchment Systems Association) and ASSE in the USA - (www.arcsa.org).

Outline

Please download the course outline here: Rainwater Harvesting and Management Course Outline.

Time Expectations

Students can expect to dedicate 6-10 hours per week to successfully complete this course.

As well, our courses are offered in the continuing education realm and are designed so students can complete them according to their own schedule. The work is divided up into 14 weekly topics and students are expected to complete their assigned work and quizzes by the given deadlines.

Our courses do not use online meetings, so we are not using Google Meet, Zoom or other online meeting applications.

If you have any questions about studying online with Gaia College please see our FAQs page

Prerequisites

There are no academic prerequisites for this course, however students must

be proficient in English (written)
be comfortable with current computer and internet technology
have an email account capable of receiving a large number of messages for the duration of the course
have access to high-speed internet
have access to a computer capable of running a current version of FireFox or Chrome. Tablets and phones are not supported at this time.

Credits

This program is eligible for Continuing Education Credits (CECs) with the following:

Canadian Nursery Landscape Association (CNLA)
Pre-approved:
24 credits

National Association of Landcare Professionals (NALP) – American
Pre-approved:
24 credits

B.C. Society of Landscape Architects
As per Society guidelines - eligibility of this program has been confirmed

Master Gardeners of Ontario Inc. (MGOI)
Pre-approved:
24 credits

Canadian Society for Organic Urban Land Care (SOUL)
Pre-approved: 6 Credits

Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Canada
Pre-approved: 1.18 Credits

Northeast Organic Farming Association (NOFA)
Pre-approved: 4 Credits

Architectural Institute of British Columbia (AIBC)
Pre-approved: 42 Core LUs

This course partially satisfies the requirements of:

Gaia College: Elective course for Diploma in Organic Land Care
CLD designation offered through CNLA. Successful completion of the course may be used toward the achievement of the requirements for the Education component of the recertification process.