The RainCatcher Santa Fe, NM

Working with nature for a greener world

  • Home
  • Landscaping Services
    • Landscaping & Xeriscaping
    • Permaculture Design
    • Seeding with Native Grasses
    • Edible Landscaping
    • Hardscaping & Stonework
    • Before & After Landscaping Projects
  • Irrigation & Water Systems
    • Irrigation Systems
    • Rainwater Harvesting
    • Cisterns for Rainwater Storage – Above & Below Ground
    • Water Recycling
  • Erosion Control
  • About
    • About Us
    • Services
    • News Blog
  • Resources
    • FAQs
    • Glossary
    • Resources & Useful Info
    • Affiliates
  • Testimonials
  • Contact

FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

Why should I capture my rainwater?

Did you know that over 5.43 billion gallons of water fall on the city limits of Santa Fe each year?  Although we live in the high desert and it seems like there is no water available, we have an abundance – we simply need to harvest it!  Rainwater harvesting can add beauty and lushness to our gardens, increase the ever depleting groundwater recharge, control erosion, and bring life back to the desert. The city of Santa Fe is relatively small for a city in America – only 26 square miles, and our average rainfall is just 14″ per year, but that is almost 5.5 billion gallons of water per year!

Why is it important to stop erosion?

Although erosion is a natural process, in our region soil is precious and very fragile.  Erosion can go unchecked in a single storm and do a large amount of damage.  Harvesting water is a wonderful way to prevent erosion.  Our current standards in society are in the form of drainage which makes water a problem.  The problem is the solution!  Controlling erosion means infiltrating water for the plants, landscapes and ground water recharge.

Can I recycle water from household use?

Everyone that has a home or rents a home has an ephemeral stream running through the property in the form of a sewer line.  Greywater and other various forms of waste water treatment are legal in New Mexico providing they follow code set forth by the New Mexico Environment Dept.  These water sources are constant (as long as you use your shower, washing machine, sinks, etc.) and provide a wonderful, nutrient rich water for the landscape.

Are you licensed and insured?

The RainCatcher Inc. is a fully licensed and insured small business.  We hold 3 state licenses: NM GB-98, MM-98, and MS-06.  We have full liability and workmans compensation insurance through the entire company.

What is “edible landscaping” exactly?

When designing a landscape, there are so many wonderful plants to choose from it gets overwhelming.  Why not provide an abundance of plants that can provide food for you, your family, and the surrounding wildlife?  Edible landscaping can use a lot of the edible native plants in this region and are no more difficult to grow than any others.

What is “permaculture” all about?

Permaculture (Permanent Agriculture) was a term coined by Bill Mollison in the 1970’s.  It is the integration of human society with a form of perennial agriculture that mimics the patterns of nature and ecological systems.  Permaculture is an idea that can help us achieve a more sustainable future by working with Nature, and seeing ourselves as part of Nature.

Why is it important to save water?

Did you know that 98% of all water on Earth is in the oceans?  This leaves 2% of which 1.6% is locked up in the ice on the poles.  We as a species have only .4% of the Earth’s water to use in our lives, shared with all the other organisms that use water on a daily basis.  Although we live in the high desert in this region, we have an abundance of water falling from the sky if we use it right, and save when we can.

What is a sustainable landscape?

A sustainable landscape is one that will, once established, require hardly any outside resources to keep it alive and healthy.  It can survive on the water that falls from the sky, and provides it’s own ecology by providing wildlife habitat, living mulch, wind and sun protection, healthy soil ecology, nutrient recycling, and most of all, little work and resources on our end to maintain it.

What is groundwater?

Groundwater is the water that makes it through the first layer of soil and is stored in the ground where it is usable by plants. Trees, shrubs and native grasses can access water up to 30’ down in the soil, and anywater that we can store in the ground will either grow plants, or make it to a low point where it can exit the ground via an ephemeral stream.

How much rainfall in inches does Santa Fe receive in a year?

The annual average precipitation at Santa Fe is 14.22 inches.

How can I calculate the amount of water that can be captured from my roof?

Read our post on Calculating Rainwater for Harvesting. You’ll learn the easy step-by-step way to find out how much rainwater can be harvested in a year from your roof area.

 

Sound interesting? Email us about your project needs. The RainCatcher offers consultations and estimates for a fee of $100, including travel time. We look forward to hearing from you!

 

back-to-top

contact us

505.501.4407 getgreen@theraincatcherinc.com

Are you interested in…

connect with us

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Twitter

search

Testimonials

We enlisted Reese Baker to design and install a 12,000 gallon water catchment system on our property, which has been working beautifully ever since. It allowed us to plant and irrigate a fruit orchard and water all our landscape, automatically – a completely carefree system. The project was completed on time and within the stated parameters. We consider it money well spent and we’d recommend The RainCatcher to anyone.”
Stryder and Phoenix Simms, Santa Fe
With the RainCatcher’s help, our property has been completely restructured and now retains the moisture that falls on the land. It also reuses all the wastewater that we generate, and collects and reuses the rain and snow moisture that falls on our roof. We have both flowering and fruit-bearing plants and trees, plus healthy soil, which creates a wonderful ecosystem that we enjoy year ’round. In addition to all this, the RainCatcher is very responsive to ongoing maintenance and emergency cal… Read more
Melissa Epple and Dwight Nibbelink, Santa Fe
Our experience working with The RainCatcher was exceptional – and exciting from the beginning. This company is very detail-oriented and in constant communication with the client and landscape designer. We were very impressed with the camaraderie and respect between Reese and his crew. Our finished patio is perfect. The rock work, exquisite.
Louise and Kirk Casselman, Santa Fe
We highly recommend The Raincatcher if you choose to harvest nature’s water elements. They installed our system after our well became unusable, utilizing our existing plumbing and adding other components. Their employees were conscientious and reliable, and our system works as they promised it would! We were pleased that we did not have anything freeze when it got down to 21 below zero – neighbors around us had quite a few issues!
Michelle and Terry Rothwell, Santa Fe
My first contact with The RainCatcher was at a water forum held in Eldorado. I was so impressed with The RainCatcher’s presentation that I asked Reese if he would like to work with the Eldorado Community Center and design a water catchment system. The RainCatcher was professional and responsive to all of our needs and his crews were courteous and helpful. The project was done on time and within budget. Thanks RainCatcher!
Bill Donohue, General Manager, Eldorado Community Improvement Association
When we were planning our project, our landscape designer recommended The Raincatcher for our catchment system. We found the guys at The RainCatcher to be very honest, fair, and easy to work with. They did a great job on our tanks, and we ended up asking them to also do our stonework.
Peter Shepard, Santa Fe
We are so pleased with the work that the RainCatcher has done at our home. They have transformed our yard into a beautiful garden that we can enjoy year round. The attention to detail used to create our catchment system was beyond professional. This company is the most honest, hard working, and talented group out there! I would recommend – and have recommended them – time and time again!
Ajna and Roberta Seret, Santa Fe

ACHIEVEMENTS

Reclamation Award
Rangeland Hands, RiverBend Engineering and The RainCatcher were proud recipients of the 2017 Excellence in Reclamation Award, presented by the NM Energy Minerals and Natural Resources Dept. Learn more
Santa Fe Botanical
The RainCatcher is proud to be a part of the Santa Fe Botanical Garden's team helping to manage storm water, prevent erosion, and encourage groundwater recharge for the Orchard Gardens. Learn more
RainCatcher, Inc. is proud to be a recipent of a 2014 Sustainable Santa Fe Award
The RainCatcher is honored to be a recipent of a 2014 Sustainable Santa Fe Award for Climate Adaptation — Water, given in recognition of innovators in sustainability practices. Learn more

Contact The RainCatcher of Santa Fe for rainwater catchment, water recycling, wastewater treatment, irrigation systems, and to incorporate xeriscaping, permaculture, water-wise landscaping and erosion control on your property: 505.501.4407

 

Home · Services · News · About · Testimonials · FAQs · Glossary · Affiliates · Resources · Contact · Landscaping & Xeriscaping · Seeding with Native Grasses · Edible Landscaping · Hardscaping & Stonework · Rainwater Harvesting · Water Recycling · Irrigation Systems · Permaculture Design · Erosion Control · Site Map

 

© 2023 The RainCatcher, Inc. · Website Design by A.D. Design, Santa Fe, NM