Our project can be broken down into three major steps:

– Step 1: Analyze topography, geography and social context of the farm as well as its water need.

– Step 2: Research on different water catchment, filtration and storage methods.

– Step 3: Design a water catchment system.

Our group has done some brainstorming for the project on step 3 and come up with some ideas. Since there needs to be more research on the water filtration techniques and the geographical topography of the farm, these ideas are only preliminary and are subject to change vastly throughout the first 2 steps of the project.

The first idea is to place a water catchment system and tank near and beneath the new Farm center building (anticipated to be built in 2015). The position of the building, however, is at a high elevation compared to every other point on the farm, so the volume of the water that flows into this system may be limited.

The second idea is to place a combination of drainage pipes, barrels/tanks near the bottom of the slope of the farm where historically, natural water has been collected a lot, to the point that the ground is flooded. The specific details of this system need to be analyzed, but the position promises a large volume of water. The flooding problem may also be alleviated. However, if successful, the water at the bottom of the hill will then have to be transported uphill during the summer or irrigation.

The third idea is to place pipes or catchment surfaces along the entire slope of the farm to maximize the volume of water captured. The water can then be transported to a storage tanks  in specific locations, resembling “nodes” of water. The idea is to create a far-reaching system of water that collects water at different locations so irrigation is more convenient. However, this means at each collection station there needs to be a filtration method, if needed.

These ideas are chosen based on the techniques of analyzing fluid dynamics, brief observation of the geographical context of the farm and by collecting ideas from past experiences. First we considered the slope of the field and observation of the puddles of water formed at the end of the hill to conclude water flow direction. Then we brainstormed different ideas based on the following criteria:

– maximize captured water volume

– minimize irrigation energy (energy required to transport water from storage unit to the field)

– feasibility of filtration

Considering the 3 major steps of the project, a brief timeline is formed below.

– 1^st March: Complete step 1 (analyze documents provided by the UBC farm on geography and water need, contact neighbourhood residents and affiliations, collect water sample.)

– 8^th March: Complete research on water catchment systems and water filtration options.

– 22^nd March: Finalize recommended design for the catchment system.

Situated on First Nation (Musqueam) land (UBC Endowment land), the UBC Farm is partly supported and subsidized by UBC. Apart from growing local food, it strives to be a green space used for academic purposes by researching and teaching more sustainable methods of agriculture. The farm also focuses on developing a sense of community within the university area.

Each summer, the farm has to buy a lot of water from the city of Vancouver for irrigation purposes. If rain/storm water during the fall and winter can be collected and stored for the summer, the cost of summer irrigation will be greatly reduced and it will be a more sustainable alternative for the dry season.

This project’s goal is to investigate the water flow into the farm from Wesbrook Village and neighbouring construction. We will investigate the possible chemical contents of the water and decide whether it is suitable for the UBC Farm. The scope of the project will mainly be focused on consulting the Farm on what methods are available to collect, filter and store water. Economic, social and ecological feasibility of these methods will also be explored and considered to find out the best solution.

There are a few constraints related to our project. First, the weather directly affects the amount of water collected, and the amount of water the UBC farm will need to buy. The weather also consists of temperature which also effects evaporation rates which dictates the amount water available. Second, the construction and residential zones may affect the quality and flow of water. Third, the topography also cannot be changed. Fourth, since UBC Farm is a non-profit organization, budget is also a constraint. Everything else in negotiable. There are plans of building a new farm center, and there is a possibility that a water storage system be integrated into this new building.

To complete this project we will adopt the following strategies. First, we will contact appropriate people such as soil and hydraulic engineers, the University Neighbourhood Association, and people from Wesbrook Village to gain relevant information. Also, we will analyze topographic maps, and flow diagrams which will be provided by Veronik Campbell. Lastly, we will conduct a lot of research, then analyze data to recommend the best options.