In March of 2023, I went through the Watershed Management Group’s Water Harvesting Certificate Program. I have wanted to go through this training program since I became more interested in rainwater harvesting a couple of years ago. I felt like there was no better time because I recently committed to running the North Orange County Surfrider Chapter’s Ocean Friendly Garden (OFG) program. The Water Harvesting Certificate Program is a professional training certificate for landscape designers and is focused on practices that enhance watershed health. The course is not necessarily meant for those with an engineering background as it is more focused on landscape design. However, if you are a stormwater engineer who is interested in expanding your knowledge of green infrastructure, I recommend considering this course. After all, plants and soil health are extremely important aspects of green infrastructure, and these are subjects many engineers do not learn about during their formal education.
About The Course
Watershed Management Group’s Water Harvesting Certificate Program is comprised of over 40 hours of lectures, field training, and hands-on experience with installing rain tanks, rain gardens (referred to as earthworks in this course), Arizona native plants, and greywater systems. This course is extremely practical in nature, and I felt like I could install a system at my home (if I didn’t live in a townhouse) after taking this class.
Cost
The course itself cost $1,200 when I took it. This includes the cost of the practicum at the end of the course, which is the examination required to be certified. I will discuss the practicum later in this blog post.
Time Off Work
This course requires you to travel in person to Tuscon for a full work week. Therefore, you will probably need to use a week of PTO time unless you can convince your employer to pay you to attend this training.
Other Course Materials
In addition to the cost of the course itself, WMG also recommends purchasing and studying the following books:
- Create an Oasis with Greywater: Integrated Design for Water Conservation, Reuse, Rainwater Harvesting & Sustainable Landscaping by Art Ludwig,
- Rainwater Harvesting for Drylands and Beyond, Volume 1, 3rd Edition by Brad Lancaster, and
- Rainwater Harvesting for Drylands and Beyond, Volume 2, 2nd Edition by Brad Lancaster.
I also recommend bringing a backpack, notebook, calculator, and plenty of sunscreen to the course! A long-sleeved shirt and full-brimmed hat to protect yourself from the desert sun will also make your experience much more pleasant. Because the majority of the course takes place outdoors, I recommend bringing clothing and supplies you do not mind getting dirty.
Travel and Lodging
For those who do not live in Tuscon, travel costs could be somewhat substantial because you will need lodging for about a week. I was able to find an apartment for rent on Airbnb that cost me $731.62 for seven nights. This worked well for me because my husband and dog traveled with me to Tuscon, and the apartment I rented was more spacious than a hotel room. We were also able to cook many of our own meals, which allowed us to save money on food while staying in Tuscon.
Primer Sessions
Prior to traveling to Tuscon, Watershed Management Group held two primer sessions that lasted 1.5 hours each. The focus of these primer sessions was introducing calculations and going over logistics. Most engineers will probably find the calculations very simple, but I do recommend attending these sessions. They do allow you to meet (virtually) the other people who will attend the course, and the instructors do provide important logistical information during these sessions. The instructors also provide a list of recommended reading and give participants access to a Google Sites account that contains several PowerPoint presentations and videos from previous courses. Participants have access to the Google Sites account after the course ends. I do recommend skimming Brad Lancaster’s book and Art Ludwig’s book before the in-person sessions, especially if you do not have a background in rainwater harvesting and/or greywater. I also recommend bringing these books with you in case you want to review some material in the evenings.
In-Person Sessions
The “meat” of the course is comprised of the in-person sessions, which take place at the Watershed Management Group’s Living Lab in Tuscon, Arizona, and at a real project site. Watershed Management Group does provide lunch every day. The lunches are catered, and the staff is very cognisant of participants’ dietary restrictions. If you are someone who prefers to snack throughout the day, it might be a good idea to bring your own snacks.
It is also worth noting that parking at the Learning Lab is very limited. If you are staying close to the Learning Lab, it might be worth biking. Watershed Management Group has an enclosed area where you can safely lock up your bike. If driving is your only option, I recommend organizing a carpool or arriving early to class to ensure that you find a parking spot.
Classroom
Watershed Management Group does bring in outside speakers for a few of the classroom sessions. For example, the first session was taught by Brad Lancaster, who is very well-known in the water conservation/sustainable landscaping space. Another classroom session was taught by someone who owns a rainwater harvesting tank installation business. I learned something new during every classroom session. However, the same calculations are covered several times throughout the course. As an engineer, you will find the computations very simplistic.
Field Training
For me, the field training was the most beneficial aspect of the course. As part of the course, you help install a greywater system, a rain tank, and earthworks for a real project. For my cohort, the project was a residential property in Tuscon. The property owners were interested in installing rain gardens, a tank, and a laundry-to-landscape (L2L) system. As an engineer, I spend most of my time sitting at a desk. Having the opportunity to use my hands and actually put something in the ground was amazing. Unfortunately, there isn’t enough time to spend a significant amount of time at each station. Rather, you do have to choose your focus (rain tank installation, greywater, or earthworks).
Bike Tour
One of my favorite parts of the course was the bike tour around Tuscon, Arizona. During the bike tour, participants stop at various green infrastructure projects and evaluate the planting, design, and soil health at each site. I enjoyed the bike tour because it was fun to see how green infrastructure was constructed slightly differently in an arid location. One of the stops along the tour was a flood control facility constructed by the Pima County Flood Control District. This stop was particularly interesting because I was able to share my perspective as an engineer and hear other disciplines’ perspectives on flood control.
Final Practicum
At the end of the course, participants must engage in a file learning opportunity to be Certified Water Harvesters. The final learning opportunity involves preparing a design for a real site. Participants meet at the site in the morning. In my case, the site was a residential property. Then participants have a chance to walk around the property, take notes on their site map, and talk with the owner about their vision for the property. At the end of the exam, participants turn in their site map and design documents to be evaluated by Watershed Management Group staff. Unfortunately, it does take a couple of weeks for the staff to evaluate everyone’s design and notify everyone whether they passed the course. I was notified via email and received a digital certificate (see the image below). In addition, Certified Water Harvesting Design Practitioners are listed on the Watershed Management Group website (click here).
Conclusion and Recommendations
I would highly recommend this experience to other engineers and landscape architects. It will give you a different perspective and afford you the opportunity to gain some “hands-on” field experience. It is important to prepare mentally and physically for the week because this training certificate is not a vacation by any means. While many people (including myself) find the experience enjoyable, it is intense. I highly recommend prioritizing rest and sleep during the week before the course. The vast majority of the course takes place outdoors in the desert. If you are not used to the desert, this can be physically exhausting. Personally, I was very tired for about a week after the course ended. I run regularly and have completed a couple of half marathons, so I would consider myself someone who is in decent shape. The course is also mentally taxing because you are presented with a significant amount of new information. In addition, you meet many new people (which is awesome)! If you are someone who is introverted, this will also be tiring. In my opinion, the exhaustion was worth the life-changing perspective I gained from this class.