Water harvesting can have a significant positive impact on both stormwater quality and quantity issues, especially when the harvested water is used to support vegetation. Trees in particular can help effectively and cheaply deal with runoff. Trees can not only store hundreds of gallons of runoff within their root systems, but also act as bioremediators for many of the pollutants found in stormwater. In addition to these benefits, trees make the urban environment more livable. They can provide shade to residences and businesses, helping to reduce their cooling costs. In colder months, trees can act as wind blocks, thus lowering heating requirements. If properly placed on a property, just three trees can reduce energy use by $100-250 annually.i In addition, studies have shown that shaded asphalt lasts longer than unshaded asphalt, with an associated savings of $7.13/m2 over a 30-year period.ii
Keywords: trees, water harvesting, bioremediators, economic, value, iTree