Lexington, KY - Anthony Nesbitt, the owner of Oasis Aquatic Gardens, appreciates waterfalls for the same reason some people admire snowflakes.
"No two are alike," Nesbitt said.
Nesbitt also enjoys designing and building fountains, streams, geysers and other water features for residential and commercial landscapes, but he likes waterfalls best. His water features make landscapes more aesthetically pleasing, he said, and the sight and sound of the flowing water add tranquility to the scene.
If customers wish, Nesbitt can design and install conventional irrigation systems and other water features that are connected to tap water. His company also offers a new element in local gardening options: using free rainwater instead of paying for chemically treated tap water.
"Oasis" in Nesbitt's company name is really an acronym that stands for Outdoor Aquatic Specialized Irrigation System.
In the West and other parts of the country where water-use restrictions are common, rain harvesting, aka rain catching, is a common way to supply water for irrigation and other nonpotable uses in both residential and commercial buildings.
Landscape irrigation usually accounts for the largest water usage for both residential and commercial customers, and rain harvesting makes sense for several reasons. It saves the cost of water. The environment benefits through a reduced stormwater flow (which can also lower stormwater fees) and reduced pollution from runoff, also called nonpoint source pollution.
Many horticulturists say that rainwater is better for plants because the chemicals that are added to tap water are not present. Because rainwater is not hard, it reduces scale and rust stains on porcelain fixtures, cement patios and other surfaces. Rain harvesting is an economical choice for vacation cabins and other buildings in remote locations where the cost of laying pipe to connect to a water company's lines is prohibitive. It is also a convenient backup for times of drought or restricted water usage.
Nesbitt's rain harvesting system has three main elements. Rainfall is collected into a storage unit, such as an underground tank. Pipes convey the water to where it is needed. A solar water pump powered by a photovoltaic panel provides the power to move the water. Nesbitt installs five different types of solar water pumps, depending on his customers' wishes and the size of the rain-harvesting system. One has a sensor that turns on as soon as rain begins flowing through a gutter downspout or moving from a pond or other source, and another is manual.
Digital solar water pumps can be programmed to turn off and on automatically to follow a pre-set schedule. Sensors shut off the pump when the storage or collection unit is filled.
Nesbitt cautioned that rainfall harvesting cannot be connected directly into a building's indoor plumbing. To avoid possible backflow that would contaminate drinking water, nonpotable water brought inside for use in toilets must have its own plumbing system.
Currently Nesbitt is installing a project for the Gardens of Hartland on Ivy Bridge Road. Funded by a water quality grant from the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government, the project channels rainwater to solve drainage issues and add beauty to the area.
The best part of running Oasis Aquatic Gardens, according to Nesbitt, is "knowing that you're helping to keep our water clean."
"I wonder why we're so used to turning on a spigot to water our plants instead of using what Mother Nature provides," he said.
Nesbitt installs rain barrels for people who want only a small supply of rainwater to top off their swimming pools or water a small garden plot or collection of patio planters. He said that some people consider rain barrels, even the decorated ones, to be unsightly. Nesbitt offers two- or three-tiered small ponds or a small cascade into a disappearing stream as alternatives to rain barrels. Rainwater is stored either in underground tanks or in a lower level basin.
"There's so much you can do with water," he added.
He also creates rain gardens, often near the base of gutter downspouts that are channeling water off a roof. Native plants are frequently best for handling stormwater, but Nesbitt prefers to add some other perennials for their brighter colors. He's partial to using cannas for their "tropical feel," he said.
While researching solar water pumps and other components for his business, Nesbitt has consulted with people in other states who have been installing rainwater harvesting systems for years. While rainwater harvesting is new to central Kentucky, he has also learned that he has "endless possibilities. There are so many uses for rain water," he added.
To see a water feature complete with fountain and underwater lights, stop by Nesbitt's front yard at 973 Darda Court. More information is also available online at www.oasisaquaticgardens-ky.net, or by phone at (859) 455-6424.