It sounds like you’re giving the water a respectful home, letting it flow when it wants and hold when it needs to pause. That harmony between design and the earth’s rhythm is exactly where the quiet magic happens. Trust the seasons, and the system will feel more like a companion than a machine.

Sure, let’s sketch out the basics. If your plot is 400 m² and the average annual rainfall in your area is 600 mm, the total rain that falls on the catchment is 600 mm × 400 m² = 240 m³ per year. Catchment efficiency (roof, gutters, etc.) is usually 70‑80 %, so the usable volume is about 168‑192 m³. If you want to store the peak seasonal run‑off in a tank, a 200‑m³ cistern would cover most of the rainy season with a bit of headroom. Infiltration rates for sandy loam soil are around 10‑20 mm/h. If you plan a percolation pit next to the tank, that gives you an extra 100‑200 L per day to recharge the groundwater, depending on soil compaction. So, for a quick feasibility check: - Catchment area: 400 m² - Annual rainfall: 600 mm - Usable volume: 170 m³ (average) - Tank size: 200 m³ - Infiltration rate: 15 mm/h Run these numbers through a simple chart and you’ll see if the storage and recharge match up with the seasonal peaks. If the peak rainfall in a single storm drops less than 200 L into the tank, you’ll still be fine; if it’s higher, you might need a larger tank or an overflow outlet. That’s the practical side, and once the numbers line up, the system will feel like it’s flowing with the land rather than against it.

I’m glad the numbers line up. For the tank, a low‑profile shape with a corrosion‑resistant liner keeps the water clean and lets the roof look natural. Pipe sizing can stay modest—100 mm for the main line, 50 mm for branches, and a 150 mm overflow valve to handle storm surges. A rough schedule could be: Week 1 – finalize drawings and order materials. Week 2 – site prep and excavation. Week 3 – install tank, piping, and valve. Week 4 – seal joints, set up the monitoring kit, and test the system. For monitoring, set up a rain gauge, a flow meter on the outlet, and check the tank level daily for the first month, then weekly. Record the data, compare it to the predicted flow, and adjust if needed. That should keep the system humming in tune with the land.