WO2000023659A1

WO2000023659A1 - Integrated hydrologic circuits

Info

Publication number: WO2000023659A1
Application number: PCT/US1999/024540
Authority: WO
Inventors: Kenneth J. Hsu
Original assignee: Hsu Kenneth J
Priority date: 1998-10-21
Filing date: 1999-10-20
Publication date: 2000-04-27
Also published as: TW477852B; AU1213700A

Abstract

Covered or underground water reservoirs (17) are formed of a porous medium to minimize evaporative loss and to allow use of the overlying ground surface for other purposes. The level of water in the sub-surface reservoirs (12) can be controlled through the use of reserve reservoirs (11) which can supplement the covered reservoirs (17) during dry seasons and remove excess water from the covered reservoirs (17) during rainy seasons.

Description

INTEGRATED HYDROLOGIC CIRCUITS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field ofthe Invention The present invention relates in general to the use of reserve water reservoirs, regulators and collectors to promote the efficient use of water flowing through hydrologic circuits.

Description of Prior Developments

Open air water reservoirs not only take up valuable space that can be used for other productive purposes, but allow for rapid water loss through evaporation. Moreover, exposed reservoir water is subject to contamination by stagnation, insect infestation and surface contaminants. In addition, in some arid regions, open air reservoirs are unable to store sufficient water to maintain vegetation throughout the year.

What is needed is a water reservoir which minimizes evaporative loss, water contamination, and surface flooding and which allows for the use of land previously occupied by open air reservoirs.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been developed to meet the needs noted above by providing a reservoir which is formed from a porous medium and covered with a layer of soil or the like to reduce evaporation. The water in the reservoir can be supplemented with water collecting trenches, groundwater boreholes, and reserve water reservoirs. Water level regulators in the form of porous conduits can operate to add and remove water from the reservoirs depending upon needs, rainfall, and climate conditions.

Surface runoff can be channeled into collectors to reduce surface flooding and supplement the water in the subsurface reservoir. By drilling holes into the water table, the surface runoff can be channeled into the groundwater to supplement groundwater levels as well.

SUBSTITUTE S BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the drawings:

Fig. la is a schematic elevation view, partly in section, of an integrated hydrologic circuit constructed in accordance with an embodiment of the invention depicting a ^'"flower pot'' type of irrigation circuit:

Fig. lb is a partial top plan view of the trench of Fig. la;

Fig. 2a is a schematic elevation view, partly in section, of an integrated hydrologic circuit constructed in accordance with an embodiment of the invention depicting a trench grid irrigation circuit; Fig. 2b is a partial top plan view of the circuit of Fig. 2a;

Fig. 3 is a partial top plan schematic view of a first pattern of trenches aligned in rows with plants aligned in a grid between the rows for use with the hydrologic circuit of Figs. 2a and 2b;

Fig. 4 is a partial top plan schematic view of a first pattern of trenches and plants arranged in a grid pattern for use with the hydrologic circuit of Figs. 2a and 2b:

Fig. 5 is a partial top plan schematic view of a first pattern of trenches arranged in a serpentine or helminthroid pattern for use with the hydrologic circuit of Figs. 2a and 2b and showing plants arranged in staggered rows;

Fig. 6 is a partial top plan schematic view of a first pattern of trenches arranged as a paleodictyn pattern for use with the hydrologic circuit of Figs. 2a and 2b and showing plants arranged in staggered rows;

Fig. 7 is a schematic top plan view of a grid of pits for use with a hydrologic circuit such as shown in Figs. 2a and 2b with plants aligned in a grid: and

Fig. 8 is a schematic view of a series of terraced reservoirs constructed in accordance with another embodiment of the invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Flower-Pot Type Circuits for Irrigation

Much of the water used to water plants in fields and gardens is wasted, even if systems such as drip-irrigation networks are used. Water wetting the soil is evaporated within a few days, because the interstitial capillary force of soil draws water up near to the surface where evaporation is facilitated. A process of efficient water use disclosed in our prior application serial No. 09/123.609 uses the principle that water should be stored in a porous medium buried underground, so that water is supplied directly to plant roots and so that the waste of water is minimized. We now propose to refine this process using a flower-pot type of hydrologic circuit for rainwater-irrigation.

To install an integrated hydrologic circuit for irrigation or for rain water irrigation of fields, a collecting system, a regulating system, and a number of underground "water batteries^" are used as shown in Fig. 1. The collecting system includes a reserve reservoir 11 and trenches 12 filled with porous medium on the sides of a field to be irrigated. Conventional practice is to construct open pits which serve as reservoirs for water- storage. Applying the processes described by our parent application 09/123.609, a conventional pit reservoir should be filled with a porous medium. Smaller reservoirs are needed in regions of frequent rainfall, and can be man-made structures such as water tanks, cement block structures and surface or underground reservoirs. As seen in Figs, la and lb, trench 12 is x meters long, y meters wide and z meters deep, located on the sides of a field to be irrigated. The trench 12 collects rainwater during rainfall. Additional rainwater from surface runoff or from the roofs of buildings, etc. can be piped into the trench, through a conduit provided with a filter to filter out fine sediments.

The ratio of the volume of the reserve reservoir 1 1 to the total storage capacity of the trenches 12 depends the climate conditions. The ratio is larger in desert regions, and the reservoir may not be needed at all in regions of frequent rainfall. A regulator is provided in the form of a hole in the trench. As seen in Fig la. a thin cylindrical shell 13 made of concrete is constructed in the bottom of the trench 12. The shell 13 is perforated to provide for the flow of water into and out of the regulator. After the trench 12 is filled with a porous medium 14 such as gravel, a hole, conduit or bore 1 is formed in the trench. The hole 15 is connected to a pump 16.

After the gravel-filled trench 12 is filled with water, the water level in the hole 15 is the same as the water level in the graveled-filled trench 12. The water-level in the hole 15 can be raised by the flow of the water from the reserve reservoir 1 1. or the water-level can be lowered by pumping water from the hole 15 into the reserve reservoir 1 1. The water-level in the gravel- filled trench is thus regulated via flow into and out of the regulator system 1 1. 12.13. 14. 15, 16.

One may need one or more such regulators in connecting trenches.

An underground "water-battery" 17 is formed as a layer of porous medium, t cm thick as seen in Fig. la. The top of the layer has to be d meters below the ground. The layer can be formed either by digging a pit d+t meters in the ground, and filled with porous medium before the pit underlain by the layer 17 is refilled with subsoil 18 and soil 19 d meters thick, or a layer of porous medium can be piled on flat ground, and be covered by a layer of subsoil and soil d meters thick.

The subsoil can be any in-situ mud or silty mud. Where the subsoil is very impermeable, layers of fine sand or silt can be intercalated. The sand/silt layers 20 serve as conductors for water to rise at a time of need and as insulators which resist evaporation at a time of water conservation. The soil should be carefully piled on one side of the pit when a pit is dug to install the "water-batten'" 17. The thickness of the soil layer depends upon various local factors, including a consideration of the depth of plowing.

The term "water-battery^" 17 is used to denote its function. The ^""water-battery^" stores water. It is recharged with water during rainfall and it discharges water slowly in dry seasons for use by plants. Plants draw water from subsoil or soil through the capillary action of their roots. and water is driven into silty subsoil and/or into soil by Darcy-flow. When the water level in the regulator 13. 14. 15 is low. water can only be sucked up by the capillary forces of the subsoil and soil.

Rainwater is collected in the trenches 12 during the rainy season and the "water-battery^" is then charged when the interstitial water in the gravel-filled trenches flows under gravity into the layer of porous medium beneath the base of a field to be irrigated. The level to which the water will rise from the bottom porous layer of water batten' 17 depends upon the water level maintained in the regulator 13, 14. 15. On rainy days, the ground is wet, and the plants need no water from the "water-battery". Water can then be pumped out of the regulator holes 15 of the trenches 12 into the reserve reservoir 1 1.

In dry seasons when plant growth requires water, the height to which water from the "water battery^"" should rise is adjusted by regulating the water-level in the regulator 13, 14, 15 using pump 16 and/or reserve reservoir 1 1 for example. At the time when seeds are germinating, for example, or when plants have very shallow roots, the water-level in the regulator 13, 14, 15 is raised to drive the water in the "water-battery" higher up by the Darcy flow. When the plants have long roots, the water-level in the regulator 13, 14, 15 is lowered, so that the water in the "water battery^" does not rise up by Darcy flow. Water is then sucked up by capillary action, and the water-loss by evaporation is reduced or minimized, because of the intercalation of sand layers 20. which have little capillary force. Where the evaporative rate is exceedingly high, one should consider the possibility of covering the ground surface under the plants with a porous medium, such as sand bags or gravel.

Trench Grid or Pit Grid for Orchards or Forests

A hydrologic circuit to supply water for growing trees in orchards or in forests can be designed on the basis of climate conditions and o the water needs of the trees. Rolling hills in arid regions enhance the storage of rainwater. Drought-resistant trees are planted in such regions. Neveπheless. rainfall of 70-200 mm per year is not sufficient to bring about the greening of deserts. Without irrigation, few trees and grasses can grow in deserts despite the

efforts of forestation.

Our parent application Ser. No. 09/123.609 teaches that water should be stored in a porous medium buried where evaporative loss is minimized. Water can flow laterally from trenches located at z meters deep within the subsoil of the ground where trees grow. Adequately constructed, the installation of a hydrologic circuit could permit the growth of orange trees in a desert.

To install an integrated hydrologic circuit for irrigation or for rain water irrigation of orchards and forests, a collecting-and-storage system, a regulating system, and a grid of "water batteries^" are installed as shown in Figs. 2a and 2b. The collecting system includes a reserve reservoir 21 and trenches or pits 22. The trenches can be arranged in different ways, e.g. aligned in rows as shown in Fig. 3, crossed in a grid as shown in 4, or they could be arranged in a serpentine or helminthoid arrangement as shown in Fig. 6 and as suggested by our parent application noted above.

The reservoir in arid or semi-arid regions where waste land has little value, could be formed as a large pit filled with a porous medium. The reservoir could be connected to natural drainage systems such as wadis or oases in deserts. The reservoirs should be protected by filters to prevent the porous medium from being clogged and silted up. The reservoir in a desert can also be formed as a large pit filled with a porous medium. Smaller reservoirs are needed in regions of frequent rainfall. They can be man-made structures such as sand or gravel pits, water tanks, cement block structures, and surface or underground reservoirs. Also, a conventional water storage reservoir could be used if it is more economical.

The ratio of the volume of the reserve reservoir to the total storage capacity of the trenches and/or pits depends the local climate conditions. The ratio is larger in desert regions. In humid regions, where enough water can be stored in trenches between rainfalls, the reservoir can be very small or eliminated.

As seen in Figs. 2a. 2b and 3, trenches x meters long, y meters wide and z meters deep are filled with porous medium and placed between rows of trees. The trenches collect rainwater during rainfall. Additional rainwater from surface runoff can be piped into the trenches through conduits with filters to filter out fine sediments.

The regulator can take the form of a hole in the trenches as discussed above. A thin- cylinder perforated shell 13. e.g., made of concrete, is anchored in the bottom of the trench. After the trench is filled with a porous medium 14. there is a hole 15 formed in the trench. After the gravel-filled trench is filled with water, the water level in the hole is the same as the water level in the graveled-filled trench. The water-level in the hole 15 can be raised by the in-flow of the water from reserve reservoir 1 1 , or the water-level can be lowered by pumping water from the hole 15 into the reserve reservoir 1 1. The water-level in the gravel-filled trench is thus regulated. One may need one or more regulators in connecting trenches. Where the trees need relatively little water, a grid of pits, instead of trenches, can be constructed as shown in Fig. 7. A pit is z meter deep, and has a diameter of r meters, filled with porous medium. The water-level in the pits can be regulated like that in the trenches.

In order to minimize the evaporative loss from the soil around the trees, the surface area around the trees could be covered by a layer of insulating material, such as a layer of sand-bags, gravel, plastic, etc.

Integrated Hydrologic Circuit for Green Areas

Homes, open grounds of industrial plants, and golf courses have grass for lawns or for fairways. Grass has shallow roots. Using a "water-battery^" of gravel at a 1 -meter depth for the flower pot type of circuit discussed above is not practical. A shallower ^"water-battery^" of porous medium or fine sand is more suitable. For green lawns or golf course fairways, the ^"water-battery^-* can be formed as a layer of sand about 10-20 cm thick, buried under about 30-50 cm of grass-growing soil and subsoil. A number of regulators can be installed to regulate the height to which water will rise up to the soil for optimum growth of grass. Thin layers of sand can be intercalated in the subsoil. The sand layers serve not only as reservoirs of water for use during dry seasons, but also serve as drainage paths during wet seasons.

The sand traps in a golf course may serve as the collectors of rainwater, provided they are built at some elevation above the fairway. Normally, the sand traps are in depressions. In such cases, the bottom of sand traps should be isolated from the "water-battery^". Otherwise, the sand traps could become too wet during rainy seasons.

Description of Examples "Grass Dams" For Water-Storage

Open-air reservoirs is the current norm for water storage. Such reservoirs have numerous disadvantages including (1) evaporative loss, (2) leading at bottom, (3) pollution such as green- algae growth, mosquito-breading, etc.. and (4) loss of ground surface area which could be used for buildings, parks, fields, or other uses. Underground water-reservoirs filled by a porous medium, such as modifications of valley-stream deposition for natural water-storage described by our prior application noted above, has 40% of the capacity of open-air reservoirs, but none of the disadvantages.

The process of constructing a water-storage structure in our prior application proposed the construction of partitions across a stream valley. We also suggested that the partitions need not be structures of great strength, because they can be inserted between the steam deposits to serve the purpose of storing the groundwater in the stream deposit behind the partition. Having since studied of a number of natural examples, we are now proposing that the water-storage partitions be formed as a series of low dams across a stream valley. The dams can be built in the fashion of those currently constructed to minimize the flooding of mountain streams. For the purpose of storing water in the pore space of sediments behind the dams, the dams can be x meters higher than the valley deposit. Shallow reservoir lakes are thereby formed behind the dams during the flooding which occurs after rainfall. The reservoir lake water could then gradually leak into the stream-deposit after the flood.

Numerous boreholes should be penetrated down to the valley-floor. The boreholes serve as conduits to recharge the groundwater after flooding. They also serve as regulators so that water can flow out or be pumped out of wells for agricultural or urban consumption. Like silted reservoir dams everywhere, the flat area behind the dams will be green meadows. We propose therefore to refer to the dams for storing groundwater as "greengrass dams.^" In areas where flash floods could occur, spillwater to drain the excess flood-water should be constructed to avoid damage to or destruction of the water storage system.

Particularly important is the construction of a greengrass dam at or near the mouth of a stream or river. Loss of freshwater to the ocean is not limited only to surface flow. Propelled by hydrodynamic pressure, freshwater is also lost in the form of groundwater, because the hydrodynamic potential of the freshwater exceeds the hydrostatic potential of the seawater below the seabed.

The construction of a "greengrass dam'" serves two purposes: (1 ) the freshwater on land will not leak into the sea, and (2) the salt water from the sea will not invade the groundwater under land. Since the volume which could be collected behind such a dam in considerable, the water could be used for urban consumption in big cities on the sea coast. The large-consumption volume will justify the high cost of such dam constructions. Where the volume of water is too great to be completely stored under a "greengrass dam.^'* the excess water should be directed to a spillway and from there to the sea. Ideally, the volume of the freshwater loss should be a minimum.

Water Reservoirs Tropical islands such as Zanzibar have plenty of rainfall, but lack the capacity to store the rainwater for urban and rural uses. In planning for the water supply of a new building development in Zanzibar, the water-supply facilities for urban consumption are separated from the water-supply constructions for irrigation, landscaping, etc.

To supply potable water for urban consumption, water-reservoirs need to store water during rainy seasons for use all year. The size of the storage reservoir depends upon the need, and the length ofthe dry period when the storage water is not replenished.

In planning for a Zanzibar development needing water at a daily rate of 35,000 cubic meters, and at a place where the dry season might last for a few months, reservoirs are designed which can supply 35,000 cubic meters per day for 100 or 120 days, or a total capacity of 3,500,000 to 4,200,000 cubic meters.

Such a water-need requires the construction of two kinds of reservoirs:

(1) A primary reservoir on a hilltop, sufficient for water consumption under normal climatic conditions, and

(2) Several secondary reservoirs located on lowland, near the urban centers, where pumping facilities may be necessary to supply water during unusually dry years.

At the present state of our knowledge of the conditions, we propose a primary reservoir with a capacity of 2.000,000 cubic meters, and five secondary reservoirs with a capacity of 400,000 cubic meters each for meeting the requirements.

Primary Reservoir

Using the boundary condition that the primary reservoir should have a capacity of 2,000.000 cubic meters, the following factors are considered before final planning:

(A) Choice of Site

1) Choose a primary reservoir in a large catchment basin near a hill-top position on the island, at some 30-40 m above sea-level in the development site. The height provides gravitational energy for high-pressure water to flow into a retail-distribution system via a regulator. Ideally, if no skyscrapers are planned, there might be very little energy-need for pumping.

2) Whereas a maximum reservoir height gives the greatest water-pressure, a somewhat lower position favors collection of water from natural terrain.

3) Where cliffs exist, as they do at the development site, take advantage of their presence. A cliff serves the function of a retaining-wall. and its integration as a part of the storage reservoir saves construction costs. A cliff also permits the construction of a slightly down-sloping top surface above the reservoir. The height of the lower retaining-wall could be minimized to save costs and to improve the aesthetics.

4) The ground of the reservoir site is preferably not very permeable, but this should be only a secondary consideration. The bottom of the reservoir can be paved with a layer of red clay from the island, or by a layer of graded bed material with the grain size of the sediment fining upward, if leaking has to be minimized. Where leaking is not serious, paving may be omitted, so that the groundwater under the reservoir could be recharged to minimize or altogether stop leaking from the reservoir.

(B) Dimensions of the Primary Reservoir

To build a porous-medium reservoir to hold 2,000,000 cubic meters, the volume should be 5,000,000 cubic meters, in the case where the fill has a porosity of 40%. The reservoir can be built by piling broken rock debris, such as coral rubbles found in Zanzibar, to a height of 1 meter over 5 square kilometers, or 5 meters over 1 square kilometer or something intermediate. The shape of the reservoir will have to be optimized according to local conditions. Where the cliff is high, one could pile a thicker layer or debris. Where the land is flat, one could have a layer of 1 meter or less so as not to produce unseemly structures. (C) Top of Primary Reservoir The top of the porous-medium of the reservoir should be covered by a mesh-wire filter, and the filter should be covered by a layer of sand, mud and soil. The filter is necessary to prevent the infiltration of finer debris which can plug up the interstitial space of the porous medium which forms the storage reservoir.

For optimal plant growth and for minimization of evaporative loss, the top layer should be formed by about 1 m of mud. with a few interlaminated sand layers. The latter keeps the ground wet for plant growth and minimize evaporative loss during dry seasons.

Theoretically, the ground overlying the reservoir can be forests, meadows, fields, golf courses, sport grounds such as tennis courts, football stadiums etc.. or building grounds. Sport or building grounds could provide maximum efficiency for water collection. Forests are ideal for promoting water quality, which is an important consideration because the reservoir is used to store potable water. If the ground surface is used in any way such that the water in the reservoir could be contaminated, the top of the porous medium of the reservoir must be insulated from the top ground by plastic or another sealing medium, to prevent pollution.

Secondary Reservoirs

Five rectangular secondary reservoirs are constructed in the fashion of the primary reservoir. The costs of construction can be estimated accordingly. Secondary reservoirs can be constructed under terraced surfaces. Each secondary reservoir should have a volume of porous debris of 1 million cubic meters. One can build, for example, a series of terraced reservoirs as shown in Fig. 8. The dimensions for each reservoir could be 500m x 500m x 2m. A strip of land, half a kilometer wide, can be underlain by four such terraced reservoirs to constitute one secondary reservoir.

The secondary reservoirs can be connected to the primary reservoirs by conduits, but they do not have to be. Their distribution and their siting can be determined on the basis of the development needs. Reservoirs from Infill of Previous Lakes. Marshes , and Ponds

Use of open lakes or ponds as water reservoirs has the disadvantages of evaporative loss and the loss of available ground surface area for land development. Furthermore, stagnant bodies of water can become breeding grounds for bacteria, algae, mosquitos and other insects which are not only a nuisance, but also a health hazard. Such stagnant water bodies can be filled to form a reservoir development site, not only to remove the hazards noted above but also to beautify the landscape. Properly constructed, such filled reservoirs increase the total capacity of the water storage available.

Conservation Measures to Recharge a Groundwater Reservoir

Zanzibar was initially covered by tropical forests before human cultivation began. Deforestation and human consumption caused the lowering of the groundwater table, and the invasion of seawater into the groundwater. With the abundance of rainfall in Zanzibar, depleted groundwater can be recharged through a number of measures.

The freshwater lense on an island is 40 times the elevation of the island, and an island with a fully recharged groundwater supply should not have a shortage of water. Recharge of the groundwater can be achieved by digging pits into the ground. Where the groundwater table is deep, and where the vadose zone consists of interbedded permeable and impermeable formations, boreholes are drilled through the impermeable formations into the groundwater table. The boreholes serve not only to recharge groundwater but a properly spaced grid of boreholes can reduce surface runoff and reduce the threats of flooding by allowing rainwater to flow through the boreholes to recharge the groundwater.

The pits and boreholes are preferably filled with gravel and can be topped by soil for growing trees and plants. Surface runoff collecting rainwater flows into pits or boreholes to recharge the groundwater. The presence of boreholes penetrating horizontally impermeable layers facilitates the recharging ofthe groundwater.

Integrated Hydrologic Circuit for Irrigation of Cultivated Fields

The "flower-pot" type of hydrologic circuit can be applied to cornfields in. for example. Zanzibar. The "flower-pot" for each hectare has the following dimensions:

The trench 12 is 100 meters long, Vi meter wide and 1J meters deep, placed on the sides of a one hectare field to be irrigated. The trenches collect rainwater during rainfall. There is a slight difference in elevation so that water flows from one trench to another through the "water battery^"' under the cornfield. Because the rainfall is generally sufficient for corn growing on Zanzibar, only a small water-reservoir is needed.

The regulator is formed as a hole of some 'A meter wide in the trench, and the bottom of the water-hole is 1.2 m deep. The layer of porous medium at the base of the field, or the "water- battery", is a 20 cm thick layer of gravel located 1 m below the ground surface.

During the season of germination, the water-level in the regulator should be high, some 10-20 cm below the top, so that water in the bottom of the "flower-pot" can rise according to Darcy's law to flow into the top soil, where it is extracted by germinating plants. As the plants grow, the water level in the regulator either descends because of the use of water for plant growth, or the level can be pumped down to save water-consumption-loss from the "water- battery". The water-level in the regulator should be about 1 m down at the time when the corn plants are mature.

Integrated Hydrologic Circuit for Reforestation

An integrated hydrologic circuit for rain-water irrigation of a reforestation area includes a collecting system, a regulating system, and a grid of trenches or pits serving as "water- batteries^". The collecting system includes a reserve reservoir and trenches or pits. A reserve reservoir in Zanzibar, where land is relatively valuable and rainfall is plentiful, can be small. Trenches for each hectare unit are 100 meters long, Vz meters wide and. 1 -2 meters deep, filled with porous medium and placed between the rows of trees. The trenches collect rainwater during rainfall. The regulator is a hole. A m across, formed in the trench.

Construction of "Greengrass Dams'" for Urban Consumption and Urban Development

Open-air reservoirs for urban water-uses are not optimum structures for a variety of reasons. In Kaohsiung, Taiwan, a 120-meter dam for water-storage was not built because of the potential hazard in a seismically active region. On islands of Hong Kong, reservoirs are not built because of the limited available area of land surface. On the coast of Israel and the Gaza Strip, no dams are built because the coastal streams are practically dry.

We are proposing the construction of large "greengrass dams'^" in those areas. At the Gaza Strip, for example, the streams or wadis are normally dry river beds. Flood water during the rainy season may overflow the x-meter high river banks, because water cannot penetrate rapidly into the groundwater reservoir. To store water for agricultural and urban uses, we propose to construct at least one "green grass dam^" at the mouth of the stream or wadis, in the fashion described above. The height of the dam can be as high as the river-bank. The depth of the dam should be deep enough to prevent salt-water invasions into the freshwater reservoir. The depth can thus be 50 m to 100 m, more or less.

The same construction on a large scale can be built across the mouth of larger wadis near Tele Aviv or Haifa to provide water for urban consumption. The great demand justifies the high cost of construction of such water supply facilities.

There has been disclosed heretofore the best embodiment of the invention presently contemplated. However, it is to be understood that various changes and modifications may be made thereto without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. Arrangements for integrated hydrologic circuits for water-supply to urban communities, for irrigation of cultivated fields, for landscaping and for forestation based upon the use of porous medium as facilities for storage, transport, and regulated consumption, said circuits having at least one of the following elements: a collector, a reservoir, a regulator, a water-battery, and a conduit, said collector being filled with porous medium and being capable of collecting rainwater, said reservoir being capable of storing water, said regulator being capable of adjusting the flow of water to the water-battery to supply consumption-needs, said water- battery being capable of storing water during rainy seasons and discharging water for plant- growth during dry seasons, and said conduit being capable of transporting water from said reservoir or said regulator to an outlet for consumption-needs.

2. The hydrologic circuit according to claim 1 wherein said collector is a stream deposit of natural drainage or a pit or trench filled with porous medium.

3. The hydrologic circuit according to claim 1 wherein said storage- reservoir is a stream deposit of natural drainage or a pit or trench or underground pit or trench filled with porous medium.

4. The hydrologic circuit according to claim 1 wherein said regulator is hole in a pit or trench, or underground pit or trench, filled with porous medium.

5. The hydrologic circuit according to claim 1 wherein said conduit is a trench or canal or underground trench or canal filled with porous medium.

6. The hydrologic circuit according to claim 1 wherein pits or boreholes. not filled with porous medium, are dug down to the depth of the ground water table to recharge the ground-water, the holes being spaced sufficiently close apart to reduce the threat of flooding.

7. The hydrologic circuit according to claim 1 wherein pits or boreholes. filled with porous medium, are dug down to the depth of the ground water table to recharge the ground-water, the holes being spaced sufficiently close apart to reduce the threat of flooding.

8. The hydrologic circuit according to claim 1 wherein a layer of porous medium is laid to minimize evaporative loss from soil.

9. The hydrologic circuit according to claim 1 wherein the reservoir is filled by a porous medium and is covered by subsoil and/or soil so that the ground can be used as fields, forests, parks, lawns, golf courses, sport grounds and building grounds.

10. The hydrologic circuit according to claim 1 where the reservoir is filled by porous medium and is separated from earth-material on top by insulation material to prevent pollution ofthe reservoir.

11. A hydrologic circuit according to claim 1 wherein said reservoir comprises an open-water body or other undesirable surface feature filled with porous medium to remove health hazards and/or beautify landscape.

12. A hydrologic circuit according to claim 1 wherein groundwater in a stream deposit behind low dams is recharged through the drilling of boreholes or construction of tunnels which communicate with said hydrologic circuit and said groundwater, causing maximum storage of excess surface runoff and minimizing the excess surface runoff which could cause flooding.

13. A hydrologic circuit according to claim 1 wherein said reservoir comprises a stream deposit formed behind a low dam whereby groundwater is stored in the stream deposit behind the low dam to form a freshwater reservoir and whereby seawater invasion into the freshwater reservoir is prevented.

14. A hydrologic system, comprising: a water collector filled with a porous medium and adapted to collect rainwater; a water storage reservoir communicating with said collector: a water flow regulator communicating with said collector and with said reservoir; and a water battery comprising a layer of a porous medium communicating with said collector.

15. The system of claim 14. further comprising a conduit communicating with said reservoir for transporting water from said reservoir.

16. The system according to claim 14. wherein said collector comprises a pit or trench.

17. The system according to claim 14 wherein said reservoir comprises a pit or trench filled with a porous medium

18. The system according to claim 14 wherein said collector comprises a pit or trench and wherein said regulator comprises a hole formed in said pit or trench and filled with a porous medium.

19. The system according to claim 15 wherein said conduit comprises a trench or canal filled with a porous medium.

20. The system according to claim 14 further comprising a layer of porous medium covering said reservoir to minimize evaporative loss from soil.

21. The system according to claim 14 wherein said reservoir is filled with a porous medium and is covered by subsoil and/or soil.

22. The system according to claim 14 where in said reservoir is filled with a porous medium and further comprising an insulation material applied over said reservoir to prevent pollution of said reservoir.

23. The system according to claim 14 wherein said reservoir comprises an open-water body filled with a porous medium to remove health hazards.

24. The system according to claim 14, wherein said reservoir comprises a porous stream deposit disposed behind a dam.

25. The system, according to claim 14, further comprising boreholes formed into a groundwater table and communicating with said system for recharging said groundwater and for recharging said system. AMENDED CLAIMS

[received by the International Bureau on 6 April 2000 (06.04.00); original claims 1-13, 17, 18, 24 and 25 amended; remaining claims unchanged (5 pages)]

^"What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for a plurality of hydrologic circuits for water-supply to urban communities, for irrigation of cultivated fields, for landscaping and for forestation comprising a porous medium that iacilities storage, transport, and regulated consumption of water, each hydrologic circuit of said plurality of hydrologic circuits having at least two of the following elements: a collector, a reservoir, a regulator, a water-battery, and a conduit, said collector being filled with the porous medium and capable of collecting rainwater, said reservoir capable of storing water, said regulator capable of adjusting the flow of water to the water- battery to supply consuπφtion-πeeds, said water-battery capable of storing water during rainy seasons and discharging water for plant-growth during dry seasons, and said conduit capable of transporting water from said reservoir or said regulator to an outlet for -consumption-needs.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said collector is below ground level and is a pit or trench rilled with porous medium.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said reservoir is below ground and is a pit or a trench.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said regulator includes a hole in a pit or a trench, or an underground pit or trench, filled with porous medium.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said conduit is a trench or canal or underground trench or canal filled with porous medium.

6- The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of pits or boreholes, not filled with porous medium, reach the depth of a ground water table to recharge the ground-water, the plurality of pits or boreholes spaced sufficiently apart to reduce the threat of flooding.

7. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein pits or boreholes, filled with porous medium, reach the depth of a ground water table to recharge the ground- water, the plurality of pits or boreholes spaced sufficiently apart to reduce the threat of flooding.

8. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a layer of porous medium is deposited above the soil to minimize evaporative loss from soil

9. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the reservoir is filled with a porous medium and is covered by subsoil and/or soil so that the ground can be used as fields, forests, parks, lawns, golf courses, sport grounds and building grounds.

10. The apparatus according to claim 1, where the reservoir is filled with a porous medium and is separated from ground level with insulation material to prevent pollution of he reservoir.

11. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said reservoir comprises an open-water body or other undesirable surface feature filled with porous medium to remove health hazards and/or beautify landscape.

12. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said reservoir is below ground level and includes a plurality of boreholes.

13. A apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said reservoir is below ground level and seawater invasion into the reservoir is prevented.

14. A hydrologic system, comprising: a water collector filled with a porous medium and adapted to collect rainwater; a water storage reservoir communicating with said collector; a water flow regulator communicating with said collector and with said reservoir; and a water battery comprising a layer of a porous medium communicating with said collector.

21 AMENDED SfflEET (ARTICLE 19)

15. The system of claim 14, further comprising a conduit communicating with said reservoir for transporting water from said reservoir.

16. The system according to claim 14, wherein said collector comprises a pit or trench.

17. The system according to claim 14, wherein said reservoir comprises a pit or trench rilled with a porous medium.

18. The system according to claim 14, wherein said collector comprises a hole formed in a pit or trench and filled with a porous medium.

19. The system according to claim 15, wherein said conduit comprises a trench or canal filled with a porous medium.

20. The system according to claim 14, further comprising a layer of porous medium covering said reservoir to minimize evaporative loss from soil.

21. The system according to claim 14, wherein said reservoir is filled with a porous medium and is covered by subsoil and/or soil.

22

AMENDED SHffiT (ARTICLE 19)

22. The system according to claim 14, wherein said reservoir is filled with a porous medium and fiirther comprising an insulation material applied over said reservoir to prevent pollution of said reservoir.

23. The system according to claim 14, wherein said reservoir comprises an open- water body filled with a porous medium to remove health hazards.

24. The system according to claim 14, wherein said reservoir is below ground level.

25. The system according to claim 14, further comprising boreholes formed into a groundwater table and communicating with said system for recharging said groundwater and for recharging said system.

STATEMENT UNDER ARTICLE 19

Claims 1-13, 17-18 and 24-25 have been amended, numbered as claims 1-13, 17-18, 24 and 25 and are submitted on substitute sheets 25-29. Claims 14-16 and 19-23 are unchanged. The amendments were made to more clearly reciτe the present invention. In addition, the amendment to claim I concludes that the apparatus has at least "two" of die listed elements.

AMENDED ^HEET (ARTICLE 19)