Water Systems and Hardscape Basics

This unit introduces sustainable water-harvesting, irrigation, drainage, site preparation, and basic hardscape elements for small-scale landscapes. Students learn to size, manage, and maintain water systems and to integrate functional hardscape features in ways that conserve water and prepare sites for installation and advanced design work.

Learning Objectives

• Analyze site hydrology and drainage using rainfall, slope, soil texture, and plant evapotranspiration data to determine required capacities for water-harvesting and drainage components
• Apply irrigation principles to develop a basic irrigation plan—selecting system type, layout, emitter components, and scheduling—to meet plant water needs while minimizing water waste
• Demonstrate routine maintenance, inspection, and troubleshooting procedures for water-harvesting and irrigation systems, including cleaning, leak detection, basic repairs, and seasonal winterization
• Evaluate site-preparation and hardscape options by proposing a concept plan that integrates grading, erosion control, drainage, and functional outdoor elements (paths, patios, seating) to meet sustainability and project constraints