This project proposes the design and implementation of an integrated solution for the capture, treatment, and use of rainwater in the town of Dilkon, Arizona. It is built upon a rainwater harvesting infrastructure with a total surface area of approximately 2 acres, recognized as one of the largest facilities of its kind globally. Rainwater is collected from industrial rooftops, maneuvering yards, and paved surfaces through a system of gutters and surface drainage that avoids ground contact (cloud-harvested) and stored in large-capacity tanks before being used in industrial bottling processes.
Currently, the system operates with manual recordkeeping, but it is proposed to be transformed into a certified water replenishment project under the VWBA 2.0 framework. The goal is to quantify the volume of water effectively captured and used, replacing what would otherwise be drawn from conventional sources such as groundwater or municipal supplies. To achieve this, the installation of digital flow sensors, data validation, and real-time monitoring is planned.
The methodology to be applied is “volume captured,” which allows calculation of the net annual benefit by considering losses from evaporation and overflow. This type of intervention not only reduces pressure on local water sources, but also demonstrates a viable and scalable alternative of climate-resilient infrastructure, applicable in multiple industrial contexts with suitable rooftop catchment surfaces.
The state of Texas faces a growing scenario of water stress due to a combination of factors such as declining effective precipitation, climate variability linked to climate change, extreme drought events, accelerated urban growth, and increasing agricultural and industrial demand. This context has generated critical pressure on groundwater aquifers and public supply systems, which often operate near their capacity, particularly in regions like the Austin–San Antonio corridor.
Within this framework, one of the major technical and management challenges is to diversify water sources, reducing reliance on centralized systems and fostering decentralized, resilient, and locally adapted solutions. Rainwater harvesting and use represent a strategic opportunity in this regard, by allowing local precipitation to be used for productive purposes, without the need for long-distance transport or intensive deep aquifer pumping.
However, there is still a lack of formal and accounting recognition for the benefit these interventions represent from a water replenishment perspective. The absence of standardized frameworks that rigorously quantify the volume captured and effectively used in place of conventional sources limits their valuation as climate-smart solutions. This gap represents both a technical challenge (in terms of traceability and measurement) and an opportunity to generate evidence, standardize methodologies, and scale these types of solutions within corporate water stewardship programs and science-based targets (SBTs for Water).
This project proposes the quantification and valuation of the water benefit represented by the volume of rainwater effectively captured, treated, and used within the Dilkon facility, through a rainwater harvesting infrastructure system designed with technical criteria of efficiency, safety, and traceability. The system collects precipitation from industrial rooftops, yards, and paved surfaces via stainless-steel gutters connected to primary collectors, which flow into large-capacity storage tanks equipped with level control systems and overflow protection.
From a technical standpoint, specific solutions are proposed to ensure full traceability of the collected water, including:
The selected accounting methodology is “volume captured,” which calculates the Volumetric Water Benefit (VWB) as the difference between the volume effectively collected and the volume lost through evaporation or overflow, both determined using calibrated measurement instruments. To support additionality, a theoretical baseline must be constructed representing the volume that would have otherwise been extracted from conventional sources for the same productive use. This analysis will be documented with technically verifiable assumptions and third-party validation.
In short, the project not only aims to enable certification of the benefit under VWBA 2.0 but also to demonstrate that rainwater harvesting can be configured as a technically advanced, scalable, and replicable solution for industrial settings requiring operational efficiency and water resilience
The project implementation is structured into four successive phases that ensure the design, execution, monitoring, and validation of the rainwater harvesting system. Each phase includes specific measurement parameters, operational control, and technical traceability, incorporating specialized technologies and associated monitoring plans.
Phase 1 involves the technical diagnosis and functional design of the system. This includes detailed characterization of the impervious surfaces available for capture, analysis of local precipitation patterns, and estimation of potential collectible flow. Geographic Information Systems and hydrological models such as the Storm Water Management Model are used to calculate effective runoff, while laser topographic sensors and drones accurately map collection areas. Variables such as potential system efficiency, evaporation losses, and compliance with local regulations are monitored. Modeled data are later compared with real records during the operational phase, and hydrological assumptions are periodically reviewed to ensure validity.
Phase 2 consists of installing measurement and treatment technologies. Ultrasonic or electromagnetic flow sensors are installed at strategic points, along with multiparameter probes to assess water quality in real time. These variables include pH, turbidity, conductivity, and potentially residual chlorine. The system is automated through a basic SCADA setup with HMI panel and cloud-based storage. Water treatment includes prefiltration, activated carbon filtration, microfiltration, and UV disinfection, ensuring appropriate standards for industrial use. Sensors are calibrated quarterly, and operational data are logged daily to enable robust traceability.
Phase 3 begins continuous operation with a focus on traceability. Continuous monitoring of water volumes collected, stored, and used is performed, as well as treatment efficiency and potential losses. Flow meters, level sensors, and daily water balance assessments ensure consistency between inputs and outputs. HMI dashboards enable remote monitoring, and preventive maintenance protocols ensure operational stability. Collected data are internally audited monthly, and consolidated results are presented quarterly.
Phase 4 involves external verification and reporting of the water benefit generated. An independent auditor verifies compliance with VWBA A-5 methodology, validating the difference between captured volume and losses, and comparing it to the theoretical baseline. Statistical analysis tools, document reviews, and on-site visits are employed. All traceability is managed through platforms like Aqua Positive, and results are reported under ESG frameworks, with annual reviews and baseline updates every three years or when operational changes occur.
Altogether, each phase reinforces the integrity, consistency, and verifiability of the water benefit generated, ensuring that results are reliable, comparable, and permanent according to VWBA 2.0 standards.
The “Heart Water Dilkon – Rainwater Harvesting and Utilization System” is an integrated, decentralized, and technically traceable solution designed to address the growing water stress affecting the community of Dilkon, in Arizona, within the ancestral territory of the Navajo Nation. In a region where conventional water sources—such as groundwater wells or municipal networks—are structurally limited, climate-vulnerable, and operationally costly, this project proposes to replace part of the demand through the efficient use of locally harvested rainwater.
The intervention is based on a rainwater collection infrastructure covering approximately 2 acres, drawing water from industrial rooftops, maneuvering yards, and paved areas. Water is harvested without ground contact (cloud-harvested), conveyed via stainless-steel gutters into large-capacity storage tanks. It is then treated on-site through a multistage system comprising solid pre-filtration, activated carbon filtration, microfiltration, and ultraviolet disinfection, achieving a quality level suitable for industrial uses such as product bottling.
Currently, the system operates without automation and relies on manual logs. The project aims to transform it into a certified case under the VWBA 2.0 framework, using the “volume captured” methodology, which accounts for the net water benefit as the volume effectively used minus losses from evaporation and overflow. To achieve this, digital flow sensors will be installed, supported by a SCADA system for real-time monitoring, and an annual third-party audit plan will be implemented, ensuring traceability, additionality, and verifiability.
The project is located within the Jeddito Wash watershed, a region experiencing severe structural water stress. Recent studies show a rapid loss of groundwater storage (–4.8 cm per decade), no irrigated agriculture, and low coverage of basic safe water services. All this takes place in an environment exposed to frequent droughts and increasing climate disruptions, which further weaken existing water systems. In this context, a solution based on local collection, operational self-sufficiency, and minimal energy footprint represents a critical innovation to strengthen regional water security.
The project offers multiple advantages. First, it generates a measurable and traceable water benefit, aligned with international standards such as the CEO Water Mandate, making it eligible for corporate water replenishment strategies. Second, it reduces pressure on traditional sources, contributing to the preservation of non-recharging aquifers and enhancing local climate resilience. Third, as a decentralized system, it is more flexible, replicable, and scalable, ideal for rural or Indigenous communities lacking full access to centralized services. Moreover, it is locally led by DigDeep Navajo Water Project, ensuring a culturally sensitive implementation that integrates traditional knowledge and strengthens community capacities.
Implementation is structured into four stages: technical diagnosis and design (using GIS and SWMM modeling), installation of monitoring and treatment technologies, continuous operation and monitoring, and finally external validation with ESG-compliant reporting. Each phase integrates precision instruments, quality control protocols, and data redundancy systems to ensure the integrity and permanence of the water benefit generated.
In summary, Heart Water Dilkon is not just a water infrastructure project—it is a climate, social, and operational strategy grounded in principles of water justice, technological innovation, and long-term sustainability. Its development may serve as a replicable model for many other communities across North America and beyond that face similar challenges.
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