What Tucson Can Teach Us About Water—and Neighborhood Resilience

8/5/2026

Lessons from a Tucson neighborhood that turned rainwater into shade, trees and community resilience.
What if one of the most valuable resources in your neighborhood is falling from the sky—and you’re simply letting it wash down the storm drain?
That’s the question raised by the fascinating YouTube video “FREE Water was ILLEGAL…He Changed That…”, in which permaculture educator Andrew Millison visits Tucson, Arizona, to explore the work of rainwater-harvesting pioneer Brad Lancaster. Lancaster and his neighbors transformed parts of Tucson’s Dunbar/Spring neighborhood by capturing rain and street runoff and using it to grow trees.
It’s about looking at a problem differently, experimenting locally, getting neighbors involved—and eventually changing the way a community manages water.
For a disaster-ready neighborhood, there are some powerful lessons here.

Brad Lancaster, rainwater harvesting pioneer

Capturing rainwater to irrigate plants in a Tucson neighborhood transformed the hot asphalt streets into a native food oasis over the last 30 years

The surprising story behind “free water”

Tucson is a desert city. Rain is precious, but when storms arrive, enormous amounts of water can rush along streets and into drainage systems. Lancaster began asking a simple question:
Why not slow that water down and let the landscape use it?
According to Lancaster’s account, he and his brother began experimenting in 2004 by making curb cuts that directed street runoff into planting basins. At the time, those curb modifications were not legal. They worked with the city, however, and by 2007 the practice had been legalized. Eventually, Tucson began developing official standards and incentives for water-harvesting curb cuts. (Harvesting Rainwater)
That is an extraordinary example of neighborhood innovation leading to institutional change. And today, Tucson officially provides guidance for residential water harvesting, including approved curb openings and street-side basins. Permits and design review are required for certain installations. (Tucson.gov)

Studying the flow of water on the street during storms inspired rainwater capturing designs to best use this scare resource

Cuts in the curb intercept rainwater as it flows downhill

The big idea: Don’t drain the rain—use it

Traditional urban landscapes are designed to move water away quickly.

Rain hits a roof.
It flows into a gutter.
It reaches a street.
It runs toward a storm drain.

And it disappears.
Rainwater harvesting turns that system around. Instead of asking:
“How do we get rid of the water?”
we ask:
“How can we slow it down, spread it out and let the landscape use it?”
In Tucson, shallow basins beside streets collect runoff and allow it to soak into the soil. Trees and native plants can then take advantage of that stored moisture.
The City of Tucson now describes water harvesting as a way to capture runoff from streets and use it to support trees and shrubs while reducing reliance on potable water for landscaping. (Tucson.gov)

By cutting out asphalt that was draining rainwater into gutters, the city creates a water harvesting, traffic calming roundabout

Trees and native plants can take advantage of the stored moisture, and reduce reliance on potable water for landscaping

From barren streets to a neighborhood oasis

The results are impressive. Lancaster’s Dunbar/Spring neighborhood demonstrates what can happen when water harvesting, tree planting and community participation are combined. Street-side basins capture runoff. Native and drought-adapted plants grow in those basins. Trees provide shade. Vegetation improves habitat. And the neighborhood becomes more pleasant for people walking, biking and spending time outdoors.
Dunbar/Spring Neighborhood Foresters reports that its long-running community effort has involved planting thousands of trees and other plants while harvesting stormwater throughout the neighborhood. (GovDelivery)

One of the most important ideas is that the infrastructure doesn’t have to be enormous.

A basin here.
A tree there.
A curb opening.
A rain garden.
A downspout directed toward a planting area.
Individually, each project may seem small.
Together, they can change an entire neighborhood.

What does this have to do with disaster preparedness?

A lot.
When we think about disaster preparedness, we often imagine emergency kits, flashlights, batteries and stored food. Those things are important. But true community resilience also means asking:
How can our neighborhood continue functioning when normal systems are disrupted?
Water is one of the biggest questions. A major earthquake, wildfire, winter storm, extended power outage or other disaster could interrupt water service or make access to water more difficult. Oregon’s Be 2-Weeks Ready emergency-preparedness program, for example, encourages residents to develop a 14-day water plan and learn how to store and safely treat water when normal systems aren’t available. (Oregon)
Rainwater harvesting doesn’t replace emergency drinking-water storage. Collected rainwater should not automatically be assumed to be safe to drink. But water harvesting can contribute to a more resilient landscape by helping neighborhoods manage stormwater, support vegetation and reduce dependence on treated drinking water for appropriate outdoor uses. And there’s another benefit that may be even more important: It gets neighbors working together.

Check out our video, "How to harvest rainwater using a simple barrel system," for a fun rain harvesting project in your own backyard. Also, check out our Water Supplies page for information on storing emergency water and instructions on how to purify water in case your water supplies are inadequate during a disaster.

Dunbar/Spring Neighborhood Foresters work together to create a greener, more resilient community

Prepared neighborhoods aren't just about supplies

Imagine a neighborhood where residents know:

Who has rain barrels
Who has a garden
Who has tools
Who knows how to shut off the water
Who has a generator or solar power
Who can help elderly neighbors
Where water could potentially be collected
Which streets are vulnerable to flooding
Which trees and landscapes need attention
Where neighbors can gather during an emergency

That’s a resilient neighborhood.
The Tucson example shows how a neighborhood project can become a way of building relationships as well as infrastructure. Community members plant trees together. They build water-harvesting systems. They learn from one another. They see what works. And they improve their neighborhood one project at a time.

Click to open the booklet: Preparing with your neighbors is fun, connecting and improves your safety

Click image to learn more about Be 2 Weeks Ready

You don't need to live in the desert to learn from Tucson

The exact techniques used in Tucson won’t necessarily work everywhere. Portland-area rainfall, soils, vegetation, slopes, stormwater systems and regulations are very different from those in the Sonoran Desert. But the principle travels extremely well:
Capture water where it falls.Instead of immediately sending every drop downhill, look for opportunities to slow, spread and infiltrate appropriate stormwater. Depending on your property and local regulations, that might mean:

Rain gardens. Create a planted depression that temporarily receives runoff.
Downspout redirection. Where permitted and appropriate, direct roof runoff toward landscaping rather than letting it rush across paved surfaces.
Rain barrels or cisterns. Collect rainwater for appropriate non-potable uses.
Mulch and healthy soil. Healthy soil can absorb and retain water better than compacted ground.
Trees and native plants. Plants can help intercept rainfall, shade the ground and reduce evaporation
Neighborhood projects. Look beyond individual yards. Street trees, bioswales, rain gardens and other green infrastructure can collectively make a difference.

But check the rules first

This is one of the most important lessons from Brad Lancaster’s story.
Don’t copy the illegal part of the story!
Lancaster’s early curb-cut experiments happened before Tucson developed the legal framework that now governs these projects. Today, Tucson has specific requirements for residential water-harvesting projects in public rights-of-way, including design review and permits for certain curb cuts and core drills. (Tucson.gov)
Rules vary dramatically from one community to another.
Before modifying a curb, drainage system, public right-of-way or other infrastructure, check with your local government.
The goal isn’t to break the rules.
The goal is to demonstrate what is possible and help communities discover better solutions.

A Neighbors Ready challenge
Here’s a simple way to take the idea home. Walk your neighborhood after the next rain.

Don’t just look at the rain. Watch the water:

Where does it go?
Where does it pool?
Where does it rush?
Where does it disappear?
Where could it potentially be slowed down?
Where are trees struggling for water?
Where does stormwater cause erosion?
Where could a rain garden or other appropriate green infrastructure make sense?

Watch where rainwater goes. Where does it pool? Where does it rush? Where does it disappear? Image Source: Oregonian

Then ask your neighbors:
“What if we could make our neighborhood better at using the water we already get?”
You might discover that the best disaster-preparedness project isn’t something you buy.
It might be something you build together.

One person can start a neighborhood movement

That’s perhaps the most inspiring part of the Tucson story. Brad Lancaster didn’t begin with a massive government program. He started by looking at his own property and neighborhood differently. He experimented. People noticed. Neighbors participated. The idea spread. And eventually, government policy changed.

"You don’t have to wait for a disaster to discover what your neighborhood can do."

You don't have to wait for a disaster to discover what your neighborhood can do. That is a powerful lesson for every community working toward greater resilience. Start small. Try something. Learn. Share what works. Invite a neighbor. Then invite another. Because preparedness isn’t just about being ready for the next disaster. It’s about creating neighborhoods that are stronger, greener, more connected and better able to take care of themselves—before the disaster ever arrives.

Watch the video 🎥
The video by Andrew Millison takes viewers into Tucson’s Dunbar/Spring neighborhood and Brad Lancaster’s decades-long work with rainwater harvesting, trees and neighborhood-scale transformation. (Harvesting Rainwater)
Watch “FREE Water was ILLEGAL…He Changed That…” on YouTube

Learn more

Oregon’s Be 2 Weeks Ready Water Plan. For Oregon readers, the Oregon Department of Emergency Management’s Be 2 Weeks Ready program has a dedicated water-planning unit, including information on storing water, boiling water, finding alternative water sources and other water-related preparedness skills. (Oregon)
For inspiration from the Tucson project, check out: City of Tucson Water Harvesting Information and Brad Lancaster’s Rainwater Harvesting Resources

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What Tucson Can Teach Us About Water—and Neighborhood Resilience

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