Two giant metal tanks have been installed at the not-yet-open Sunflower Farmers Market off Zafarano Road to capture rain runoff from the roof.

The water will be used to irrigate the low water-use landscaping and trees around the 26,000-square-foot store, according to Greg Gonzales, construction manager for Branch Development. "With the large volume of water that can be collected, we figured it was a good way to water outdoor landscaping," Gonzales said.

Charlee Myers of Mountain & Mesa Construction in Tres Piedras put the finishing touches on the catchment system on Wednesday. He said the two stainless steel tanks manufactured in Austin, Texas, are 16 feet high and 6 feet wide. Each can capture 2,900 gallons of water.

Gonzales said this is the second commercial building constructed by Branch Development that includes a rooftop water-harvesting system. The company also built Lowe's Home Improvement, across Zafarano from the new market, with a water-catchment system in the garden center that uses the water for the plants.

Gonzales said the city reduces the required amount of open space for a development if a water-harvesting system is included.

The rooftop water system at Sunflower Farmers Market feeds water to plants by gravity through a series of underground pipes. The store will receive city water, but when the tanks are full, the city water can be shut off.

Sunflower Farmers Market has 20 stores around the Southwest, including two in New Mexico. The chain plans to open four more in the state. One is scheduled to open in Santa Fe's DeVargas Center in mid-July. The Zafarano site is scheduled to open in early 2010, according to the company's Web site.

Contact Staci Matlock at 986-3055 or smatlock@sfnewmexican.com.