How It Works Capiphon™ employs a highly innovative mechanism for effectively extracting water from soil, whereby water is drawn into the grooves of a specialised belt through capillary action or “wicking”. The size of the grooves is specifically designed to mimic that of the soil pores, allowing water to move into the grooves through surface tension. The extracted water coalesces into capillary straws within the grooves in continuation with the capillary water between the pores of the soil.. If the belt is on a slope (1-2%) or there is a 10mm head above the belt, gravity the capillary straws move by gravity when the soil is saturated. We recommend that the belt drops down 10cm into a sump pit or collector pipe (Draintube or standard PVC) to create a “siphon head” or negative pressure. In this way, Capiphon drains water from underneath. increasing the flow rate at low head, and removing much more water than simple perforated pipe. Extracted water can be collected and either stored (rainwater harvesting)or discharged as required.