RESS “When the well’s dry, we know the worth of water.” This is such a true quote by Benjamin Franklin. Our wells may not dry up, but when the electricity goes out and the water wells can’t pump the water for the plants, garden and inside-the-house uses, the value of water goes up. As the cost of electricity to run the water well increases and your plants and gardens are panting for water, the worth of water goes up.
Water may be caught in a bucket but rainwater harvesting has become a popular solution in Texas as the heat soars and droughts more frequently tax infrastructure.
The State of Texas offers fi nancial incentives for rainwater harvesting systems. According to the USDA, the State of Texas Senate Bill 2 of the 77th Legislature exempts rainwater harvesting equipment from sales tax. Local governments can exempt rainwater harvesting systems from ad valorem (property) taxes.
Rainwater harvesting is the collection and storage of rainwater. Instead of letting it run off, rainwater is collected from rooflike surfaces in a tank, cistern, or deep pit. It can be used to water gardens, washing vehicles, and if treated, it can be used as potable water.
If you wonder if it is worth the effort, water capture adds up quickly. For collecting water from a building, say a 22 x 24foot garage.
If it rains a half inch, you can collect about 167 gallons of water from that roof. If your toilet flushes two gallons of water each time, that is over 80 flushes. If your electricity is out for several days, it is well worth the water!
Efficient collection systems have a downspout, a screen to keep mosquitos from breeding, an overflow to the yard, garden or into an additional barrel, a faucet and a hose or on a raised platform with a faucet. The system can be as simple as a barrel to a large metal catchment system involving thousands of gallons of rainwater.
For more information, visit the Texas Water Development Board at www.twdb.texas.gov.
