By Emily Millar
As the summer drudges on, keeping your lawn, garden, or flowerbed healthy can be an expensive task. Even xeriscaped yards may need some water during summer dry spells. One of the ways to cut down on costs (and capitalize on a free resource!) is to install a rainwater harvesting system at your home or business. You may be thinking, rainwater harvesting system? Like putting a bucket at the end of my gutter’s downspout?
It may sound simple and somewhat small potatoes, but depending on your tank size and its collection efficiency, if you live in El Paso and have a 2,000 square foot roof, you could collect approximately 10,000 gallons a year, and those are the lowest numbers for the state! You could collect 36,000 gallons of free water in Central Texas, 40,000 gallons in North Texas, and an amazing 56,000 in the Beaumont area per year.
The Basics
Rainwater harvesting, or rainwater catchment, is the process of capturing and storing the rainwater that falls on your home or structure(s) on your property. Harvesting rainwater is important during droughts, floods, and every condition in between. During drought, having your own supply of water, no matter how small it may be, helps conserve local water sources, such as lakes or aquifers, and reduces strain on your water provider or source, and when it floods, having your own storage containers provides a place for some of the water to go. It can also mean you don’t have to sacrifice your outdoor plants when drought restrictions are in place. Whether you live in the dry brush of West Texas or in the woods of East Texas, there is a good reason to install a rainwater catchment system at your home or property.
The Technology
Traditionally, harvesting rainwater meant placing barrels below your water spout, but new innovations have grown the possibilities exponentially. For example, putting a grate underneath your downspout to catch the water and transport it to underground storage tanks is an alternative to above-ground cisterns. This water can then be pumped up to feed water features such as small fountains or ponds large enough to maintain aquatic ecosystems.
The Mosquitos? Nope!
Especially with growing concerns about the Zika virus, some of you may be thinking, “free water is great and all, but the last thing I need is a five star hotel for mosquitos in my backyard.” Well fear not! Most rain barrels are designed to keep mosquitos out either with a fine net, screen, or by having an opening only large enough to fit a spout or hose that directly connects the barrel to your downspout. If you still have concerns, you can find countless home remedies for expunging mosquitos from your environment.
The Cost
Depending on what kind of system you install and your water needs, the cost of installing a rainwater catchment system can vary greatly. For a single family home, a simple gravity-fed rain barrel installed by the homeowner could be around $200. Professional installation of a more complex system can range from around $3,000 to $10,000 or more. At first that may seem like a lot of money, but there may be incentives depending on where you live.
The Added Incentives
If all of the above aren’t reason enough to start collecting rainwater, the state of Texas, and many cities, actually offer tax exemptions and incentives for those who participate in rainwater collection. According to the Texas Water Development Board, rainwater harvesting equipment is exempt from sales tax statewide and is exempt from property tax evaluation, meaning your property taxes won’t increase just because you took measures to conserve rainwater. The cities of Austin, Dripping Springs, San Antonio, San Marcos, New Braunfels, Round Rock, and Sunset Valley all offer rebates and discounts for those who participate in rainwater collection, and Hays County offers a $100 rebate for the property development application fee. The Upper Guadalupe River Authority (UGRA) also offers a rebate up to $50 on the purchase of a rainwater catchment system. Aside from these programs, numerous cities have rainwater barrel distribution programs where you buy rain barrels directly from your city often at a subsidized cost so it’s a good idea to check with your local government to see what kind of benefits are available to you in your area.
The Smart Move
This year has been a wet one for the state of Texas and for the first time in a long time many communities are able to water without restrictions, but as we all know, this luxury won’t last forever. Now is the time to capitalize on all of the financial and conservation benefits associated with rainwater harvesting. Whether you are a traditionalist and prefer the barrel route or you feel like a contemporary water feature is more your style, rainwater collection is a perfect way to save money, conserve a precious resource, and prepare for times of drought and flood.