by Jessica Woods
Last November, I had the pleasure of attending the American Rainwater Catchment Systems Association (ARCSA) annual conference. The topics focused on a variety of things—from recent legislation, irrigating with rainwater, to storm water control, and using it for a private, potable water source—just to name a few. That conference (and the huge amount of rain recently!) has made me think a lot about how to take more advantage of rainwater, or really, just collect more.
Which leads me to a question I was asked by a resident recently, that was along the lines of “I feel like I should be collecting rainwater, but don’t have any plants to water. Why would I do it?” It’s true, rainwater is so much better for your plants than the municipal water supply (it’s generally higher in nitrogen and it’s softer water), which probably is THE main reason people collect it. However, an often overlooked, just as good reason is for erosion control. You don’t have to actually “use” the water collected, but if you could at least slow it down on your property; that would aid in reducing the amount of erosion your property is subjected to. An easy visualization of this is the divots or valleys along the sides of a house where the rain pours off the roof and bangs into the ground—typically if you don’t have gutters. See the picture on the right–it’s VERY obvious where the water lands when it runs off the roof. Where does the soil go that used to occupy that space? Well, it gets carried off down into the street, into the storm water system, which flows into our creeks. By the way, this water isn’t cleaned or treated; it doesn’t go to the wastewater plant. So, if that water can be slowed down, or stopped, that’s less soil that will be robbed from your yard each time it rains. You can collect the water and then just release it, slowly, over your yard a few days after the rain event. Then the barrel(s) is empty and ready to collect the next rain event and you don’t have any worries about mosquitos!
Two more good reasons for collecting rainwater include:
1. It’s free and 2. Tax-exempt! The water falling from the sky is free, and the purchase of collection containers has been tax-exempt in Texas since 2001.
To assist you with collecting this precious resource, the City of Round Rock has a rebate for installing water collection tanks or barrels. (This rebate is available for direct City of Round Rock water customers only.)
Round Rock is also having a rainbarrel sale that is going on currently until November 9, 2014.
Three sizes of rain barrels are being offered:
• 50-gallon Spring Saver, 6 color choices, $64.99
• 54-gallon Rain Saver, 3 color choices, $84.99
• Classic 100-gallon, 28 colors, $208.65
• Also water diverter kits for $15.99 or $21
The barrels will be distributed on Friday, November 14th from 3pm – 6pm and Saturday, November 15th from 8:30am – 12pm at the Dell Diamond NE parking lot. This is located behind the Prosperity Bank. To order barrels, go to www.cityrainbarrelprogram.org You do not have to be a City of Round Rock water customer or resident to purchase any of these products. There is no limit to how many you can purchase either.
 
All the details to both of these City programs can be found at Round Rock Water Conservation.