Install a Rainwater Harvesting System

What is rainwater harvesting?

Rainwater harvesting is the collection and storage of rain from roofs or from surface catchment for future use. The water is stored in tanks to be saved or directed into mechanisms used for groundwater recharge.

Why install a system?

In most communities, about 35% of water use is applied to landscape irrigation. Using a rainwater harvesting system can help reduce demand on our water supply as well as reduce water bills.

Rainwater harvesting can also help prevent flooding and erosion, reduce contamination of run-off, and turn storm-water problems into a usable water supply.

 Approximately 0.62 gallons per square foot of collection surface per inch of rainfall can be captured. This tends to vary because some water is lost in the first flush of the system, splash-out or overshoot in hard rains, or possible leaks. Some rainwater can be lost if the tank is full.  Smooth run off surfaces provide a more efficient method for capturing rainwater during intense rainfalls.

What supplies will you need?

· Catchment surface

· Gutters and Downspouts

· Leaf screens

· Storage tanks

· Delivery system

· Treatment/Purification

Cost of installation

The cost of a rainwater harvesting system can be as small or large as you choose to make it. There are various types of materials that can be used in each stage of the system. You can choose these pieces according to your budget. The size of storage tank and choice of potable or non-potable water will be the main expenses in your system. The tables below show average costs of the different options for each component of the system.

For more information view our rainwater harvesting page at www.pgcd.us.

Our rainwater harvesting system located on our office building. This 2500 gallon tank can be filled with just one inch of rainfall.

Rainwater harvesting systems can be as simple as this and can be used to water nearby plants. Average cost of barrel like this is around $100.

Winterizing Your Xeriscape and Rainwater Harvesting System

It’s easy to forget about your garden when winter rolls around, but don’t let the freezing temps ruin all the hard work you did during the spring and summer months. Start preparing your xeriscape garden for the winter. Winterizing your garden and its accessories will save time, money and heartache when spring approaches. Here are a few tips to follow to ensure your garden makes it through the winter!

· Many xeriscaping plants generally reach maturity in three years. During the fall, plants can be divided to fill the open spaces in your garden as the plants grow. This also prevents overcrowding when the plant begins to grow next year.

· Fall is the time of year to plant spring bulbs; they are great xeriscaping plants pulling moisture from the snow as the root systems develop.

· Some plants do better in the spring if they are cut back before the winter cold hits and the plants begin to harden to protect themselves. Be sure to check on your specific plant’s needs, as they are all different.

· Filters need to be checked at least once a month, however in the winter months this is extremely important.

        Depending on your usage it may be ok to remove the filter completely.

· Although plastic pipes are typically preferred because they will not rust, when frozen, they are prone to breaking. Be sure to drain any water from pipes to ensure they do not freeze and burst where the water settles in the pipe.

· Be sure to remove or regularly maintenance any pumps or motors you may be using to move water. These too can break due to freezing and cause major problems.

Fall and Winter Water Conservation Tips

During the summer months is when water conservation and paying attention to our water use is stressed to everyone, such as, not over watering plants and lawns, watering our lawns only in the early morning and late evening hours to prevent evaporation, using a nozzle when washing our vehicles, fixing leaky faucets and so on.

Also during the summertime we are used to watering our lawns and plants more frequently due to the hot temperatures and windy days, but with the cooler temperatures of fall, we are able to drastically reduce the amount of water needed to maintain the plants, and in winter even less watering is needed. Over watering can cause diseases in your yard and plants. So remember to cut back on your watering to prevent plant disease and most importantly to conserve water!

Here are some more conservation tips to practice during the winter months:

· As the cold temperatures hit that means our pipes are more prone to freezing up and busting, so now is the time to get those faucets and pipes that are exposed to the cold temperatures insulated.

· Know where the main water shut off valve is incase of a busted pipe so the water can be easily shut off to prevent waste.

· Remember to keep your heater on at a low temperature while traveling or away from your home to prevent busted pipes.

Conserving water is not only important during spring and summer but also in the fall and winter, so follow these simple steps in doing your part to conserve water.

August Rainwater Harvesting Workshop

It is important to always be water conscious and do our part to conserve water, especially at our homes. To give people an opportunity to learn about ways to save and reuse water at home, Panhandle Groundwater Conservation District (PGCD) and Carson County AgriLife Extension hosted a rainwater harvesting and xeriscape workshop for District residents on Tuesday, August 5. The event brought in 27 people from around the District and was deemed a success.

Attendees learned about the importance and benefits of harvesting rainwater, basic components needed for a system, the average cost of installing a system, an average number of gallons of water that could be collected from their households, and different ways they can use their harvested rainwater. Xeriscape gardens were also a topic of discussion. Guests learned what xeriscape gardening is, the benefits of it, different types of plants to use in xeriscape gardens, the best types of grass to plant for water conservation, and how much is enough when it comes to watering your lawns. Attendees were also able to view PGCD’s two rainwater harvesting systems and xeriscape garden.

If you were unable to make it to the event and are interested in installing a system or garden or would just like more information about rainwater harvesting and xeriscaping, please contact our office by phone at (806) 883-2501 or by email at kbritten@pgcd.us to receive more information and learn why it would be beneficial for you to implement your own rainwater harvesting system and xeriscape garden in your home or business.

Recent rain...

Some welcome rain fell around the district last week on Thursday evening (May 9.)

Of course, the term "welcome rain" is redundant at this point, as any moisture we get (almost!) is welcome. (We say almost, because some folks in southern Wheeler county could have done without the hail that fell earlier in the week.)

About two inches were recorded in parts of Pampa and White Deer. Parts of Amarillo received a half inch, with other reports coming anywhere between those amounts.

The clouds first began building over southern Donley County about 3:00 pm, and Panhandle Groundwater Conservation District's weather modification pilots were put on alert. Aaron Woolsey was soon in the air, firing flares as instructed by staff meteorologist Jennifer Puryear--who was keeping a hand on the mouse, a hand on the microphone, ears on the radio, and eyes on the radar and satellite images. In between all of that, she was finding time to inform this blogger what the images meant, what the messages from the pilot told her, and what she was telling the pilot to do. (Aaron also covered Armstrong County and was joined in ther air later by Herb Speckman who covered Roberts and Gray Counties.) It was fascinating--and obviously productive.

On a personal note, this was the first real test of my rainwater harvesting (RWH) system. It is crude and comparatively small--catching only a fraction of the runoff from my roof--but it captured a full 55 gallons in a matter of minutes, with the overflow going to a tree in my back yard. I will save the water for an "unrainy day"!

Click for more info on our Precipitation Enhancement program.

Join us at GardenFest 2013

Panhandle Groundwater Conservation District will be at Amarillo Botanical Gardens on Saturday, May 4, for GardenFest 2013. We will have information on rainwater harvesting, xeriscaping, and water conservation in general. We will be giving out lawn sprinkler gauges. Come see us!

Join us at the Amarillo Zoo!

We will have information about water conservation, rainwater harvesting, and xeriscaping. Stickers and tattoos for the kids, sprinkler gauges for adults!

Rainwater Harvesting News

        At PGCD, we LOVE the concept of harvesting rainwater (and we do it at our offices in White Deer!) If you think collection systems are ugly and cumbersome, think again!

Here are a couple of items you should be aware of:
        A rainwater harvesting workshop will be held April 13 at the Potter County AgriLife Extension Service office in Amarillo, 3301 S.E. 10th Ave. This course will provide an overview of rainwater harvesting, its uses and applicability to conserving rainfall as a natural resource.
        The workshop will begin with registration at 2:30 p.m. and will end at 5 p.m. Cost of the workshop will be $15, payable at the door, and preregistration is recommended.
Concepts and techniques discussed will include passive and active rainwater harvesting, including rain gardens, landscape design, rain barrels, sanitation and maintenance. The use of rainwater for wildlife, livestock, pets, landscape and vegetable production, and in-home use will also be covered.
Everyone attending the workshop will have the opportunity to see a rainwater barrel built and may purchase as many harvesting barrels as they need. (Even if you don’t attend, you can purchase receptacles from the extension office.
For more information or to reserve a seat, contact Brandon Boughen at 806-373-0713.

The City of Amarillo Water Utility Department offers a financial incentive to encourage the use of rainwater as a supplement to municipal water for irrigation use.   The Financial incentive will be in the form of a one-time credit on your City of Amarillo utility bill.  For a brochure with all the details, go to water.amarillo.gov and click on “documents” in the menu, or click here.