Rain Barrels: Living with Drought, Rain or Shine

Did you spend the summer anguishing over watering restrictions? Maybe you couldn’t sleep for wondering when San Antonio would reach Stage Four. Perhaps you nearly had a nervous breakdown as you watched your grass turn a shade of crispy brown. Well, friend, let me give you a Rainwater Revival intervention.
Saturday might have been a clear, crisp fall day in Boerne, but inside the Boerne Civic Center it was raining a solid schedule of rainwater harvesting information at the 4th annual Rainwater Revival. This Hill Country Alliance (HCA) event brought together a full day’s schedule of rainwater experts and professionals to teach and demonstrate a sure way to end all your water woes.

When it comes to education on Rainwater Harvesting, it’s standing room only at the Hill Country Alliance’s Rainwater Revival. Photo by Milan Machalec.

When it comes to education on Rainwater Harvesting, it’s standing room only at the Hill Country Alliance’s Rainwater Revival. Photo by Milan Machalec.

Who is this great group of people whose goal is to teach you how to gather all the free water you can handle? HCA brings together groups of like-minded citizens with the shared objective of preserving the many precious and natural resources of the Texas Hill Country.
HCA raises awareness about the importance and benefits of open spaces, well-stewarded landscapes, clear night skies and starscapes, groundwater resources, spring flow, and of course the revival of the practice of rainwater catchment. HCA enlists the help of scientists, hydrologists and other experts to regularly offer education seminars, public events and lively forums to raise the level of discussion about precious Hill Country resources and how to save them.
So, slap on your rain gear and grab your goloshes, and be ready to harvest your own water when it rains.  The delightful part is that water is free. There are no current State of Texas restrictions on gathering all the water your buckets, barrels and tanks can hold. Before you dash down to the local big box store and buy a rain barrel, here are a few things you might want to know:

Be armed with knowledge. Read More