Writer: Robert Burns, 903-834-6191, rd-burns@tamu.edu
LAMPASAS – “Rainwater Harvesting for Homeowners” will be held 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. April 22 at the Lampasas County Higher Education Center, 208 East Avenue B, Lampasas.
The program is a joint effort of the Lampasas River Watershed Partnership, Texas A&M AgriLife Research, the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service and the Texas State Soil and Water Conservation Board, according to Lisa Prcin, Lampasas River Watershed Coordinator, Temple.
“Rainwater harvesting is an innovative and efficient means of utilizing water,” Prcin said. “This process collects rainwater, stores it and allows its use when needed, thereby lessening the demand on existing water supplies.”
Rainwater harvesting can reduce flooding, erosion and contamination of surface water, she noted.
“Participants will learn about the benefits of rainwater harvesting and how to build an effective system,” said Dotty Woodson, AgriLife Extension water resources specialist, Dallas, who will be teaching the class.
The training is free and open to the public. However, materials they can use to build their own rain barrel to take home will be available for $60, Prcin said.
Preregistration is required for the class—and only 25 rain barrels will be available. Light refreshments will be served. Register by April 18 by contacting Prcin at 254-774-6008 or at lprcin@brc.tamus.edu.
“Not only does rainwater harvesting help provide an additional source of water, it also helps mitigate contamination of surface water due to storm-water runoff by allowing the rainwater to be filtered more than it typically would be if it just drained directly into the local waterways,” Prcin said.
Also, rainwater harvesting was identified by the Lampasas River Watershed Partnership as a way for homeowners to help improve water quality in the Lampasas River watershed, she said.
In 2002, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality identified the Lampasas River for watershed protection plan development due to concerns about elevated levels of bacteria, according to Prcin. The Lampasas River watershed includes parts of Mills, Hamilton, Lampasas, Coryell, Burnet, Bell and Williamson counties.
More information about the Lampasas River Watershed Partnership and this program can be found at http://www.lampasasriver.org.
The facilitation of the Lampasas River Watershed Partnership and development of the watershed protection plan are funded by the Texas State Soil and Water Conservation Board through a Clean Water Act grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
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