Most laugh...Will You?

Ok, so to make this really simplistic, let's suppose Johnny likes tomatoes. However, Johnny does not like to plant and grow his own tomatoes. Wait a minute... How does this relate to rainwater harvesting you say. Well, as most people understand, the governmental municipalities are slow to react to most change and/or futuristic thinking. I still recall 3 years ago my discussion with one municipality who told me that their water was plentiful and that is was just too cheap to look at alternate sources or even make a strategic plan for such. The same municipality made clear cut false statements that dam repair was the cause of one of their basins going so low in the summer of 08. Once the dam was fixed, they would "fill" the reservoir back up. It must have been a slow dam project as they never released to fill up. Now, for the part that most folks laugh at. Are we seeing or will we see a new kind of farming take place? Water farming? Yes, that is right, water farming. What if a water farm collected rainwater from the skies in mass quantities? ((I know that some folks are already doing this (sort of) like Tank Town in Texas.))---I mean large collection. Here again, the governmental agencies just refuse to respond to such an idea. However, let's assume water farming is real. (And it is on our water farm) Take for example Johnny and his tomatoes... Johnny needs water but he isn't willing to collect it. His well runs dry and then Johnny is willing to purchase water. There happens to be no municipal water supply where Johnny lives in rural nometerh20ville, USA. Now Johnny is buying water from a farm that has the water and is supplying his needs as well as trying to recharge his aquifer for his well. Johnny is happy doing so. Rain is the new crop. It costs nothing to produce, is easy to harvest, and is profitable.

Where does this fit in?

Let's take for example you are building a new home. Besides all of the many facets of new construction; one, and probably the most, important issue is a water source. Basically there are three sources: well, city or meter, and a rainwater system. Most people know of the first and second option however only those that know of the third are capable of purchasing much cheaper land that does not possess the first and second options (well and meter) and effectively support their water needs. "This can't be a true possibility", states most folks. Let's look at the US Virgin Islands. The USVI for short is the only place in the world that requires each person to create and manage their own water supply. I recently spoke to a resident in the USVI and he said that his home has a 25k cistern and that they had never ran out of water. He continued to state that the hurricane season was welcomed as it was the source for filling cisterns up for the following year's water supply. One last way to look at rainwater as a source of water:

1. City water- You pay for every drop and sewer on every drop if you have no septic

2. Well- You pay to drill/bore with no guarantee of water. Additionally, once you find water there is to guarantee as to what the duration or gallons per minute will be.

3. Rainwater- Guaranteed source of water. This is backed by 100 years of rainfall data proving that the water is there. You just have to collect it

What if is doesn't rain?

The most common question that I hear... Great idea (harvesting) if it would ever rain? In the last week, we have received rain fall just about everyday. In just those few days, I have collected enough water to irrigate, wash all my cars/equipment for 4-5 months. Just as with any harvest, there is a season. The season to collect rain is now. Not when July arrives and water is tapped beyond our supplies. It is apparent now that the government, both local and state, will be slow to respond to our ongoing water issues. Many perceive an alternate water source as change and change to them isn't good. Something new; and it creates an uncomfortable feeling. Instead of talking with governmental officials, I plan to talk directly to folks that are spending money on water and show them savings by creating and utilizing their own water source. A source that no one can monitor, restrict, charge for, dictate when to use thus providing total and free independence. Why are our rest areas along the highway system being flushed 365 days a year 24 hours a day with precious potable water? Why do fire trucks take this precious water and spray it out onto the ground? Why are we washing our government vehicle fleets with potable water? Ever see a dirty police car or fire truck? Better yet… a dirty airplane? FAA will not allow it.