Rainwater barrels: Austin gets it, and Dallas...well...
Like the eco-conscious, responsible community that it is, the city of Austin actually "gets it" with regard to effective water conservation. And Dallas? Besides selective sprinkler restrictions and encouraging homeowners to xeriscape, the city has failed to give Dallas residents sufficient incentive for taking measurable and effective steps toward conserving water.
After watching hundreds of gallons of rainwater gush out of my downspouts, I decided to start harvesting that glorious H2O and buy a rainwater barrel online. Interestingly, my rainwater barrel has history - a former life as a Greek pepper barrel! Talk about reincarnation! Check out this article in the Austin-American Statesman that details how the city of Austin is helping residents to intelligently conserve water with rainwater barrel education, rebates, and tax incentives. Here is an excerpt:
"Central Texans have plenty of opportunities to see rainwater collection systems in action. The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center was designed with a series of aqueducts that transport rainwater to huge cisterns and storage tanks. The City of Austin operates a demonstration site at Zilker Botanical Garden. And several times a year, Austin's water conservation department sells polyethylene rain barrels to city residents for $60. The next sale is 9 to 11 a.m. Oct. 28 at a city warehouse at 6014 Techni Center Drive, but you must fill out an application and prepay before picking up your barrel on that day. (The city offers a $30 rebate when you purchase a rain barrel from an outside source, and those who live out of town can purchase a barrel from the city for $90.) Look for more details at 974-2199 or www.cityofaustin.org/watercon.
Thinking big? Rebates on larger systems are offered by the City of Austin and in Hays County with prior approval. Hays County also offers a property tax exemption. For more information, call (512) 393-2150."
