Diamond Ridge
Boerne
Boerne
Rainwater Collection
As we all know, Texas ground water resources are being increasingly strained. Yet there is a plentiful supply of high quality water which falls from the sky. It does not contain calcium and other dissolved minerals, salts, metals and pollutants except in trace amounts, but in any case a tiny fraction of that found in groundwater.
A rainwater collection system can provide all the water any household reasonably needs. It is simply a matter of collecting, storing, filtering and sterilizing the rainwater. Glassware comes out of the dishwasher spot free, lesser amounts of detergents and soap are needed (helping your septic work better), and no deposits build up on faucets and shower heads. The water tastes sweet and is odor free.
Best of all, costs can be quantified and are normally much less than drilling a well. All of the equipment is above ground and can be serviced much more conveniently and cheaply than a submerged pump at the bottom of a well.
Also, in drilling a well, there is no guaranty that water will be found, or if found, in sufficient quantity or acceptable quality.
One might ask, what about the periodic droughts? It is simply a matter of determining your probable daily water use, and building sufficient storage to carry you through periods of low rainfall. It takes much less storage capacity than you might imagine. In the unlikely event that you run low, water can be purchased at reasonable cost, easily trucked to your house and put in your storage tanks.
The Cibolo Nature Center in Boerne has regular classes on rainwater collection and there are specialists in this area who are experienced in building rainwater systems.
Several residents in Diamond Ridge have supplemental rainwater collection systems, and two residents have only rainwater collection with no well. Robert Hurley, resident on Crown Jewel will provide rainwater information to any DR owner planning to build here. Just send an email to the board as provided elsewhere on this website with your name and phone number and he will call you to arrange a time to get together.
IMPORTANT NOTE: Rainwater is slightly acidic (our groundwater is alkaline). During construction, brass plumbing connectors need to be installed, not the usual copper as rainwater will attack copper over a long period. So this needs to be specified when you put your plumbing contracts out for quotation.
A rainwater collection system can provide all the water any household reasonably needs. It is simply a matter of collecting, storing, filtering and sterilizing the rainwater. Glassware comes out of the dishwasher spot free, lesser amounts of detergents and soap are needed (helping your septic work better), and no deposits build up on faucets and shower heads. The water tastes sweet and is odor free.
Best of all, costs can be quantified and are normally much less than drilling a well. All of the equipment is above ground and can be serviced much more conveniently and cheaply than a submerged pump at the bottom of a well.
Also, in drilling a well, there is no guaranty that water will be found, or if found, in sufficient quantity or acceptable quality.
- Better water
- Lower cost to build the system
- Lower cost to maintain
- What's not to like?
One might ask, what about the periodic droughts? It is simply a matter of determining your probable daily water use, and building sufficient storage to carry you through periods of low rainfall. It takes much less storage capacity than you might imagine. In the unlikely event that you run low, water can be purchased at reasonable cost, easily trucked to your house and put in your storage tanks.
The Cibolo Nature Center in Boerne has regular classes on rainwater collection and there are specialists in this area who are experienced in building rainwater systems.
Several residents in Diamond Ridge have supplemental rainwater collection systems, and two residents have only rainwater collection with no well. Robert Hurley, resident on Crown Jewel will provide rainwater information to any DR owner planning to build here. Just send an email to the board as provided elsewhere on this website with your name and phone number and he will call you to arrange a time to get together.
IMPORTANT NOTE: Rainwater is slightly acidic (our groundwater is alkaline). During construction, brass plumbing connectors need to be installed, not the usual copper as rainwater will attack copper over a long period. So this needs to be specified when you put your plumbing contracts out for quotation.
