TO THE EDITORS:
I'm kind of struck when I hear about residents and businesses musing about when we will get "city water". There is another option I'd recommend for any fresh water need, large or small: rainwater harvesting. For our home a groundwater well wasn't a viable option. So we had a local contractor install a 10K gallon cistern, roof washers, in home filtration system, and pipes connected to screened gutters that collect rain water from our roof. The roof is standing seam metal, with an energy efficient finish. Based on my research, this type of roofing material is the best for collecting rainwater, plus it looks incredible. Overall the system may be costly initially, but pays for itself over time when you consider the lifespan of the roof, and no more water bills ever. One hundred percent of our home water supply is from rainwater that falls over our house. Our only cost is about $100-$200 in filtration supplies annually. The cistern allows us to truck water in during times of drought, although we have yet to encounter that need in four years of use. These systems are scalable to fit any budget, and can be used in new or remodel construction. Rainwater harvesting is a good investment that allows owners to control their water supply in an economically and environmentally sustainable manner. Installing a harvesting system was the smartest thing we did when built our home.
| Chris Weigand |