New state AgriLife Extension water specialist practices what he preaches

Texas

Few of us consistently practice what we preach. One who does when it comes to water conservation is Billy Kniffen, Texas AgriLife Extension Service's first water resource specialist dedicated solely to educating Texans about rainwater harvesting.

"I'll be covering all bases including passive and complex rainwater harvesting systems for wildlife, landscape, livestock and in-home potable and non-potable systems," Kniffen said. "I also hope to work with city and county governments to develop ordinances and incentives in using rainwater."

As a state-wide specialist, Kniffen will develop written educational material, Web courses, conduct training and assist AgriLife Extension agents in setting up demonstration sites and programs on rainwater capture.

He is also the national trainer and treasurer for the new American Rainwater Catchment Systems Association http://arcsa.org. As a trainer, he will conduct professional accreditation courses on designing, installing and maintaining rainwater collection systems. He is already booked to accomplish this in five states this year.

In 2007, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality developed guidelines for in-home rainwater use, Kniffen said. The Texas Legislature that year also endorsed rainwater use in state buildings and encouraged universities to develop curriculum on the practice. Kniffen said these developments helped create the need for his new position.

Kniffen has a long tenure as an AgriLife Extension agent, with his most recent post being in Menard where he will remain in his new capacity. But his interest in catching rainwater for domestic, livestock and wildlife use evolved into the new position he began on April 1.

As far as Kniffen has been able to determine, he's the only one in the nation from any agency who deals strictly with rainwater harvesting.

"There are some who address water conservation in Arizona, Nevada, New York and Georgia that I have visited with," Kniffen said. "And there is a water quality specialist in Hawaii who works primarily with rainwater users, but AgriLife Extension is the first state agency in the U.S. to create a position like this."

Texas water quality and quantity are two of the state's most pressing issues, according to Kniffen. Looking at water conservation and alternative water sources has awakened people to the value of rainwater as a legitimate alternative water resource for homeowners and municipalities.

Kniffen said the state's rapid urban sprawl has reached places with poor water quality or a lack of water.

"Rainwater catchment has proven to be a viable source of water--like at my house where it is my only source of water," he said. "Other places have existed many years with poor water quality and quantity, and I know from long personal experience that this is a viable solution."

Kniffen said he has fared well using only rainwater with no other alternative since he built his Menard home six years ago. He has 15,000 gallons of storage for domestic purposes, and another 1,500 gallons that water his three raised-bed gardens through gravity flow.

Rainwater is collected from 5,000 square feet of roof from his house and barn. He captures about 3,000 gallons of water from every inch of rainfall. All the storage tanks are in his barn which does double duty as his greenhouse. He said natural heat radiating from the tanks protects the plants in sub-freezing weather.

"My wife and I use water conservatively and have never come close to running out of water," Kniffen said. "In fact, we have always had a four-month water supply on hand even after our worst dry spell yet. We live on an average of about a half inch of rainfall per month for domestic use, which means we could live as we do now on only six inches of rainfall a year.

"I do like to have more, so we can water plants outside in our xeriscape landscape, but with Menard County's 22-inch annual rainfall, too little rainfall has never been a problem."

Kniffen said his water quality, taste and smell are excellent and tested safe to drink on a regular basis.

"Rainwater harvesting is a proven alternative for safe, affordable water," Kniffen said. "I believe it will be more and more accepted as the preferred method of providing water for landscape and in-home use as the word gets around.

"It's not the only solution to our water issues, but it is part of the puzzle that can help in solving many of them."

For more information call Kniffen at 325-396-4787 or go to http://rainwaterharvesting.tamu.edu.

5/19/08
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Date: 5/9/08

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