The Current

Edition: August 2023

The Current is the monthly newsletter of Innovative Water Solutions where he highlight the great stuff happening at our company and also bring you up-to-date with some of the current water news that could affect you. We hope you enjoy the newsletter!

• “Blog Post of the Month” This energy efficient home is all in the family
• “FAQ Post of the Month” What are the limitations or disadvantages of rain barrels?
• Residential Project of the Month: 5,000 Pioneer tank for irrigation
• Commercial Project of the Month: Alamo Drafthouse HQ
• “Water News Article #1” Southwest states facing tough choices about water as Colorado River diminishes
• “Water News Article #2” Climate change not part of LCRA water plan. KXAN investigation may change that
• “Water News Article #3” Big city solution: Installing green stormwater infrastructure slows down, cleans up runoff
• “Water Conservation Tip”
• Current Texas Drought Conditions
• Current Texas Water Calendar
• “Local Business of the Month” Candlelight Ranch
• Video: Artificial spider silk could help us harvest drinking water from air

The rainwater collection system installed for this client saves over 5,000 gallons of City water per rain event.  Equipped with an autofill that automatically refills the tank when close to empty, the homeowner is always supplied with a water source for their irrigation purposes.  The tank itself is a Pioneer brand corrugated metal tank with an internal liner.  Through utilizing this rainwater collection system, the homeowner also qualified for a rebate from the City of Austin of $5,000.

Alamo Drafthouse Headquarters hired Innovative Water Solutions to solve an A/C condensation problem.  Often the A/C condensation drips from an outlet line, and will just spill onto the ground or below area.  This water is wasted, unless it is collected and re-used.  The collected water can be used of irrigation purposes, and prevents pooling on the ground. Alamo Headquarters resides in the old AISD Baker School in Hyde Park and has several areas of gardens and vegetation that this water is used to irrigate.

The drought-stricken Colorado River is in critical condition. Almost two years ago, the federal government declared the first ever shortage on the river, triggering cuts to water supplies in the Southwest. Today, the river remains unsustainably low. The Colorado is the lifeblood of the region. It waters some of the country’s fastest growing cities, nourishes some of our most fertile fields, and powers $1.4 trillion dollars in annual economic activity. The river runs more than 1,400 miles, from headwaters in the Rockies to its delta in northern Mexico where it ends in a trickle. Seven states and 30 Native American tribes lie in the Colorado River Basin. As first reported in 2021, the river has been running dry due to the historically severe drought.

The majestic, meandering Colorado River that cut through these red cliffs, carving the Grand Canyon, is a wonder of nature and human ingenuity. The Glen Canyon Dam created Lake Powell and 300 miles down river Lake Mead sits behind the Hoover Dam. These reservoirs are now being sucked dry by 40 million different straws – that’s the number of people in booming western states who depend on the Colorado to quench their thirst, power their homes, water lawns and splash in the sun.

Karen Bruett has called Lake Travis home since 1999.
“This lake is more than a play thing,” Bruett said, of the body of water just northwest of Austin. “This lake is actually our drinking water. We have that visceral experience of turning on our tap and knowing that this is what’s supplying it.”
In that time, she has seen the population of the city downriver double.
“The development is going to crush our water supply,” Bruett said.
While she fears her water will be shut off someday, 110 miles farther downriver, that is today’s reality for third-generation rice farmer Tim Gertson.
His family operation is dried up this year after the Lower Colorado River Authority, based in Central Texas, cut off the water supply.

So what happens if there isn’t enough water to go around? That’s where LCRA’s Water Management Plan comes into play, determining whose water gets shut off and when. The latest version of the plan is designed to guide the water supply through a repeat of the drought of record.

LCRA officials are taking a closer look at the plan since KXAN started investigating.

Not only has population growth and aging infrastructure put a strain on existing stormwater drainage systems in Texas, but climate change impacts have also made extreme one-day rainfall events more common.
Rapid urbanization’s increased impervious surfaces have sped-up how fast extreme rainfall runs off into rising waterways, prompting flooding.
How should local governments deal with these compounding challenges? Local governments are searching for solutions to meet these new challenges, according to experts. Green stormwater infrastructure, GSI, can be a major part of the solution, said researchers at the Texas Water Resources Institute, TWRI, in College Station.
Although many U.S. cities have been slow to adopt, a new research review published in WIREs Water proposes strategies for municipalities and decision-makers to overcome barriers and use green stormwater infrastructure for long-term benefits.

1. Set your lawnmower to its maximum height. Letting your grass stay just a little taller shades the soil to minimize evaporation. It also allows the plants to develop a deeper root system, which means your lawn will require less frequent watering.
2. Water low. Sprinklers and hoses throw a lot of water into the air, where much of it evaporates before it even hits the soil. If you use sprinklers, set them low. Or, invest in drip irrigation.
3. Install automatic timers on your irrigation system. This is one of the easiest ways to conserve water. Just set and forget! The automatic controller will deliver the optimal amount of water to your lawn, so you can sit back, enjoy the summer, and save money.

SOURCE: National Drought Mitigation Center (NDMC), the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association (NOAA).

The founders of Candlelight Ranch envisioned a special, natural Hill Country environment where children could explore, learn and heal through the wonders of nature. The beautiful 41-acre ranch located on the north shore of Lake Travis includes multiple accessible facilities for exploring and learning. The Ranch offers its innovative customized science and nature-based curricula to 35+ non-profit youth-serving organizations and schools, and to non-affiliated groups to enhance and extend their outreach and programming. They have an engaged Board, dedicated staff, volunteers and offer experiential learning opportunities for college students.

The children served include those with physical challenges, emotional and behavioral challenges, economically disadvantaged, intellectually delayed, developmentally delayed, at risk of educational or socio-economic failure, and/or are enrolled in special education classes.

Candlelight Ranch is also open for private events, corporate retreats or day passes.

For more information visit their website: https://candlelightranch.org/

Summer is the perfect time to begin thinking of installing a rainwater harvesting system, or drainage design solution.

Projects have a lead time that can be a surprise to some clients, and the sooner you begin the process, the sooner the project can begin.  Book a consult today so that you can enjoy Peace of Mind…Rain or Shine during the rainy season.

Building a new home?  Anticipate your water source needs in advance with a free phone consultation to discuss your options and hit the ground running.  Be prepared for what lies ahead!

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Client Testimonial:

“I wish most companies still had the customer service, quality technicians and installers like you do. Thank you.”

-Gerald Nilson-Weiskott

Sometimes just a few words can say it all!

Thank you to our loyal clients, we truly enjoy serving you and your collection systems.