On November 8, 2008, the Rock United Methodist Church in Cedar Park, TX completed the plumbing of a rain water harvesting system that is ready to capture the rain water from the church's roof in three large storage tanks. Three inches of rainfall will yield about 15,000 gallons, enough to fill the tanks. Depending on how the rainfall is spread out over the year, the system should provide the capture and use of about 80,000 to 120,000 gallons of water per year, reducing consumption of the municipal water supply and the related energy, and providing non-chlorinated, calcium-free, neutral-pH water that is ideal for irrigation. It will also reduce storm water runoff and erosion from the church property.
The system will soon include a pump to supply the drip irrigation system already in use for the church landscaping. A garden is planned, just downhill from the water tanks, which will be irrigated by gravity. The addition of three more water tanks, and a permanent water feature in the landscape, are also under consideration. 
This rain water system was funded primarily by donations from family and friends of the pastor, Tina Carter, and her husband Bill, who recently became accredited in rain water catchment systems with the American Rainwater Catchment Systems Association. These donors have been kept up to date on the progress of the system and have offered continuing encouragement. The installation was accomplished almost entirely through volunteer labor by church members gathered over a dozen or more work days, with donated services of a trencher from Roadway Specialties to dig the trunk line ditch (although it took plenty of hand digging to complete and perfect the trenches). The Rock UMC is planning workshops beginning in 2009 to help other churches learn how to install similar systems.
We thank Bill Carter for sending us this great success story. Stay tuned for more information!
