Sept. 12, 2007

McKINNEY – A day-long conference in McKinney will focus on harvesting rainwater for use around the home, said a Texas Cooperative Extension specialist.

The event will be held on Sept. 19 in the Heard Museum at 1 Nature Place. Registration begins at 8 a.m. The program runs from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Contact Kay Sanders for more information at 979-845-7694. The registration fee is $65. Exhibitors will be charged $125.

Presenters will discuss techniques on capturing rainwater for plants and in-home use, said Dr. Bruce Lesikar, an Extension agricultural engineer.

The goal is to teach people how to use rainwater harvesting systems as an alternative source of water, Lesikar said. Widespread use of such systems would help alleviate some demand on drinking water supplies. It would also help neighborhoods improve storm-water management by reducing the runoff volume and the quantity of contaminants entering our streams.

Topics will include "Landscape Rainwater Harvesting, " "In-Home Rainwater Use" and "Operation and Maintenance of Rainwater Harvesting Systems." "It will cover various techniques for indoor and outdoor use," Lesikar said. "We'll talk about small-scale harvesting and more complex systems."