Solar panels have become commonplace. The US government supports the use of solar power as a means to reduce our dependence on coal and other industrial generation of electricity. Why not do the same for rainwater? Water is a far more critical resource than electricity, but currently it is undervalued.
In Southern California we rely primarily on Metropolitan Water District bringing water from hundreds of miles away from the Colorado River or Northern California, through aging infrastructure, through costly distribution channels, at an ecological cost to those waterways which doesn’t affect us because we don’t live there. What if we created an ethic of individual empowerment over our water resources? What if we knew where our water came from and were affected by its abundance or lack thereof because we harvested our water and depended on it?
Water is cheap. If you don’t believe it look at your water bill. There is a base fee, and then you are charged per unit in HCF (hundred cubic feet). 1 HCF=748 gallons. How much is 1 HCF on your water bill at the lowest tier? $4? $8? That means water is less than 1 hundredth of a cent per gallon.
People in other states are not affected by our drought conditions however there is only so much drinking water available on the planet. Being conscious of this, it is our responsibility to take personal accountability for every drinkable drop that we can! Let’s make rainwater harvesting a national issue and make drinking water the sacred resource it is!
Help us, by signing this petition. The petition is sponsored by ARCSA (American Rainwater Catchment Society of America). By creating national awareness, we are working toward national tax incentives for this very practical solution.
Australia has paved the way as a country of similar economic empowerment, with limited water resources. Rebates, tax incentives are commonplace. Rainwater harvesting is mandatory throughout much of Australia. Other countries use far less water per capita than us. And still other countries have extreme lack of drinkable water and water borne diseases and illness are prevalent killers. We have the economic resources to protect our watersheds. It starts at home. It starts with YOU!