Rainwater Harvesting Training Camp
Educational camp will provide hands-on experience.
JUNCTION, TEXAS (June 2) — A new statewide Rainwater Harvesting Training Camp has been set for Aug. 16-20 on the Texas Tech University campus in Junction.
The course is sponsored by the Texas AgriLife Extension Service and Texas Tech University in Junction.
"This camp is a five-day intensive educational course for those interested in expanding their knowledge of rainwater harvesting and rain catchment systems while getting lots of practical, real-life experience with the construction and installation of these systems," said Billy Kniffen, AgriLife Extension water resource specialist and the lead instructor for the camp.
The course will include tours of rainwater harvesting systems ranging in size from 50 to 250,000 gallons, 12 hours of hands-on construction experience and 20 hours of 300-level American Rainwater Catchment Systems Association classes.
"This is the first time we have offered such an intensive and extensive rainwater harvesting program," said Brent Clayton, an AgriLife Extension assistant in the biological and agricultural engineering department at Texas A&M University in College Station. "We consider this a truly statewide program that will attract people from throughout Texas and possibly beyond. We've selected some extremely knowledgeable people to provide instruction and give the benefit of their expertise."
Clayton, who helped develop and coordinate the camp, said those who would benefit most from attending the camp would be people who are “serious about rainwater harvesting” or plan to provide instruction on rainwater harvesting to others.
Training instruction will be provided primarily by AgriLife Extension experts, including Kniffen, Justin Mechell, Dr. Fouad Jaber, Dr. Dotty Woodson, Dr. Bruce Lesikar and John Smith. Other experts providing instruction will include Tim Pope, Northwest Rainwater Company; Gary Bryant, Texas Water Resources Institute; Dan Pope, American Society of Irrigation Consultants; Dr. Megan Dominguez, Texas Tech University; and Jack Shultz of Shultz Engineering.
Program instruction begins at 1 p.m. Aug. 16 with a training overview, then a presentation on watersheds, stormwater and commercial rain gardens. Dinner will be served at 6 p.m.
Morning presentations on Aug. 17 begin at 8 a.m. with pumps and controls. After lunch, presentations will cover installation of a 300-gallon tank, wildlife guzzler and motion-sensor camera, installation of a below-ground tank and construction of a rain barrel. There also will be discussion of rain barrel uses and concerns and greenhouse rainwater use. A tour of rainwater systems in Menard County will begin at 5 p.m., followed by dinner in Menard.
Aug. 18 presentations will begin at 8 a.m. The first will cover irrigation timers and controllers; the second will address rain gardens and storm chambers. An afternoon session will cover installation of a solar pump for irrigation, installation of a rain garden or green roof/green wall and installation of a storm chamber. Storm chamber installation will include discussion on site evaluation and developing a stormwater management plan.
Presentations during the morning of Aug. 19 will address harvesting systems for drinking and other uses. Afternoon instruction will include installation of an above-ground tank for commode and washing machine; installing pump, filters and UV protection for producing drinking water; review and/or installation of other types of disinfection devices; and review and installation of devices and filters for systems used to provide drinking water.
The final day's sessions from 8-11 a.m. will be on rainwater system maintenance and troubleshooting, followed by a review, evaluations and recognition wrap-up. The program ends at noon on Aug. 20.
On Aug. 16, 18 and 19, there will be evening train-the-trainer presentations for those interested, Kniffen said. These classes will teach participants how develop, plan for, execute and evaluate a successful training program on rainwater harvesting.
The course cost is $790 and includes meals and training materials. Dorm-style on-campus lodging is available at an additional cost of $60, which covers all nights Monday through Thursday.
To register for Rainwater Harvesting Training Camp, go to http://agrilifevents.tamu.edu and enter "Rainwater Harvesting" into the search field.
For more information on the program, go to http://rainwaterharvesting.tamu.edu or contact Clayton at 979-845-4116 or jbclayton@ag.tamu.edu.
Editor’s Note: This article written by Paul Schattenberg was provided as a news release by Texas AgriLife Extension Service and AgriLife Research for the AgNews Newsteam.