Two local tours of rainwater harvesting setups are scheduled for Saturday, May 11.
The first is at 10 a.m. at the home of Damascus City Councilor Andrew Jackman, 22375 S.E. Ridgeview Drive, and includes a tour of his recently installed above-ground 1,550 gallon rainwater tank that uses gravity and a basic timer to irrigate his garden.
At 2 p.m. Clair and Beverly Klock of Klock Farm at 931 N.E. Salzman Road in Corbett will host a tour of their 3,500 gallon in-ground cistern with a smart irrigation system that uses real time data and on-site evaporation measurement to irrigate a small nursery container yard on the farm.
Clair Klock said his rainwater system resulted in a 90-percent decrease in municipal water consumption in its first year of operation.
Rainwater harvesting for both irrigation and home use is becoming more popular in the United States, especially in drought-stricken areas, Klock said, as a way to combat rising municipal water rates while creating a more cost effective way to water gardens and yards.
Tours will last 30-45 minutes or longer depending on interest.
Klock is both an accredited professional and inspector specialist certified by the American Rainwater Catchment System Association (ARCSA). For details, call or email him at 503-695-5882 or klockfarm@rconnects.com.