With ongoing droughts across much of the state, rainwater harvesting is something nearly every Texan can do to make the most of the moisture they get.

“Even after the much-needed rainfall we recently received in late May and June, much of Texas is still under varying levels of drought from ‘severe’ to ‘exceptional’,” said Allison Watkins, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service horticulturist for the Concho Valley.

Many homeowners erroneously think that if they live in an area with little rainfall, it’s not worth trying to catch for use later.

“Infrequent rainfall is exactly the reason to harvest rainwater,” Watkins said.

Rainwater harvesting is one way homeowners can invest in their landscape and continue to garden during drought while also protecting valuable water resources.

“Plants love rainwater and catching when it does come, to use later when it’s hot and dry, will really help plants survive and thrive in a yard or garden,” she said.

“I’d encourage everyone to utilize the information AgriLife Extension has to offer when getting started harvesting rainwater,” said Watkins. “From keeping your water mosquito-free to making a filter to catch leaves and other debris from entering your system, there are many resources to help make your first foray into rainwater harvesting a success.”