Carver Center Enhanced Academic Services, Midland (Fall 2008)

Overview:

Sponsor: Utilities Administration, City of Midland, Texas
Design Team: The Rain Well, Mansfield, Texas
System Location: 1300 East Wall Street, Midland, Texas 79701
Capacity: 4,100 gallons: one 2,500-gallon tank and one 1,600-gallon tank
Catchment Area: 4,068 square foot roof area
Water Use:Non-potable: irrigation and pond use

Background:

The rainwater harvesting system at the Carver Center was built by the Junior Master Gardners group at the school (4th to 6th grade students) as an educational tool and as a source of water supply for the award-winning biodiversity gardens at the school.

The System:

The rainwater harvesting system at the Carver Center is a simple system consisting of two polypropylene storage tanks which are installed on concrete pads located adjacent to the classroom building at the school. One tank has a 2,500 gallon capacity and the other can hold 1,600 gallons. Rainwater is collected from an approximately 4,100-square-foot roof area above the classrooms. Rain falling on the roof flows into roof gutters and is then piped into the storage tanks. A 75-micron pre-filter removes relatively coarse material in the water before it enters the storage tanks. The harvested water is then piped to a garden pond to replenish it as needed. The pond relies entirely on harvested rainwater. A portion of the captured rainwater is also used to irrigate the garden through a drip irrigation system. Eventually, the school plans to use only harvested rainwater for all its garden needs.

The entire system was assembled by 4th grade students under the supervision of their teacher, Ms. Emmy Ulmschneider.

System Cost:

The system was designed and installed at a total cost of approximately $2,500.

Education:

Carver Center is the home of the Gifted Education Midland (GEM) program. Over the past eight years, fourth grade GEM students have developed and maintained a biodiversity garden at the school. The garden has primarily been used to teach the students and the community about biodiversity, native landscaping, Earth-kind practices, horticultural techniques, and now rainwater harvesting. The gardens were recognized as a National Wildlife Federation Schoolyard Habitat in 2002 and awarded the 2004 Texas Environmental Excellence Award.