Young County Ranch: Case Study for Rainwater Harvesting (RWH)
Chambers Architects in Dallas was hired to design this new ranch home near Graham, Texas, with exclusive use of rainwater catchment (RWH) for both potable and non-potable usage. The owners wanted a sustainable, accessible design with historical West Texas references. The views on the property are spectacular, so Steve Chambers created a residence that takes advantage of the vistas. He provided ample outdoor living spaces with a screened enclosure, that affords year-round living on the ridge with a 360-degree seasonal change of scenery. The exterior façade of the home will used locally-sourced stone.
We think of water as a continuous and free source, acquired naturally. But, due to an increasing population, demand for a processed water supply has grown. Sustainable water collection processes help to maintain a balance between demand and supply. Rainwater harvesting (RWH) is the most traditional and sustainable method, which can be used for non-potable and potable purposes in both residential and commercial buildings. The reduction of demand on the processed water supply enhances green living and doesn’t remove water from the aquifer.
Less dependence on increasingly scarce external and municipal services could be the ‘new normal’ and wave of the future in Texas living.
