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It’s a return to yesteryear–collecting rainwater for later use. Adopting a practice similar to our Texas pioneers, the Boerne Independent School District decided it was best to build an innovative, water-harvesting system for its new high school. In this Central Texas area frequently hit by droughts, water conservation, dependable water supply, and meeting increasing water needs for this fast-growing school district is a top priority for planners and the community.

The innovative water harvesting network at Boerne High School combines two elevated storage tanks and heating, ventilating, and air conditioning condensate with an 800-foot long underground pipe that’s five feet in diameter. Together, the system can hold more than 224,000 gallons of water, with the potential of saving the school district an estimated $48,000 per year. Officials estimate that the project should pay for itself in less than five years.

During construction of the school, designers and contractors worked carefully to minimize the disturbance of existing forested areas around the campus. This helped protect recharge features for the Trinity and Carrizo Aquifers, which provide part of Boerne’s drinking water.

Boerne High School also uses the collection system as part of its outdoor classroom curriculum for the science department, giving students valuable hands-on training of environmental stewardship. In the school district’s own words, it views water not only as a natural resource, but also a cherished commodity.