singing in the rain

California got hit by a major storm yesterday. The downpour was of biblical proportions, with the Northern part of the state being hardest hit. The storm, one in a series of three made all the news headlines. Downed trees and power-lines, overturned vehicles, customers without power, mudslides, flooding, you name it. It was all there. And while Californians should welcome the extra water, it is a shame how much of it goes to waste.

The waste is not just a loss, it is also responsible for most of the problems we have. Problems such as mudslides, flooding, traffic congestion and the like. Because in populated areas, much of the rain falls on roofs of buildings first. It is estimated that a single roof of 1,000 sq ft collects as much as 600 gallons of water for every inch of rainfall.

Yesterday some Bay Area counties saw more than 3 inches of rainfall. The average Bay Area roof is also well over 1,000 sq ft. That means an average home could have collected more than 1,200 gallons of water in that one day. At an average use of 100 gallons a day, that is enough water for 12 days.

Many people are probably unaware of the fact that California provides tax credits for rain water collection. In any event, it is quite surprising really that nearly all California homes come without a rain water collection system. Many homes in Western Europe, where drought is much less of a problem have collection systems. They have large in-ground cisterns that can collect thousands of gallons of rain water. Enough water to sustain a large lawn through a typical California summer. Not that I think lawns should be encouraged. They are, as I already pointed out, the number one environmental disaster in the country.

Surprisingly enough, in California, and much of the SouthWest, collection is seen as a weird idea or maybe even a bit old-fashioned. It is something the government and utilities should take care of for us. Why would anyone go through the trouble of collecting rain water when all you have to do is open the faucet and out comes clean water?

But collecting rain water has other benefits as well. Apart from conservation and reduced water bills for the home-owner, it can also have a major impact on runoffs, especially in hilly areas. And those are the areas where mudslides are common. Each year mudslides destroy hundreds of expensive homes. Something for your neighborhood or home-owners association to consider. Unfortunately though these folks are usually the ones who are the most opposed to any practical and reasonable solution. Because they see practical solutions as non esthetic and they think it would lower the value of the homes.

Many people equate luxury and well being with not having to work. And so they consider anything that reminds them of work as indicative of low class or lack of success. They should take a hint from Prince Charles. Here is a royal who is into compost piles and other conservation that the new rich despise. Maybe there is a role for monarchy after all?