LCRA helping developers get smarter about water

With $15,000 in help from the Lower Colorado River Authority (LCRA), Texas Water Trade is creating an online Net Zero Water toolkit that will help developers integrate water reuse technology into their projects. The toolkit, according to a news release from LCRA, “will provide developers step-by-step instructions on incorporating innovative water conservation efforts into developments and information about the existing financial incentives available to assist in those efforts.” The information will be available to developers statewide, with a focus on Hays, Burnet and Travis counties. “Texas Water Trade believes that growth can be a source of water if we design buildings to capture, treat and reuse their water on-site,” said Sharlene Leurig, Texas Water Trade CEO, in a statement. “Buildings have lots of untapped sources of water available to them, from air conditioning condensate to rainwater, stormwater, foundation drainage and even treated wastewater. Buildings can generate more water than they demand, becoming net zero or even net positive.” Though the toolkit is not yet available online, LCRA does offer up to $600 in rebates for residents looking to offset the cost of upgraded irrigation, landscapes, pools and soil testing.