Posted on 09/08/2014 6:05:27 PM PDT by MeshugeMikey
Some students just want their science fair projects to earn a little extra credit. Steven McDowell wants his “water fence” to change the way people irrigate their yards.
“I wanted to solve the drought,” said McDowell, a 15-year-old sophomore at Rohnert Park’s Technology High School.
McDowell’s model of a fence that stores rainwater won him the top awards for his category last March at Sonoma County and Bay Area science fairs. That motivated him to form a company with his parents, pitch his idea to investors and make plans to take a section of his soon-to-be manufactured fence next month to a green construction show month in New Orleans.
(Excerpt) Read more at pressdemocrat.com ...
This is most awesome.
It’s nice to see that not all 15 yr olds are spending their time beating up on old people.
I hope somebody with $$$$ helps him get his idea to market.
Not if the state decides that water belongs to them and taxes him out of existence. Like Colorado. They say rain water belongs to them and if you store it you’re stealing (well they tax the cistern you collect it in).
This has applications everywhere there are water problems — especially places where it rains hard in short spurts.
This kid is brilliant!
Too bad the kid is white, as that means his idea is racist somehow.
/johnny
So about 10.5 inches of rain would be needed to attain the full 13,000 gallon capacity. Minus the water that is used between rainstorms.
Would be interesting to see how effective this system is in parched areas of the country.
First you need rain to collect...
That’s the big problem. Water collection hasn’t advanced much from olden times because the places that need it badly usually have collection laws.
Although I applaud this kid for thinking, the idea of collecting rain water from gutters is nothing new. My Keter brand shed does the same thing. Storing in a fence might be novel, but I think the applications limited.
Ironic...
considering the name of the paper is The Press Democrat
Not when the EPA hears about it.
The “smart” thing to do is not build a megaopolis in a damned desert. It’s not “sustainable”.
Would be interesting to see how effective this system is in parched areas of the country.
Yeah, like where I live in the Great Basin Desert, where if we get 5 inches of rain in a normal year we are blessed.
Accordingly it’s better for the water to just drain into the ground than be collected and used. Liberal madness.
I think we needs some cost analysis yet....................
I like the concept. I am considering knocking it off with modifications. This is gr8!!
Looks like a good place to grow mosquitoes for dengue fever production.
Vector Control likely will have something to say about this plan...
Should be a Major boon for many of us I’d suspect
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