Many of us will remember 2011 as the year Texas became the “New Dust Bowl.” That year, the state experienced a brutally hot, prolonged summer coupled with a lack of rainfall that resulted in extreme conditions statewide. It’s no wonder that rainwater harvesting has become a significant trend in building design, especially in areas without ready access to stored water supplies. For Austin homeowners enduring severe water-use restrictions and skyrocketing utility costs, the ability to make use of nature’s resources is invaluable.