Despite the dry weather in the state of Texas, and the Stage 3 water restrictions in the city of Bandera, BHS is able to continue watering its athletic fields, thanks to Mr. Brad Flink’s Drafting and Construction classes construction of a rainwater collection tank last spring.

 “Our goal is to reduce the amount of water that is being pumped from the Lower Trinity Aquifer,” Flink said.

 Construction of these tanks was a learning experience for all students involved. “While working on this project, I learned how to tie steel, prepare a slab, and put up concrete walls,” senior Brandon Bachman said. “Working on the tanks was something I looked forward to everyday.”

 Funding for the initial phase of this long-term project came from a $25,000 grant from the Hal and Charlie Peterson Foundation, and a $4,000 donation from the Bandera ISD Education Foundation.

 Currently, there are two rainwater collection tanks on the BHS campus; one next to the Construction Trades building, and one below the teacher parking lot. The tank below the teacher parking lot is capable of holding up to 42,000 gallons of water, and the tank by the Construction Trades building, which was built as a “prototype,” holds up to 3,000 gallons of water.

 The tank below the teacher parking lot receives its water from the 30,000 square foot parking area through a drain in the ground. It takes approximately one to two inches of precipitation to fill, and it has been full three times since its completion in May.

 The BHS athletic fields, currently home to about 320,000 square feet of grass, require about 160,000 gallons of water per week. To meet these significant demands in an on-going drought, Flink plans on expanding the project.

 “Right now, our goal is to build pump houses for the completed tanks, which are currently run on portable pumps,” Flink said. “The portable pumps will be replaced with permanent 7 1/2 horsepower pumps.”

 The construction of the pump house will require an additional $20,000, which Flink hopes to cover with additional grant funding. Flink plans on building another tank by next school year, to continue making BHS a more eco-efficient campus.