Everett Taylor: Taylor's Yarns

By EVERETT TAYLOR

Tyler and vicinity got plenty of rainfall this spring and early summer. Now it has been hot and dry for a few weeks and a lot of people might wish they could have put some of that water away for later use.

Of course, all of that rainwater helped fill up area lakes and ponds again, but much of it still got away.

Richard Heinichen, who lives near Dripping Springs, has come up with an idea of keeping some of that excess rainwater. He has designed a 10-acre "Tank Town" that catches rainwater that then is bottled for drinking.

It is the only such facility in the world, said a report issued by the Texas Comptroller's office. But it might be a trend-setter.

Tank Town can capture up to 10,000 gallons from a one-inch rainfall. After that, it is stored in fiberglass tanks for up to a year and then goes through a filtering process and finally through reverse osmosis to become drinkable. Once it leaves the rooftop, the water is not exposed to the elements again.

The on-site bottling facility can package up to 60 cases a day, Heinichen said. Sales have increased to about 300 cases per week. Bottled rainwater is showing up in several Austin-area markets and restaurants.

Development of drinking water sources will become an increasingly critical need if the state's population doubles in a few years as experts predict. Bottled rainwater could fill a significant need.

Another new Texas innovation that could be related to the "green" emphasis of these times is reported by the comptroller.

A Houston-based landscaping company has developed an extensive "green" grass roof on a commercial building in Webster.

The roof is covered with a layer of lightweight soil and planted with a drought-tolerant grass that never needs mowing.

Helping insulate the rooftop, the grass also serves to reduce heat generated by the building, resulting in lower energy costs. If the idea takes root, so to speak, there are estimates that utilization of rooftop lawns has the potential to save $55 million in energy costs nationwide by 2010.

Making A Difference

A book written by a Tyler resident during a lengthy period of being confined to bed struggling to survive West Nile Virus now may help keep some children from contacting the debilitating, often-fatal disease.

Marilee Rabb Chapman wrote the book, "Appleseeds of Love," during a period of many months of confinement because of the disease, contacted through a mosquito bite in her garden. Using a pencil and tablet, she relied on her teaching experiences to compose a book "To inspire and encourage others to become blessings in the teaching field, and in life."

Mosquitoes infected with the West Nile Virus are found in 106 nations, threatening half of the world's population, Mrs. Chapman pointed out. In 2008, mosquitoes that cause the West Nile Virus, Malaria, Encephalitis and Meningitis will strike half a billion people.

Millions will die, most of them under age 5. Every 30 seconds a child dies from diseases transmitted by mosquitoes.

It is that group targeted to benefit from sales of the book that is being offered by Marvin United Methodist Church in Tyler. For every book sold at the $20 price, $5 will go to a fund to provide insecticidal bed nets in places where they children are most exposed to this danger.

Every book sold by the church will provide money for nets to potentially save two lives. Two books will buy a larger net that will protect four children, said Melissa Wilkins Brigman, director of missions at Marvin.

Mrs. Chapman said her encounter with West Nile left her with a long list of symptoms: complete fatigue, body aches like the flu, headaches, fever off and on, swollen lymph glands, diarrhea, skin rash, neck pain, back pain and lack of coordination. She credits the power of prayer with helping her recover more every day.

Knowing her book, written because of a West Nile mosquito, is helping buy life-saving nets for potential young West Nile mosquito victims, she added, "Makes me feel so blessed."