Rebates · Texas · Lost Pines GCD
Bastrop & Lee County: Get Paid $1 a Gallon to Harvest Rain
Most rainwater rebates pay only city water customers. This one doesn't. If you own property in Bastrop or Lee County, the Lost Pines Groundwater Conservation District pays $1 for every gallon of rainwater storage you install, up to $5,000. Rural homes on private wells can apply too.
BlueSignal · October 7, 2026 · Facts checked against the program’s own page
Why this rebate is different
It's run by a groundwater district, not a water utility. The district wants less pumping from the aquifer, so it pays property owners inside its boundaries to catch rain instead. You don't need a water bill from anyone.
It's also one of the most generous rates in Texas. At $1 a gallon, a 5,000-gallon system can earn the full $5,000.
| Storage you install | Rebate at $1 a gallon |
|---|---|
| 1,500 gal | Up to $1,500 |
| 3,000 gal | Up to $3,000 |
| 5,000 gal or more | Up to $5,000 (the cap) |
How to get it
- Take the district's free Rainwater Harvesting 101 workshop. It's required. For the next date, call the district office at 512-360-5088 or see its rainwater page.
- Apply within 12 months of the workshop.
- Get your site plan approved by district staff before you install anything. Tanks or barrels installed before approval do not qualify.
- Install the system. Plumbing or electrical work is done by a licensed trade you hire.
- Pass the district inspection. The district then pays the rebate.
The order matters: workshop, approval, then install. Skip ahead and you can lose the money.
How much rain you can catch here
Bastrop averages about 36 inches of rain a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normal at Bastrop 2.1 SSW, a volunteer station). A 2,000 sq ft roof at that rate catches roughly 38,500 gallons a year after normal collection losses. That is enough to keep a large garden going through summer, water livestock, or back up a well in a dry year.
Run your own roof through the tank calculator.
If you're on a well
Rainwater takes pressure off your well and gives you a second source when the water table drops. If you drink from either source, have it lab-tested, and treat rainwater before drinking it (what that takes).
A BlueSignal WQM-1 reads pH, TDS, turbidity and temperature every minute and shows the readings in BlueSignal Cloud, so you can see when something changes between lab tests.
Burleson or Milam County?
The Post Oak Savannah Groundwater Conservation District runs a near-identical program: $1 a gallon of storage, $5,000 lifetime maximum, a required Rainwater Harvesting 101 course, and site plan approval before purchase. Read the Post Oak Savannah guide.
Questions
Who can apply for the Lost Pines rainwater rebate?
Property owners within the Lost Pines Groundwater Conservation District, which covers Bastrop and Lee counties. You don't need to be on city water. The district decides each application.
How much does it pay?
$1 per gallon of storage capacity, up to $5,000.
Is the workshop required?
Yes. You complete an approved Rainwater Harvesting 101 workshop and apply within 12 months of attending.
Can I install first and apply later?
No. District staff approve your site plan before installation. Systems installed before approval don't qualify.