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A rainstorm in a natural environments soaks slowly into the earth,
nourishing both plants and animals. However, in an urban environment,
the flow of water created by a rainstorm - storm water runoff - can
be polluted by oil, chemicals, pesticides, and sediments built up on
our lawns, driveways, streets, and parking lots. Rain washes these pollutants
into storm drains and ultimately into local streams and rivers. Your business can help reduce pollution created by storm water runoff by installing rain barrels to your building's down spouts. For links to additional internet resources, click here. For contact information for businesses that can help you reduce your business's impact on the Anacostia, click here. What is a rain barrel?A rain barrel is a system that collects and stores rain water from your roof that would otherwise be lost to runoff and diverted to storm drains, streams and the Anacostia River. Composed of a large drum, a vinyl hose, PVC couplings, a screen grate to keep debris and insects out, and other off-the-shelf items, a rain barrel is relatively simple and inexpensive to construct and can sit conveniently under any business gutter down spout. What are the advantages of a rain barrel?In some areas of the D.C. Metropolitan Area, sewer systems combine sewage waste with storm water in the same pipes. Because of population growth since this sewer system was installed, the D.C. sewers sometimes overflow during rainstorms. That means sewage gets dumped, untreated, into the Anacostia and the Potomac Rivers. Using a barrel to catch the water flowing from gutters is one of the simplest and cheapest ways to divert water from the sewer system. Furthermore, rain barrels help conserve water and reduce demand at water and wastewater treatment facilities. Rain barrels can help reduce this demand by collecting water and storing it for when you need it most: during periods of drought. It provides a good supply of free 'soft water' to your business, containing no chlorine, lime or calcium making it ideal for grass, flower beds, and car and window washing. If this all seems like a lot of work for a little water, remember that one inch of rain falling on 1,000 square feet of roof adds up to 623 gallons! Obviously one rain barrel will not be able to catch all that water, but every little bit helps! And using a rain barrel not only helps protect the environment, it saves you money and energy through decreased demand for treated tap water. How Can I purchase a ready-made rain barrel?Ready-made rain barrels can be purchased from numerous companies. Below are just a few (Listing does not constitute an endorsement by the ARBC):
How do I build a simple rain barrel?Building your own rain barrel is relatively easy, relatively inexpensive and hassle free (about $15.00 to build). All of the following materials can be purchased at your local home improvement center or hardware store. For instructions on how to build a rain barrel visit the Maryland Green Building Website. Frequently Asked Questions:Q: - Don't rain barrels attract a lot of mosquitoes? Information provided by: Maryland DNR Green Building Program. |
