Rain Barrel Education Program

Transcription

1 Rain Barrel Education Program Presented by the Lower Merion Township Environmental Advisory Council October 22, 2011

2 "Til taught by pain, men really know not what good water is worth. "Don Juan" by Byron "In an age when man has forgotten his origins and is blind even to his most essential needs for survival, water along with other resources has become the victim of his indifference." Rachel Carson "When the well is dry, we learn the worth of water." Benjamin Franklin "We forget that the water cycle and the life cycle are one." Jacques Cousteau

3 Agenda What are our problems and why? Stormwater 101 What s a Rain Barrel? Conclusions

4 What s our problem?

5 What s our problem?

6 What s our problem?

7 What s our problem?

8 What s our problem?

9 What s our problem?

10 What s our problem?

11 What s our problem?

12 What are our concerns? Rain / Snow runoff vs. Impervious area Poor water quality in our streams Contaminants like fertilizers, bacteria, oils Temperature increases Sediment and debris Insufficient / non-existent stormwater management Suffer from the Hydro-illogic Cycle

13 Hydrologic Cycle Rain / Snow Events Cloud Formation Runoff / Infiltration Evapotranspiration

14 Hydro-illogic Cycle Rain / Snow Events Apathy Flooding & Stormwater Problems Drought Public Outcry

15 What are we doing? Require stormwater management for new development Have a strong stormwater management ordinance that meets state and federal requirements Install, repair, and maintain systems where possible Use General Funds to maintain / repair system

16 What s wrong with this picture? Excess runoff and pollutants are damaging our ecosystems and our own health The LM Conservancy has studied wildlife in our streams for years and the quality and quantity of that wildlife continues to indicate a degradation of our stream ecosystems Insufficient funding limits improvements in SWM systems and reductions in pollutants Private SWM systems likely not being inspected and possibly failing Future NPDES MS4 permits will be far more stringent and require an increase in effort (and expense)

17 What can WE do? Reduce the volume of stormwater runoff from our properties Slow down the stormwater runoff from our properties Reduce our pollutant load to streams Use stormwater runoff for beneficial uses like gardening, car washing and flushing toilets Better educate our residents and businesses ¼ inch of rain on a 500 square foot roof = 80 gallons

18 Put in a RAIN BARREL!

19 Rain Barrel History Rain barrels or cisterns have been in use for ages. Bermuda and the US Virgin Islands require cistern installation with all homes to provide for drinking water AND fire fighting water needs. Cistern El Jadida in Morocco Basilica Cistern, Istanbul, 523 AD

20 Put in a RAIN BARREL!

21 Put in a RAIN BARREL!

22 Put in a RAIN BARREL!

23 HGTV Video HGTV Rain Barrel Video

24 What else do we need? Downspout diverter valve OR downspout elbows Flexible downspout elbow Additional downspout Splash block Mosquito dunks Concrete pad (24 x 24 inches) OR concrete blocks Hack saw Sheet metal screws Drill Discharge hose

25 Construction Photos

26 Construction Photos

27 Construction Photos

28 Construction Photos

29 How do we do it? Find your gutters and downspouts Decide under which one you want to put your barrel. (The downspout which discharges from the largest area of your roof will provide the most water) Locate a small (24 x 24 inch) concrete paver block or cinder blocks where you want the barrel to go (make sure it is level). A 55 gallon barrel will weigh almost 460 pounds when full. Place your barrel Cut your downspout to locate either an elbow or diverter valve so that it is above the top of your barrel. (Water flows downhill) Attach the elbow/diverter valve and install either flexible downspout or rigid downspout from the elbow to the top of the barrel. Connect your overflow hose and place your splash block.

30 Operation and Maintenance Make sure to use the water. Let your barrel drain regularly to maximize the benefit of catching the water. DO NOT DRINK THE WATER. The water is fine for birds and animals. Clean the screen of leaves and debris. Add mosquito dunks to the water about every month to keep the little buggers from bugging you. Remember West Nile Virus. Drain the barrel before the first hard freeze. You can store the barrel outside (upside down) or in your garage or shed. Regularly make sure your barrel is on a level surface. 55 gallons of water weighs about 460 pounds. Make sure the lid is on tight so children can t get access.

31 Conclusions Cost to implement? Between $0 if you have all the materials to maybe $150 for the most basic model of barrel plus additional hoses, valves and downspout diverter. Return on Investment? We pay about 1.5 cents per gallon of water used (both water and sewer cost). Lets say we use 50 gallons of water from our barrel per week for nine months (36 weeks). That s 1,800 gallons of water not used from our tap which saves us $27 per year. If your barrel cost you $69 and you save $27 each year, you pay off your barrel in about 2.5 years, or about a 39% return on your investment. Better than the stock market most days.

32 Questions? Kate Galer Lower Merion Environmental Advisory Council