Flows To Bay, the San Mateo Countywide Water Pollution Prevention Program, has a mission of educating residents about the ways in which we can collectively reduce stormwater pollution to protect our waterways, our communities, and the people and wildlife who live in them. Owning maintaining, and using a rain barrel is just one way residents can do this. Read on for a recap of our recent rain barrel workshop in the beautiful new public library in Half Moon Bay. Like all Flows to Bay events, this workshop was free of charge and a great chance for residents to learn more and get serious about rain barrel ownership. If you have questions, or want more support after reading the blog, feel free to email us at info@flowstobay.org.
BRAVING THE RAIN
The December 1st Flows To Bay Rain Barrel Workshop kicked off just as a heavy rainstorm passed through the area. The timing couldn’t have been better to capture the potential of rainwater harvesting. Though admittedly a little wet, with water-soaked shoes, umbrellas, and rain jackets in tow, workshop attendees poured into the Half Moon Bay Library ready and willing to learn everything on tap at this “nuts-and-bolts” workshop. The remnants of nearly 24 hours of steady rain served as the perfect backdrop for the conversation that day.
The workshop began with a discussion of the Rain Barrel Rebate Program available to all residents of San Mateo County. Did you know that this program provides County residents with up to a $100 in rebates courtesy of the San Mateo Countywide Water Pollution Prevention Program together with various participating agencies? Keeping in mind that the cost of a 50-gallon rain barrel starts at roughly $80, this rebate has the potential to cover most, if not all, of the purchase cost! To get more information and apply for the rain barrel rebate, visit the Bay Area Water Supply & Conservation Agency site.
FREE ENVIRONMENTAL CONSULTATION, YOU ASK?
Brittani Bohlke then introduced the San Mateo County Resource Conservation District (RCD). As a water resource specialist with the RCD, Brittani helps local landowners manage their natural resources (i.e. water, wildlife, agriculture, farms and ranches), and provides free non-regulatory assistance to County residents.
In fact, if you happen to have a bit of agricultural land or more landscape than you know what to do with, you can sign up for a free site visit from the RCD to get helpful tips on sustainable land management. Just give them a call at (650) 712-7765, and a specialist like Brittani will come to your home and help you brainstorm achievable ideas and projects that you can implement at home related to sustainable landscaping, stormwater management, rainwater harvesting, and more. Flows To Bay works with the RCD to spread stormwater pollution awareness from the coastside to the bayside of San Mateo County, and their service is an integral part of that work.
THE MAIN EVENT
The rainwater harvesting presentation was given by Chris Corvetti, an uber sharp rain barrel installation specialist, who also consults with Grassroots Ecology. Chris explained the perks of rainwater harvesting, which include both environmental and personal benefits, such as:
- Saving money on your water bill
- Reducing polluted stormwater runoff from getting into our Bay and ocean
- Improving the water quality of our streams and creeks
- Decreasing land erosion
- Reducing moisture around your home’s foundation
- Increasing infiltration and groundwater storage
Chris also provided lots of interesting factoids. Did you know that rainwater is healthier for plants than tap water? The chlorine and other byproducts added to make tap water safe to drink may actually stunt plant growth. We also learned that a half inch of rainfall on a 1000-square foot roof has the potential of harvesting 310 gallons of rainwater! Taking into account that the annual rainfall average in San Mateo County is 21 inches, the same size roof has vast water harvesting potential (13,020 gallons, to be exact). And did you know that rain barrels must be opaque because sunlight would activate the growth of bacteria, which would then render the rainwater unusable (and fairly stinky, at that)?
The workshop ended with the much anticipated raffle giveaway of a 50-gallon rain barrel from our partners at Hassett Hardware, and two $25 gift cards to their store. The lucky winners of the barrel were San Mateo County residents, Lynn and Marcello Altwer (pictured below).
Flows To Bay is grateful to Half Moon Bay Library for hosting our workshop. A special thank you to our presenters, Chris and Brittani (left and right, respectively), who provided quality educational information about stormwater pollution prevention and water harvesting to a fun group of San Mateo County residents!
Interested in receiving the rain barrel information discussed in the workshop? Have additional questions about the rain barrel rebate program? Curious how you can prevent stormwater pollution in your neighborhood? Please email us as info@flowstobay.org and we’ll be happy to help! And be sure to check our calendar for more events you can attend—we’ll see you out there!
