On December 2nd we hosted a rain barrel workshop at the San Mateo Library. We are happy to say the workshop was a great success and gave new meaning to the phrase – “every drop counts,” when it comes to rainwater harvesting. We had a full audience and it was a real treat for us to meet so many community members who are passionate about the health of our Bay. Chris and Brad, our local rain barrel specialists, gave great information about how to get started with installing a rain barrel or cistern at home, and we want to share with everyone some of our favorite takeaways.
Rain Barrels are good for the community and your wallet!
Rain barrels help to keep local waters clean by decreasing runoff when it rains, this means rainwater isn’t running down the street, picking up pollutants and debris and taking it down storm drains and into the Ocean and Bay. Besides community health benefits, rain barrels also reap financial benefits as well! On many properties, rainwater travels through the roof gutter, down the rain spout and collects around the sides of the house. The soil around the foundation of the building can expand as it absorbs water then contract as the puddles and soil dry. Over time, this expansion and contraction can weaken the foundation of a home which can result in expensive repairs and many headaches. However, installing a rain barrel diverts the flow of water and captures it for later use instead of potentially causing property damage!! An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. The collected rainwater can then be used to water your garden and lawn saving even more money in the process.
Rain barrels are beautiful!
One of our favorite parts of Chris and Brad’s presentation were the pictures of the beautifully decorated rain barrels they have installed. It really opened our eyes to the fact that rain barrels can be a beautiful and unique decorative item for the backyard!
Our favorite is the furtive rain barrel disguised as a rock. We wanted to thank everyone that came to the workshop the past weekend. It was wonderful to meet and speak with like-minded people who care about the environment and the Bay Area community. And for those of you who were unable to make it this time around, we would love to see you at one of our upcoming workshops. You can check out Flows To Bay Challenge calendar to learn more about future workshops and events. And if you’re thinking about getting a rain barrel of your own, be sure to take advantage of our rebate, where most San Mateo County residents can oftentimes be reimbursed for the full cost! For those who were not able to attend, we are planning on hosting another rain barrel workshop in the spring– so stay tuned! Questions? Comments? Please feel free to reach us at anytime at info@flowstobay.org.
