I am thrilled that people are starting to take rain water seriously as a natural resource. I was shocked to learn the other day, that in some areas, rain water is considered the property of those who own the water rights of a particular area. Those of us that do not have that issue should start to think very seriously about disconnecting our downspouts and adding rain barrels. We pay dearly for our water usage. In Cleveland, our sewer charges are tied to our use of water as well. I am an advocate for removing grassy turf and replacing it with native plant species that require little irrigation, but I know that for some people that is not an option. Still, watering with captured rain water reduces the load on the water supply and will save you money!
Cleveland is no stranger to sudden thunderstorms that dump huge amounts of water in a very short period of time. If you have ever been downtown during a one of these torrents, then I am sure you have seen the water gushing upwards out of our antiquated sewer system. Disconnecting your downspouts and adding rain barrels is a great way to relieve some of the pressure on these old systems. We are still using some of the same sewer lines in this town that were originally installed a hundred years ago. Since that time, we have built more buildings, added more people, and covered the precious turf with cement and concrete. All of these have added to the problem. More water being used, and less earth to drink in rainfall means more water being funneled into the storm drains. But we have a lake nearby, so no big deal, right? Wrong. All the water running across the pavement picks up oils and pollution from our streets and needs to be treated before it can be released to the water shed-unless you want the lake to catch fire like the river once did.
Why should residents think about rain barrels? Simple: why should you pay for water for your garden or lawn? We talk about conserving water by turning off the tap while brushing our teeth or shaving. We talk about low flow toilets, waterless urinals, even the yellow/mellow rule. But for the biggest impact, think about the fact that the average lawn drinks in 21,600 gallons of water a year. In Cleveland, where much of our sewer cost is based on water usage, imagine the double savings of capturing rain water and reusing it for the lawn. Also think about the good for the watershed, and the savings to the city. As I said, pollutants are washed onto the water shed by the flush of rainwater. Much of that comes in the initial start of rainfall. Barrels reduce the initial impact on the system-reducing pollution in the sewer system and relieving some of the burden on the city treating our water. Perhaps if we all got rain barrels, the city would save enough to flush out our curbside recycling!
So where does on go to get a rain barrel? There are plenty of fine places on line. You can also find one of the many workshops that spring up around the city in the early spring. You can even have one fully installed for you: visit Blue Water Ohio. If you are feeling handy or keeping an eye on your bottom line, I have included these two videos that I found on You Tube. There are a surprisingly high number to choose from, but this one is from Penn State:
And this one seems to have the cheapest solution of all:
Saving rainwater is the hot topic this year, so get on board and do your part! If you need more information, contact your local water or sewer district. They likely have information that is tailored just for your area. Good Luck!
