Rain Barrels
Since its inception alomst three years ago LIVE Green’s rain barrel program has distributed almost 500 barrels County wide with almost 300 in the City of Lancaster.
We could not have done this without the support of many partners, in particular we would like to thank The Lancaster County Conservation Districts’s Matt Kofroth and The Village Green’s Mike Musser.
Rain barrels are still available; in conjunction with the Village Green we are still offering blue / green barrels that are locally sourced and fully outfitted. The cost of these barrels are $100 with a portion of the proceeds going back to LIVE Green to support our programming.
Click here for all of the details (PDF)
Questions: please call 717-669-5990 or email fritz@livelancaster.org
Sustainable Stormwater Management Rain Barrel Program : A strategy for integrating stormwater management into the built environment
Through its rain barrel program, LIVE Green facilitates educational seminars to engage residents of the City of Lancaster about stormwater management alternatives – ‘green infrastructure’ improvements – that are cost effective and environmentally friendly. The program seeks to demonstrate how rain barrels can reduce the amount of stormwater that enters the municipal sewer system and streams.
Impact
Rain barrels are one component of a ‘Green Infrastructure’ approach to wet weather management that are cost effective and environmentally friendly. “When used as a wet weather management technique, green infrastructure can reduce our reliance on traditional stormwater structures ( i.e. pipes, channels and treatment plants ) that are expensive to build, operate and maintain.” – United Sates Environmental Protection Agency
Rain barrels are custom designed to work day in and day out to keep rainwater out of storm drains and sewers. Connected to your home’s downspout, the rain barrel collects stormwater during each rainfall. During dry weather, a hose connected to the barrel allows the water to seep out to water your garden and replenish the groundwater table.
Goals
The primary goals of LIVE’s rain barrel program are to:
- Educate city residents about the nature of urban stormwater pollution – causes and consequences.
- Empower participants to take action and make a change by utilizing the green space around their home (i.e.: installing rain barrels, planting rain gardens, native plants and trees).
- Provide each participant with an affordable high quality rain barrel – at a subsidized cost – along with the training to prepare them to install and manage their rain barrels properly.
Environmental Benefits
Rain barrels offer multiple impacts and benefits to both the homeowner and the municipality’s infrastructure. Using rain barrels helps to:
- Divert water from the municipal storm drain system
- Protect rivers and streams from runoff pollution
- Control moisture levels around the foundation of your home
- Provide oxygenated, un-chlorinated water which is ideal for plants
- Direct overflow water to where it will have the most beneficial impact
- Conserve a vital natural resource
Partners
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Resources
168 Elm Ave. Pilot Project
The general interest in sustainable – or green – options is growing. This includes the interest in water, one of our most important renewable resources. Water drives the health of our environment, but its functioning is often fundamentally misunderstood. This web page features the 168 Elm Ave. Pilot Project, which demonstrates sustainable rain water, stormwater, and runoff treatments at a residential scale. It offers resources that help fill the information gap by offering accessible, in-the-ground examples that demonstrate the feasibility of and confidence in sustainable landscape solutions.
Lancaster County Watersheds
This site is designed to promote and foster watershed protection measures throughout Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.
Rain Water Harvesting and Stormwater Solutions Consultation Stark Environmental offers complete design/build services for systems ranging from a single rain barrel system to large storage/infiltration systems. Through extensive product and technology research Stark is able to identify the best available technologies from leading innovators like 3P Technik of Germany, and combine those products with expertise and knowledge to deliver cost effective solutions for today’s environmental challenges.
Pennsylvania Stormwater Best Managment Practices Manual
Design and make your own rainbarrel
Here is a simple 3 minute video produced by Penn State University to assist anyone considering making their own rain barrel