April showers are just around the corner, so now is the time to consider building or purchasing a rain barrel.
Families are invited to build your own rain barrel on March 30 at the Maryland Science Center. Advance registration is required by calling (410) 545-590 by March 22. Cost is $80 per barrel. All supplies and tools will be provided. The event will be facililtated by Blue Water Baltimore, which also has a mobile rain barrel workshop they can bring to your neighborhood or organization. Rain barrels can also be purchased from their website.
What to DIY? The Maryland Department of Natural Resources and the Chesapeake Bay Foundation provide online instructions on how to build your own rain barrel, including the supplies and tools you'll need. Prefer to buy one? Arlignton Echo Outdoor Education Center and Friends of the Rappahannock are two of the many organziations that sell rain barrels. For step by step instructions on how to install a new rain barrel and lots more information on rain barrels, visit Chesapeake Bay Trust.
Rain barrels store water collected from gutters during rain showers and storms. The stored water is used during dry spells when lawns, gardens, or flower pots need water. According to the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, rain barrels can save the average homeowner approximately 1300 gallons of water during the summer months. By recycling stormwater, you'll save the energy (and costs) required to pump, filter, treat, and distribute the water that comes from our sinks and hoses.
