When every drop counts, one simple upgrade can go a long way for your yard—and your wallet—while also helping protect our rivers and the Chesapeake Bay.
An easy, affordable way to put rainwater to work is by installing a rain barrel at home. Rain barrels collect and store rainwater for outdoor use, giving you a free source of water for lawns and gardens which conserves water and lowers water bills. During dry periods of summer, landscape watering can consume up to 75% of a household’s total water bill! Having a rain barrel can help.
When attached to a downspout, rain barrels capture rain before it can flow over land, picking up pollution on the way to the storm drain. This helps prevent pollutants like dirt, oil, fertilizers, and pet waste from entering local waterways. By using a rain barrel, you’re helping protect our rivers and the Chesapeake Bay while also reducing erosion and localized flooding and reducing your water bill.
Getting started is easy. You can find ready-to-install rain barrels at hardware, home improvement, and garden stores across Hampton Roads. Or, for less than $100, you can make your own using a heavy-duty trash can, a hose bib, and a few basic tools—just follow our tutorial posted here!
And for a limited time – you can join one of the popular askHRgreen.org rain barrel workshops happening this April/May across Hampton Roads. For just $25, participants build their own barrel during the workshop and take it home ready to install. These low-cost workshops are made possible through grants from the Chesapeake Bay Restoration Fund and the sale of Virginia Chesapeake Bay license plates.
Spots are limited, so don’t delay. Get early access to workshop registration like this when you become a Bay Star Home!
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