Capturing the Rain

Fertilizer, pesticides and motor oil. These are only some of the pollutants rain water carries over sidewalks, driveways and streets, pouring into sewers and out into the streams, creeks, lakes and rivers of Virginia.

But the attendees at Saturday's Make Your Own Rain Barrel workshop, sponsored by the Reston Association, Arlingtonians for a Clean Environment (ACE) and Fairfax County, are not idle bystanders to this effect.

Participants at the class at Walker Nature Education Center cut, drilled, and glued what were once plastic pickle barrels into 52-gallon rain barrels that will capture the rainwater pouring off downspouts from building roofs.

“Once it rains, you can capture that,” says Nicki Bellezza, Watershed Supervisor to Reston Association, “instead of having it just all wash away really quickly — street to the streams.”

Brian Petty, a watershed specialist with the Reston Association, adds, “You have a backup water supply; it’s not drinkable, but you can use it for other things."

Those things include watering outdoor gardens, lawns and landscaping, washing a car and watering indoor plants.

Not all rain barrel water is for every outdoor use, however. Water from roofs treated with chromated copper arsenate, or other moss or algae inhibitor or chemical, should not be used on fruit and vegetable gardens, or any edible plants.

According to the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, one inch of rain can produce 700 gallons of water running off the roof of a typical home, enough to take 17 baths or 58 showers. Capturing this water not only mitigates runoff, but can lower water bills as well.

Abe Konick quietly reviewed assembly instructions as his Scout Master looked on. Completing his Eagle Project with Boy Scout Troop #2535 from Arlington, Konick and his family will donate six of the hand-made rain barrels to Fort Myer.

ACE will hold a pre-made, low-cost rain-barrel distribution event on June 25 in Falls Church. For more information, click here.