There are now 25 million acres of
impervious surfaces in the United States
where rainfall runs off rather than soaking
into the ground. That’s equivalent to a parking lot the size of Virginia. The water runoff carries fertilizers, pesticides, eroded soil and organic material into storm sewers, and from there into waterways.
Many cities (746 of them across the country) have old sewer systems that can overflow in heavy storms, contributing to local drinking water problems and to the giant dead zone that forms each summer in the Gulf of Mexico.
You can reduce the amount of storm water running off your property with a rain barrel. Some cities are starting to subsidize the cost of rain barrels for residents. By using your rainwater to hydrate your plants and lawn you’ll be helping the sewers…and your utility bill!
More information on rainwater collection can be found at:
http://www.wikihow.com/Build-a-Rainwater-Collection-System
http://www.nsf.org/consumer/rainwater_collection/index.asp?program=WaterTre
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rainwater_harvesting
http://www.thisoldhouse.com/toh/article/0,,1180779-2,00.html
Tags: rain barrel, water conservation
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