Rain Barrel Initiative

Install a rain barrel and help protect Nine Mile Run.

You can help decrease the amount of water entering sewage and sanitary (storm) pipes during wet weather by attaching a rain barrel to your roof downspout. Less water entering the pipes and flowing to Nine Mile Run during wet weather means less stream bank erosion, fewer sewage overflows, and improved habitat for invertebrates and fish.

By using the water in the rain barrel for your lawn or garden, you can help maintain healthy groundwater levels and have free water for your plants. Remember that 1 inch of rain falling on a 600 square foot roof equals 374 gallons of water. That's enough to keep a lot of flowers happy!

	Our rain barrels are 132 gallons, mosquito proof, and made of freeze/thaw resistant plastic. They are easy to attach to your rain downspout and easy to draw from using a hose or watering can.

NMRWA is partnering with 3 Rivers Wet Weather Demonstration Program (3RWWDP) to educate watershed residents and municipal officials about best management practices (BMPs) for stormwater management, help citizens install 500 rain barrels in the watershed, and monitor the program for effectiveness. With Nine Mile Run as a model, 3RWWDP will then work to encourage other communities in our region to try similar approaches to addressing their stormwater issues.