Stormwater pollution and low flows due to non-essential water withdrawals are the two biggest problems facing the Ipswich River. Rain barrels address both these challenges, and offer a way for people in our watershed communities to save water and help keep water clean.
Stones beneath a downspout at ifarm, LLC in Boxford help to recharge groundwater.The importance of rain to a watershed is multifaceted. Rainwater nourishes vegetation, raises the water level in surface water like ponds and streams, and recharges groundwater. It is especially important for rain to enter the groundwater at points of high elevation in a watershed; it takes more time for water to move through the ground than over surfaces, meaning water entering the ground at high elevations will remain in the watershed for a longer period of time.
Unfortunately, much of the rain that falls in cities and towns is blocked from entering the ground. Impervious surfaces, made of materials water cannot pass through, are everywhere. Roads, sidewalks, parking lots, rooftops; since water cannot flow through, it has to move over these surfaces, often quickly and sometimes destructively. Rather than slowly filtering through the ground, it is channeled to storm drains, or flows along roads until it can enter a stream or river.
Assembling rain barrels at ifarm LLC in Boxford.Water is good at picking things up and carrying them along –from boats and leaves carried along a river, to dirt and soap washed away from hands. The longer water travels over impervious surfaces, the more things it encounters. Much of what water encounters in developed areas are not things anyone would want in the water they swim in, shower in, or drink. Next time you are outside, take a look at what is on the road, the sidewalk, or in parking lots and think about that flowing into your water.
By collecting rainwater in rain barrels, we can keep it from washing away over impervious surfaces. This help reduce the amount of pollution being picked up and swept into a stream or river. It also provides water for plants. Most of our precipitation comes in the spring and winter, not in the summer when most outdoor watering happens. By storing some of the spring rain, you can keep your plants happy in the summer without impacting your water supply.
Ecstatic new rain barrel owners at Ipswich River Park, North Reading.We love the simple but brilliant solution of rain barrels so much that we recently had two rain barrel workshops. The first was at Ipswich River Park in North Reading. Sixteen people came to assemble their rain barrels (some made multiple barrels). It was a gorgeous, sunny day, and beyond the gazebo where the workshop took place was a glittering view of the Ipswich River. The river’s presence, and the beautiful park setting, served as reminders of the larger purpose behind the barrels. Ipswich River Park itself was saved from development by the forethought of town residents like Terry Bastion, who worked with the town to protect this well-loved place.
The second rain barrel workshop was at ifarm LLC in Boxford. The day was soggy, threatening rain, but the setting was inspiring. Part of the workshop was a tour of ifarm’s lush permaculture garden. The garden’s growth and maintenance is kept as close to the natural processes, like those found in a forest, as possible. It served as a good reminder that beautiful landscapes can be achieved with sustainable practices.
Workshop attendees tour ifarm’s beautiful permaculture garden.Rain barrels are just one tool of sustainable landscaping. Sustainable landscapes reduce pollution, cut down on water outdoor water use, and require less maintenance in the long run. To learn more about sustainable landscapes, check out our #4ourRiver page here.