Rain Barrels: Just Add Water!

City of Lincoln, Watershed Management Division

Amanda Meder, Environmental Health Educator

Ben Higgins, Senior Engineer
 City of Lincoln
The City
Watershed of Lincoln
Management Division

Watershed Management is a division of

City Public Works and Utilities Department
Responsibilities include:
Managing stormwater
Reducing flood hazards
Improving water quality of stormwater
runoff
Why?

• Clean Water Act 1972

– Federal law enacted to regulate/reduce water pollution. CWA is administered by
the US Environmental Protection Agency, whish is administered by the Nebraska
Department of Environmental Quality (in our state).
– Permits issued to take care of point source pollution (pipe discharge into a body
of water)
– Nothing done to address non-point source pollution (stormwater runoff)

• Water Quality Act of 1987

– Federal law began to require municipal separate storm systems to obtain permits
to regulate the quality of non-point source pollution (stormwater runoff)
– City of Lincoln, NE obtained a permit in 2002
– Improving water quality is a group effort; part of the permit requires public
education and public participation
– We got creative.
 Best Management Practices
• Alternative stormwater management practices, which are intended
to reduce runoff, flooding, soil erosion, and pollution of streams and
lakes.
• These management methods include:
– Bioretention cells
– Filter Strip
– Vegetated Swale
– Green roof
– Pervious Pavement
– Rain Gardens
– Rain Barrels
– Wetland
– Native Vegetation
– Infiltration basin, planter, or trench
– Riparian Buffer
– Reducing Phosphorus Fertilizer Use
Current Educational Focus

No Phosphorus
Fertilizer
Rain Barrels

Rain Gardens
 What is a Rain Garden?
A rain garden is a garden of native shrubs perennials, and flowers planted
in a small depression, which is generally formed on a natural slope.

A rain garden is a water quality feature designed to capture runoff from

individual properties, allowing the water and the pollutants it carries to
infiltrate the soil at its source, instead of entering the storm drain
untreated.
 Rainwater Runoff
• According to the EPA,
70% of water pollution is
non-point source
(runoff).
• Rainwater runoff carries:
Lawn fertilizers
Garden chemicals
Pet waste
Automotive chemicals
Debris
. . . into the stormdrain
system

High amounts of rainwater runoff also contribute to stream bank and shoreline erosion
 Why is the City of Lincoln
Promoting Rain Gardens?
• Improves water quality by filtering out pollutants at the source
– Excess lawn chemicals are used by the plant root system and filtered out as they
travel through the soil layers.
• Decreases pollution from your property up to 100%
– A Rain Garden that is built effectively and large enough will capture all the runoff
leaving your property.
• Provides localized stormwater control
– Planting a rain garden reduces the amount of water entering the storm drain
system
• Provides habitat for insects, birds, and butterflies
• Easy to maintain after establishment
• Aesthetically pleasing
Rain Gardens
(in 1st year)
Rain Gardens

Before

After

Lincoln Christian
School
 Current Rain Gardens

Lower Platte South

27th and F Street Parking Lot Natural Resource District

Havelock Parking
Lot
63rd & Platte
Rain Garden Construction
Cost Factors
Time Cost:
Designing and planning the rain garden
Digging, 4 to 8 hours typically
Financial Cost:
Type and amount of plants chosen
Amount of soil amendments needed
Do-it-yourself cost: $2-3 per square foot
Hire a contractor cost: $9-12 per square foot
NO/LOW PHOSPHORUS
FERTILIZER
No/Low Phosphorus Fertilizer
Most soils in Eastern Nebraska contain more
than enough phosphorus and potassium for
healthy plant growth

City Private

Fertilizer
Runoff
No/Low Phosphorus Fertilizer
Most soils in Eastern Nebraska contain more
than enough phosphorus and potassium for
healthy plant growth

City Private

Fertilizer
Runoff
No/Low Phosphorus Fertilizer
Too much
phosphorus
fertilizer runs
off property 1 pound of phosphorus can produce
over 300 pounds of blue-green algae
during rain
storms and into
storm drains
leading to
nearby ponds
and streams
No/Low Phosphorus Fertilizer
Excess fertilizer in
waterways causes
toxic algae
blooms, excess
plant growth,
decreased
available oxygen
for aquatic life,
and fish kills
No/low Phosphorus Business Decal
•Lake Friendly Fertilizer decal, was
given to businesses who sell no
phosphorus, slow release, and
pesticide free fertilizer

Look for this decal on the front

door of local retailers!
 Rain Barrels

A rain barrel is an above ground

barrel modified to receive, store,
and distribute rooftop runoff for
non-potable uses.

One ½ inch rainfall

on 160sq ft of roof
will fill a 55 gallon barrel!
 Rain Barrel Benefits
•Rain water is naturally soft, oxygenated, and
more acidic than tap water.

•Rain water is free of chlorine, fluoride, salts, and

other minerals from tap water.

•Saves water for dry spells.

•Reduces runoff and stormwater pollution.

•Can reduce your water bill

in the summer.

The rainwater collected can be used to water lawns and

gardens or wash cars and bicycles. A rain barrel can
potentially save homeowners a significant quantity of
water during peak months.
 Rain Barrel Installation
Cost Factors
Type of barrel: plastic, wooden, etc.
Size of barrel: 50gal-250gal
Amount of time to build and install
Aesthetics of barrel
Cost to buy, already assembled: $150-300
Cost to build and assemble on your own: $10-70
(Average size 55 gallons)
 City of Lincoln
Watershed Management Division

Rain Barrels: Let’s Begin!

 City of Lincoln
Watershed Management Division

Rain Barrel Discussion

Where did these barrels come from?
-Wis-Pak in Norfolk, NE
-Cost: $9
-Contact: Terry Ralston at 402-379-2111 or ralstont@wis-pak.com
Another source
-Dick Miller (aka Trader Dick) on 5110 Star St. Lincoln, NE
- Cost: $10
- Contact: 402-464-5285
 City of Lincoln
Watershed Management Division

Rain Barrel Discussion

What to do about downspouts?

 City of Lincoln
Watershed Management Division

Rain Barrel Demonstration

Drilling and Cutting

(Luckily for you, we did this to your barrel already!)

-Watch carefully, because you may be thinking of getting another rain

barrel after the spring rains
 City of Lincoln
Watershed Management Division

Rain Barrel Assembly

Parts you should have:
- 2 cans of spray paint
- 1 pvc threaded adapter
- 2 pvc pipe elbows
- 1 brass spigot
- 1 large metal clamp
- 1 round green grate
- 1 wire mesh square
(if you are missing one of these- please let me know!)
 Rain Barrel Assembly

• Step 1:
Set aside spray paint
• Step 2: Spigot
– Part needed: 1 brass spigot
• Step 3: Rainwater Entry
– Parts needed: 1 wire mesh square, 1 green grate, 1 large metal clamp
• Step 4: Overflow
– Parts needed: 1 pvc threaded adapter, 2 pvc elbow, 1 pvc pipe,
(Optional: discharge hose, 1 small clamp)
• Step 5: Optional Connection
– Parts needed: 1 pvc threaded adapter, 1 pvc cap
• Step 6: Discuss winter care, cleaning, mosquito maintenance
 QUESTIONS ?? : ks
t
e c
r g lo
For more information on f o b !
n ’ t e r u t
d o
Do cin ay
water quality issues or
how you can improve 2 w
water quality, please visit k e he
lincoln.ne.gov, keyword Ta on t
“watershed”
Contact Amanda Meder at
441-7075 or
ameder@lincoln.ne.gov