It’s just about time to say farewell to fall and welcome the holiday season and all of the joy that comes along with the winter months! As we know all too well, along with the festivities comes colder temperatures and an increased prevalence of storms in San Mateo County.
There’s no doubt that last winter’s storms are still soaking up our attention. Although they provided much-needed relief to our statewide drought, the frequent and intense storming also caused significant flooding and posed a serious threat to the health of our local waterways.
At any time of the year, stormwater runoff can transport harmful pollutants such as pet waste and motor oil from our urban areas into our local waterways, but during extreme rain events, stormwater pollution becomes an even greater risk to environmental and public health.
The good news is that we are working together as a community to prepare for the rainy season and minimize the amount of stormwater pollution in our waterways. Keep reading to learn about this year’s highly successful rain barrel campaign and the actions you can take today to ensure you are ready for the wet season!
Hurrah for Another Successful Rain Barrel Distribution Event
Thanks to the hundreds of San Mateo residents who participated in our bulk rain barrel program this year, our third annual Rain Barrel Distribution Event was undoubtedly the best one yet! The event took place in the City of San Mateo on Saturday, November 4th, and around 180 community members attended the drive-thru event to conveniently pick up their pre-ordered 50-gallon rain barrels. This tremendous feat would not have been possible without our exceptional team and our wonderful partners, the City of San Mateo and Rainwater Solutions.
Meet One of the Heroes of the Rain Barrel Movement
We connected with Allison B. from Redwood City to learn more about her experience joining the rain barrel movement. Allison immediately reflected on how her new rainwater harvesting project relates to stormwater pollution prevention in her community. Living in the hills of Redwood City, she fared pretty well in the intense storms last year. But, due to highly saturated soils, she noted that most of the rain they received turned into runoff that transported harmful pollutants into local waterways:
“We have a view of the bay and can see the bay waters change from blue to brown after the big storms. While our two rain barrels won’t change that, it is important for all of us to try to do the little things that we can do, like recycling, using fewer chemicals, conserving water, and installing rain barrels! Every little bit helps.”
AlLISON b., rEDWOOD CITY
Indeed, every action that our community takes, no matter how large or small, can help us protect our precious waterways. The residents who participated in this year’s campaign and distribution event serve as an incredible example of what we can achieve together. The 297 rain barrels purchased this year through the program can capture nearly 15,000 gallons of stormwater during a single storm event and prevent it from transporting harmful pollutants into our streets, storm drains, and local waterways! And better yet, if we trend back to drought conditions, those barrels have conserved gallons of water to use.
Allison kindly shared some details about her experience with this year’s sale. She recalled how easy the online purchase system was to use and that when she arrived at the event, “there was no line and plenty of people to help us through the pickup process. The staff on-site loaded the barrels into our SUV, and we were on our way.”
Allison has already installed her rain barrels using the video instructions provided by Rain Water Solutions: “We have downspouts that go into a French drain, and the instructions even included information on how to handle that situation. I did the entire installation on my own in an hour or so. The rain barrels are working great!”
For those who may be feeling anxious about applying for BAWSCA’s rain barrel rebate, Allison found the process to be simple and straightforward and she has already received her rebate check in the mail. Please visit our Rain Barrel Rebate page to see a complete list of FAQs and steps to apply for the rebate, which can cover up to 100% of the per-barrel price (pre-tax) for qualifying applicants.
Ivy rain barrels.
We followed up with Allison about how her new rain barrels fit into her current landscaping design. She plans to use the harvested water to irrigate her yard in the dry season, and in particular, the south-facing native landscaping, which although drought-tolerant, still needs a lot of water because of the sun exposure. Although it can often feel like a drop in a bucket, every ounce of water she captures with these new barrels and uses to water her landscaping will help conserve precious potable water for our region.
It’s Your Turn to Join the Rain Barrel Movement in SMC!
Each time a resident like Allison installs a rain barrel on their property, they are making a positive impact on our local water quality and water supply. By taking this initiative, they are also joining a movement of neighbors who care about human and environmental health and have an important role to play in keeping our community resilient in a changing climate. All of us at Flows To Bay are so thankful for each and every one of you who supports water conservation and pollution prevention in San Mateo County.
Once you install your discounted barrel(s), we encourage you to place yourself on the Rain Barrel Map (pictured below) to officially join the rain barrel movement! If you’re absolutely loving your new rain barrel setup, we also welcome you to share your story and pictures with us by filling out our Water-Wise Home Project Form. We’d love to feature your project and share it with other San Mateo County residents.
If you were unable to participate in this year’s bulk discount event, you can still purchase a rain barrel from Rainwater Solutions or a local supplier and apply for BAWSCA’s rain barrel rebate! Please keep in mind that Flows To Bay does not endorse any specific company or brand. You can also sign up for our newsletter to stay informed about our next sale!
Get Prepared for the Stormy Season
There are many ways to help prevent stormwater pollution besides installing rain barrels on your property. Here are some simple actions you can take this winter to help keep our community safe.
Sandbags
Sandbags offer a simple and cost-effective way to prevent flood damage. In the event of a flood, you can use sandbags to help divert water around your home or business. San Mateo County Public Works offers up to 15 pre-made sandbags at no cost to residents of unincorporated areas. Many other cities in the county offer sandbags to community members. Be sure to look up your city’s public works online to get more information about the resources that are available to you.
Be mindful of pesticide use on rainy days
At Flows To Bay, we believe in Integrated Pest Management (IPM) – a strategy that emphasizes less-toxic control solutions that have the least environmental impact to keep pests at acceptable, low-levels. If you opt to use pesticides to manage your garden, try to choose the least-toxic product available and don’t apply them outdoors when rain is predicted as it can wash these chemicals off of your property and into our local waterways.
Store HHW in a secure location
Do not store household hazardous waste – chemical wastes and materials typically used within a household such as paints, cleaning solutions, oil, batteries, and pesticides – in locations where flooding is possible or where rain or runoff can reach these items.
Remember, stormwater pollution prevention starts with you! These are just a few ways that you can help protect the health of our community and beautiful environment. We encourage you to explore the numerous pages and resources about stormwater pollution prevention that are available on the Flows To Bay website at no cost. Perhaps you would enjoy learning about successful schoolyard greening projects, the ins and outs of green infrastructure, or how to design your own sustainably-stylish rain garden! No matter how big or small your actions are, we are so thankful that you are a part of this community and this movement to prevent stormwater pollution in our lovely county.
Have questions or ideas you’d like to share about how to reduce stormwater pollution in your community? Flows To Bay is here to help! Reach out to Flows To Bay and we’ll gladly do what we can to support you.
