San Mateo County and surrounding areas are seeing record amounts of rain, but as meteorologist Richard Heim explained in the LA Times, “A few months of really wet weather, well, it’s not going to make much of a dent in these deficits that have accumulated over the years.” So, don’t let this fool you – water conservation efforts are as vital as they’ve ever been, and the San Mateo County residents who participated in this year’s rain barrel program are doing their part to harvest and conserve rainwater!
Expanding the Program
After 4 rain barrel distribution events, Flows To Bay sent a total of 825 rain barrels home to over 450 San Mateo County residents. Those 825 barrels will capture 41,250 gallons of water each time they are completely filled!
Thank you to the Public Works Departments of Daly City, Millbrae, Redwood City, and San Mateo for hosting this year’s distribution events. Their assistance, paired with immense resident excitement and support, enabled us to double the number of distribution events compared to last year’s pilot program.
We’re seeing a significant and proactive mindset spreading broadly among communities with an interest in conserving water, preparing for large storm events, and turning rainwater into a resource. This is very exciting to see!
REID BOGERT, C/CAG STORMWATER PROGRAM SPECIALIST
Soaking Up the Rain
San Mateo resident and proud rain barrel program participant, Kevin, shared his excitement on social media through a series of Instagram posts. In his series, Kevin shocked friends and family by revealing that his 50-gallon rain barrel filled up with rainwater in less than a day!
Kevin jumped at the chance to order his barrel this year after hearing about the program last year and missing out on ordering a barrel before the program sold out. Kevin describes himself as “eco-conscious as the average person who’s just trying to do the best he can.” Interestingly, making a big impact isn’t as challenging as one might think! After participating this year and already seeing an immense payoff, ordering additional barrels next year is a no-brainer for Kevin. Kevin’s biggest takeaway after receiving his barrel?
It’s much easier than I thought it would be. Water that runs off a roof can be easily reused with very modest alterations. I don’t know why more people aren’t doing it.
KEVIN SIMPSON, SAN MATEO RESIDENT
Here are some other helpful rain barrel tips we picked up from our chat with Kevin:
- When considering how many barrels to get, order more than you think. You’ll be shocked at how quickly your rain barrels fill up!
- Use paver stones to level the ground and provide a platform for your barrel(s).
- Kevin’s not the handiest guy in the world (his words), so don’t let your handiness skills deter you because setting up the barrel is “incredibly easy.”
Thank you, Kevin, for taking the time to share your experience with your community! Check out Kevin’s rain barrel setup and post series on Instagram @kevin_simpson_stargazer.
Do you have a rain barrel? You can make a positive impact by helping show the importance of this simple action in San Mateo County!
- Share a photo of you with your rain barrel setup, tag @Flowstobay in your caption on Instagram and Facebook, and be sure to include the hashtag #FlowsToBarrel.
Add yourself to our interactive map to join the San Mateo County Rain Barrel Movement!
Interested in learning more about rainwater harvesting and gardening tips? Check out our recent blog!
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