CITIZENS OF MOUNT AIRY, MARYLAND FORM A COLLECTIVE TO PURCHASE AQUABARREL RAIN BARRELS

Aquabarrel, a Gaithersburg, MD-based, CoOp America approved business dedicated to supporting water conservation through the use of rain barrels, delivered 100 rain barrels to help the citizens of Mount Airy, Maryland cooperate with summer water restrictions.

This large purchase of rain barrels was part of a rain barrel pilot program sponsored and subsidized by Mayor Frank Johnson and the Mount Airy Town Council, and coordinated by Tim Richards, co-director of Citizens for a Green Mount Airy, in response to the overwhelming success of a July 21, 2007 water conservation workshop. Demand for rain barrels far exceeded the 20 barrels that were given away at the workshop. Richards quickly coordinated a rain barrel bulk purchasing collective to meet the demand. Aquabarrel was able to fulfill the collective’s needs for 100 additional rain barrels by August 13.

Just three days after the popular water conservation workshop, the longstanding dry weather forced Mayor Johnson to institute water use limitations that will continue through mid-September. The new rain barrels will help Mount Airy residents reduce their use of public water supplies by collecting rainwater from their rooftops for outdoor use, such as watering gardens and lawns, or washing cars and windows.

Richards found that Aquabarrel rain barrels have a “superior, more durable design”1 than the rain barrels supplied for the initial workshop. An Aquabarrel rain barrel’s unique features include an extremely durable hose assembly located at the lowest point of the barrel and an oversized overflow port. The multi-piece hose assembly is extra-durable because all of the parts are made from materials with compatible rates of expansion and contraction. The hose assembly’s location at the bottom of the barrel maximizes water pressure, and minimizes stagnant water at the bottom of the barrel. An Aquabarrel’s extra-large overflow port lets the same volume of rain water exit the full barrel as the downspout allows into the barrel.

An Aquabarrel system can be customized by the addition of specialized downspout diverters and filters. Aquabarrel sells a wide variety of these hard-to-find accessories, as well as ready-to-install rain barrels, rain barrel parts kits, and instructional CDs. The company’s founder, Barry Chenkin, also offers installation services in and around the Washington DC metropolitan area.

Aquabarrel is committed to water conservation and protection of watersheds. The company was invited by the Anacostia Watershed Society to an event in Bladensburg, Maryland on July 28, 2007 to help spread the word on how rain barrels help protect waterways. Earlier on June 30, Aquabarrel was invited to participate in a “Green Merchants” event as part of the grand opening of the Rockville, Maryland library. Additionally, the company web site, www.aquabarrel.com, provides free, photographically illustrated instructions on how to make an Aquabarrel-style rain barrel, a complete parts list for the do-it-yourselfer, and links to other resources.

1 www.greenmountairy.org
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