Reduce home water use, protect waterways from runoff with rain barrels from WCCD

submitted by Dru Mark-Wilson, Washtenaw County Conservation District Outreach coordinator 

The Washtenaw County Conservation District’s (WCCD) Rain Barrels & Supplies sales have returned in 2023. The WCCD offers rain barrels, composters, and related supplies available to the public to purchase for water catchment systems and composting systems. These supplies promote systems that encourage conservation of rainwater, reduce home water use, and prevent runoff pollution, and composting practices to reduce food waste and build healthy soils.

The Rain Barrels offered come in five colors and are all “upcycled,” clean 55-gallon food-grade durable plastic, fitted with a screened, removable lid, and fittings and valves to drain the barrel, connect to other barrels, and for overflow. Barrels can be purchased with a “wide overflow” upgrade for the barrels to handle excess water more efficiently during heavy rainfalls. Additional rain barrel accessories include a wooden pedestal riser, linking hoses, downspout diverters, and downspout flex elbows. New in 2023, we’re offering barrel-plant netting and plant hangers to decorate or disguise rain barrels. For larger water-catchment systems, the sales offer a 275-Gallon IBC Tote, a clean “upcycled” 4’x4’x4’ tank that is fitted with a valve and reducer to a garden hose.

The WCCD’s Rain Barrels & Supplies sales opened on January 4 and continue into September. Rain barrels, accessories, and composters are available only by preorder. Preorders must be made within the presale periods, which end a week prior to the distribution date. There will be three distribution dates throughout the year to pick up preordered materials:

• Monday, March 27 — WCCD office, Ann Arbor
• Saturday, June 24 — Growing Hope Farm, Ypsilanti
• Friday, September 29 — Washtenaw Farm Council Grounds, Ann Arbor

The WCCD office is located at 705 N Zeeb Rd in Ann Arbor. Customers will receive reminders and detailed instructions of when and where to pick up their preordered supplies. All orders come with resources and instructions, all of which is also available on the website: www.washtenawcd.org/rainbarrel.

In partnership with Growing Hope Farm, the WCCD will repeat the popular “Rain Barrels 101” workshop on Saturday, June 24, from 1pm to 3pm. The workshop will cover topics from basic rain barrel use and maintenance, installation considerations and instructions, and demonstration of systems in use. Preordered barrels will be available to pick up and limited day-of sales will be available.

Preorders can be placed directly on the WCCD’s online store at https://store.washtenawcd.org/rainbarrels or ordered by paper order forms, which are available for download on the WCCD website www.washtenawcd.org/rainbarrel, at the WCCD office, or by requesting a mailed copy. Payment is accepted by credit card online or by check via mail/drop off. Checks can be made out to Washtenaw CD.

The WCCD has been distributing trees, plants, and tools for conservation since the 1950s. More than 7.5 million trees and shrubs have been distributed as a result of WCCD’s efforts, contributing to conservation practices such as reforestation, soil erosion reduction and water quality improvement, habitat restoration, and naturalization projects. The WCCD is a unit of local government, managed by an elected 5-member board of directors. The mission of the WCCD is to assist residents with the conservation, management, and wise use of natural resources in Washtenaw County. The WCCD serves Washtenaw residents through resource distributions, education, and technical assistance.

To learn more about the Rain Barrel & Supplies distributions and other WCCD programs, please visit the WCCD website at www.washtenawcd.org. Forms are also available at the WCCD office: 705 N Zeeb Rd, Suite 201, Ann Arbor. Contact Doug Reith, WCCD Resource Coordinator, with any questions at (734) 302-8713 or doug@washtenawcd.org.

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by Marsha Chartrand

Marsha Johnson Chartrand, a founder, writer, and copy editor with the Manchester Mirror, is a 50-year resident of Manchester. She has a long history of volunteer and community involvement.