ABC6 News - Rain barrel program aims to keep Rhode Island waters clean

From ABC6 News:

BRISTOL, R.I. (WLNE) — The Eastern Rhode Island Conservation District’s “Take and Make” rain barrel program has returned.

The organization said that rain barrels can be used to collect stormwater from residential roofs, preventing the water from washing pollutants and trash into Narragansett Bay.

It added that just a half inch of rain falling on a 1,000-square-foot roof will yield 300 gallons of water, and diverting this water reduces the amount of trash and pollutants that get washed into the watershed.

Barrel kits are available for purchase while supplies last here and include a repurposed barrel and other supplies for installing at home.

“Traditional ‘gray’ infrastructure is not equipped to handle this much water, so reducing the amount of flooding that reaches our streets with a rain barrel helps keep our watershed clean,” District Manager Sara Churgin said.

More information about the rain barrel program can be found on the ERICD website.