Traverse City Record-Eagle

Antrim County

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April 11, 2008

Recycling: Putting your rainwater to work

BY SHERI McWHIRTER

EASTPORT -- Antrim County resident Loraine Mottern wants to look to her own yard to find water conservation at work.

Mottern and her husband Jim live in Eastport and bought a recycled barrel for rain collection from the Tip of the Mitt Watershed Council in an effort to do their environmental part.

It's the council's first such sale and organizers hope northern Michigan residents realize the benefits and adopt what is considered a simple solution to protect water resources.

"It's one person doing a little something and if a lot of people do it, we can really make a difference," Mottern said.

She intends to use roof runoff to water her outdoor landscaping and prevent continued erosion from a spot next to her house.

Using barrels to collect rainwater from rooftops is an uncomplicated way to conserve water and reduce both pollution and storm water runoff, said Valerie Olinik-Damstra, watershed coordinator with the nonprofit conservation agency.

Rainwater can better infiltrate the ground and replenish the water table when collected and used to hydrate landscaping, rather than quickly flowing as surface runoff into storm drains and water bodies. It's a first step toward healthier lakes and streams, Olinik-Damstra said.

The Antrim Conservation District encourages the use of rain barrels and officials will help the council sell some during their coming tree sale April 18-19 in Bellaire.

"It's a nice way to slow down pollution because if water hits pavement, you can have runoff of fertilizers, pesticides, oil and gas products, pet waste, all working its way into surface and groundwater," said Christy Roman, the district's executive director.

The barrels also are recycled, another earthy benefit.

Imported olives, pickles and olive oil were shipped from the Mediterranean in the barrels.

"You're not using virgin plastic, as these barrels came into the U.S. carrying food. This is better than having them end up in a landfill," Olinik-Damstra said.

The 60-gallon barrels cost $99 or $89 for council members, which is less than typical retail cost, she said.

Call Tip of the Mitt at (231) 347-1181 or visit www.watershedcouncil.org for more information, or to place an order. The barrels will be available for pick-up June 14 at the Emmet County Fairgrounds in Petoskey.

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