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SONG: Water water everywhere and not a drop to spare. Water on the ground, water in the air.
Though it may evaporate it never goes away. Snows onto your mountain tops, flows into the bay.
Animals need water, people need it too. Keep it clean for me and I will keep it clean for you.
Animals need water, people need it too. Keep it clean for me, and I'll keep it clean for you.
In the first of our four-part Rainscape series, we explain some things you may not know about
stormwaterâ how you can save the environment and your budget by installing a rain barrel.
Parts 2, 3, and 4 are all about rain barrels.
You'll learn about rain barrel features, how to install rain barrelsâ and how
to take care of them.
And nowâ getting in the stormwater!
Stormwater of course nourishes lawns, gardens, and wildlife, but in Rockville, with increasingly
more hard, impervious surfaces such as rooves, streets, and sidewalks. Stormwater can
travel from rooftop to gutter within secondsâ picking up pollutants such as oil, pesticides, fertilizers,
bacteria, and sediment as it travels to the storm drain.
Yes, even sediment is a pollutant in our waterways.
Sediment is simply loose dirt, sand, and other grit that washes from land and pavement into
our streams.
Sediment coats our streambeds, making survival difficult for aquatic life.
HEATHER: Rockville has an amazing asset here. We have these wonderful waterways that run
through. We have an opportunity to be in the Chesapeake Bay watershed and really take pride
in the crabs and the habitat that's there. We can make a difference to protect our local
streams and the Chesapeake Bay by doing very simple things like hooking up a rain barrel,
doing conservation landscaping, picking up after your dog you can make a difference.
Narrator: Unfortunately, whatever is picked up by stormwaterâ stays with that stormwater
all the way to the Potomac Riverâ and on to the Chesapeake Bay.
Because Rockville's drinking water is taken directly from the Potomac River, the increased
pollutionâ including sedimentâ raises the cost of purifying water at Rockville's
water treatment plant.
Each one of us has a hand in preventing water pollution, starting with how we use household
chemicals, pesticides, and fertilizers.
Preventing water pollution also means bagging pet waste and not allowing water from washing
your car to enter the stormdrain.
One of most important things that home owners can do is to keep stormwater where it falls
on your propertyâ and minimize the amount that enters our watershed.
That's where rain barrels come in.
AMANDA: You'd be surprised how much water you can collect in a rain barrel from a single
rain event. A storm of less than one inch fill up a barrel pretty quickly. Rain barrels
are very effective at collecting storm water.
Think of your yard as a giant sponge that can benefit from every drop of water. You
can keep more water in your yard by planting trees and native plants whose root systems
can store and use water more efficiently.
Another way is to minimize impervious surfaces.
Instead of paving a driveway completely, we could pave or brick only where absolutely
necessary.
And, if you have a patio, ensure that the stormwater running off has a path that keeps
the water on your property.
Just so you know, the idea of redirecting and storing water has been around for millenia.
Some regions still rely on trenches, wells, and tanks to meet most if not all of their
water needs.
Rockville residents are fortunate to have a reliable source of clean drinking water
and don't have to rely on on-site water storage for our day-to day-water supply.
And yet, consider how often you use tap water to water both outdoor and indoor plants.
Why pay for something that's free?
In addition to saving money, rain barrels also provide a source of un-chlorinated water
for your plants, reduce flooding, renew local groundwater supplies by reducing stormwater
runoff, and help with drainage issues you may be experiencing on your property.
So, even at home, you can significantly improve your environment, our watershed, and
even the Chesapeake Bay.
And you can start today.
We like to say, Make a splash! Save some water, save some cash!
For more information, please call us at the City of Rockville, Rainscapes Program, 240-314-8870.
You can also write to us at environment at RockvilleMD.gov.
Be sure to ask about rebates and other incentives! And, thank you for caring about Rockville!