Mt. Airy Rain Catchers-Project Description

Official Project Description

Mt. Airy Rain Catchers is a US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) project that enlisted the help of Mt. Airy neighborhood partners to install rain gardens and rain barrels in their yards. EPA's goal is to evaluate how these individual, household actions can improve local water quality. To measure this, EPA will be monitoring the health of local Shepherd Creek before and after the installation of rain barrels and rain gardens.

Printable Map of Eligible Homes (PDF file)

Urban rainfall runoff (stormwater) carries pollution into local waterways, and can affect their structure and health, as well as recreational, aesthetic and wildlife habitat functions. Water treatment for all urban stormwater is not economically feasible. Rain gardens and rain barrels work at a household level to reduce pollution as well as conserve water. They also make economic sense both for the household—through water savings and added value on the property—and for the community.

This is a pilot program to test an auction-based method of encouraging the public to participate in reducing stormwater runoff and pollution at the household level.

The project began with the installation of a rain barrel at the Mt. Airy Arboretum building and two demonstration rain gardens along the road to the Arboretum. You may visit them whenever the park is open.

What has been done so far?

In spring 2007, information about the project was mailed to the property owners in the Shepherd Creek watershed. EPA chose this neighborhood because stormwater runoff is impairing the health of Shepherd Creek. Also, this neighborhood is a good example of a suburban area with stormwater problems, so it may serve as a pilot example for restoration of other watersheds.
Each home was eligible to receive up to four rain barrels and a rain garden. Homeowners chose to receive either or both. Installation, planting and hardware costs were borne by EPA.
For their time on this project, homeowners bid the amount they wished to be paid for installation and maintenance of rain gardens and rain barrels. Lower payments (lower bids) were more likely to be selected.
After the auction-winners were selected, US EPA's contractors installed 50 rain gardens and 100 rain barrels at the selected homes in the summer of 2007. Each rain catcher owner received an owner's manual.

What happens next?

US EPA contractors will maintain the rain gardens at no charge to homeowners through 2010. Homeowners will maintain the rain barrels by emptying them after rainfall and closing the valve before the next rainfall. During winter months, owners should drain and disconnect rain barrels from the downspouts.

Photo Credit: Chelsea Lefaivre