#rainbarrels — Public Fediverse posts
Live and recent posts from across the Fediverse tagged #rainbarrels, aggregated by home.social.
-
Research - #RainBarrels and Other Household Stormwater Strategies Are Working — For Now.
May 5, 2026
Excerpt: " 'When we talk about #CircularEconomy, most people think about #recycling waste and materials. But the concept of circular economy also applies to water. Here we're talking about installing #rainwater #cisterns, reusing water from the sink to flush toilets and using water-efficient appliances. While those may seem like small steps at the individual level, we found that if they are widely adopted, they can have a significant collective impact,' said Fernanda Cruz Rios, PhD, an assistant professor in the College of Engineering, who was a co-author of the research. 'They help reduce demand on the municipal supply, and the energy needed to treat and distribute that water. But what we found was that these strategies offer a real double benefit. In areas like #PhiladelphiaPA and #CamdenME, that are particularly vulnerable due to their proximity to large bodies of water, we were able to see a meaningful reduction in flooding volumes when circular water strategies were adopted.'
"Despite the ongoing compliance efforts, the cities of Philadelphia and Camden have around 16 billion gallons of combined #sewer overflow, according to reports from their respective water utilities.
"Over the last two and a half decades, Camden has established a stormwater management plan, including decentralized strategies, an upgrade to #stormwater infrastructure and storm water management modeling. To understand the overall impact of these efforts, in hopes of applying findings to other vulnerable urban areas, the Drexel team created a computer model of stormwater movement using data from Cramer Hill, a neighborhood of Camden in the state’s 'coastal hazard zone' that is highly susceptible to tidal and storm-surge flooding.
"The researchers structured the model so that it could quantify the distinct effects of outdoor strategies (cisterns and rain barrels) and indoor strategies — efficient fixtures and reusing sink wash water (#greywater) for toilet flushing. It simulated and measured the effect of 16 different combinations of strategies, ranging from rain barrels of different sizes, to varying levels of adoption of water-efficient fixtures and greywater reuse."Each scenario was simulated using precipitation and tidal data from 2014 as a baseline and flooding measurements projected at locations across the neighborhood and at five stormwater outfall areas that contribute to combined sewer overflow discharges into the #DelawareRiver.
The results show that the combination of retrofitting homes with #WaterEfficientFixtures as well as installing rain barrels and practicing greywater reuse, when adopted by 75% of households, could reduce the volume of combined sewer overflows by as much as 11% and the volume of #floodwaters by up to 13%.
" 'This finding is an important and encouraging piece of information for municipalities that are facing similar challenges,' Marques said. 'Although broad adoption of these measures can be challenging to achieve, confirmation of its effectiveness may help to make the case.' "
#SolarPunkSunday #ClimateChangeAdaptation #Graywater #StormwaterSeparation #StormwaterReduction #WaterCisterns #UrbanPlanning #WaterUse #WaterIsLife #ClimateChange
-
How #ClimateChange Is Reshaping Your Garden (And What You Can Do)
by barbara, July 19, 2025
"As our climate continues to shift, gardeners are noticing significant changes in traditional growing patterns. Plants that once thrived in specific seasons are now experiencing confused growth cycles, with some flowering too early and others struggling to adapt to unpredictable temperature swings.
"These fluctuations affect not just when plants grow, but how well they develop. Warmer winters can trick plants into breaking dormancy too early, leaving them vulnerable to late frosts. Meanwhile, extended growing seasons might seem beneficial, but they can lead to pest problems and throw off the natural timing of pollinator relationships.
"Many gardeners report seeing spring bulbs emerging weeks earlier than usual, and fall plants staying active longer into winter. While this might temporarily increase production in some regions, it also creates new challenges for maintaining healthy plant communities. The key is to work with these changes rather than against them, selecting varieties that can handle temperature swings and implementing season extension techniques when needed.
"To help your garden adapt, consider creating #microclimates using #WindBarriers and #shade structures, and experiment with different planting dates to find new rhythms that work in your changing environment."
#SolarPunkSunday #ClimateChangeAdaptation #TemperatureExtremes #Gardening #WildlifeCorridors #GardeningForPollinators #Microclimates #SoilHealth #ClimateResilience #Rainbarrels #WaterCollection #Drought #ExtremeRain #DroughtTolerantPlants #ClimateChangeGardening
-
So, I ended up emptying both our rainbarrels during a dry spell (110 gallons of water), using the water for not only my home garden, but my community garden plot as well. After a heavy, but brief, rainstorm this week, both barrels are full again. #Rainbarrels help prevent water from overflowing storm drain systems and they provide water during droughts. Make sure you use a tight screen to keep mosquitoes out (I replaced the screens that came with my rainbarrels, and I don't even have to use Bt now).
The Case for Rain Barrels
By Felicia Hokenstad, May 7, 2026
"As #ClimateChange continues to impact our weather patterns, the preservation and efficient use of water resources have become pressing issues for many communities. One innovative solution that is gaining traction is the rain barrel. These straightforward tools not only help us conserve water but also alleviate the burden on our #stormwater systems.
A rain barrel is essentially a tank for collecting and storing rainwater from roof downspouts, typically holding around 55 gallons. By capturing this valuable resource, residents can reuse it for watering #gardens, landscaping, and other non-potable needs. This practice has multiple benefits: it reduces #reliance on municipal water [or well water], provides naturally soft rainwater—which is gentler on plants than treated tap water—and lessens stormwater runoff that can contribute to flooding and streambank erosion."
Learn more:
https://www.cleanriverpartners.org/our-stories/the-case-for-rain-barrels#SolarPunkSunday #ClimateChangeGardening #ClimateChangeAdaptation #WaterIsLife #Drought #HeavyRains