Success Stories
Rain Barrels
By Kurt Rowe, Manatee County FYN Agent, Pam Brown, Pinellas County Horticulture Agent, and Marina D’Abreau, Hillsborough County Urban Horticulture Agent
In spring 2008, the South Central District FYN faculty contacted 3,961 past rain barrel program participants and encouraged them to take a Web survey to determine their rain collection and use patterns.
The total amount of water collected and used by 606 survey respondents was 325,936 gallons per year. Using rain barrels reduced water use and prevented this amount of stormwater runoff from entering our district's ditches, canals, and streams.
It takes around 13,500 gallons of water to fill a 24-foot round swimming pool 4 feet deep, so the volume of water saved in our survey would fill 24 swimming pools.
If the average amount of water saved per person as determined by the survey was extrapolated to include all those who were asked to participate in the survey, the amount of water saved would equal just over 2 million gallons per year, or 154 swimming pools.
Our rain barrel programs are working to save groundwater resources and are helping keep Florida's waterways safer and cleaner.
Do you have a success story?
We’re looking for inspiring Florida-friendly success stories like this one. Submit yours today at gardening@ifas.ufl.edu.
