Rainwater Harvesting – It’s the rainy season, time to get ready!

Did you know that Tampa Bay residents receive an average of 50 inches of precipitation per year? Most of this rain falls between June and November making now a perfect time to set up a rain barrel and collect some rainwater.

There are many benefits of collecting rainwater. Just one inch of rain on a 1,000 square foot roof will yield 623 gallons of water collected.

Not only could one household save more than 31,000 gallons a year with enough storage capacity, utilizing rain barrels can also contribute to reduced stormwater runoff. Runoff from your property can contain fertilizers, pesticides, car oil, trash and pet waste, potentially moving these contaminates from your property into the stormwater system and ultimately into Tampa Bay.

The UF/IFAS Extension Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ Program in Pinellas County is now offering monthly virtual rainwater harvesting classes and rain barrels for purchase. Barrels have a spigot installed and can be obtained online only after attending the class. The cost of a barrel is $35 and only available to Pinellas County residents. The pick-up is a simple drive through process.

What you will learn at the workshop:
The newest techniques on how to make, securely set up and maintain your own rain barrel. Instructors will also provide information on the proper and safe use of the harvested water as well as some decorating tips.

Our next rainwater harvesting workshop is scheduled for July 10 at 10:00 a.m. To learn more about our upcoming workshop please contact Jon Prieto at jprieto@pinellascounty.org or 727-582-2517. Pre-registration for the workshop is required at https://bit.ly/rainwater_harvesting

Prior to the pick-up registrants will receive information on pick-up location and time.
You can purchase a rain barrel on our Eventbrite page by following the link below and clicking the green TICKET button. https://20200710rainwater_harvesting.eventbrite.com

We hope to see you there!

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