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The GreenSpot Rain Barrel Program has ended for 2011.  It will return in the spring of 2012.

After the completion of our first season of the GreenSpot Rain Barrel program, all of us involved would like to say Thank You!  To Columbus Mayor Michael B. Coleman and his environmental steward Erin Miller for spearheading this effort to reduce runoff pollution and save homeowners money; to EarthMinded who developed and manufactured this easy-to-install rain barrel; to the watershed groups Friends of Alum Creek and Tributaries (FACT) and Friends of the Lower Olentangy Watershed (FLOW) whose volunteers conducted workshops; to Franklin Soil and Water Director Jennifer Fish who carried us all along with her enthusiasm; and mostly to you – the folks willing to sit through a workshop or online slide-show (and take a quiz!).  Thank you for installing your rain barrels.  Thank you for telling your neighbors about saving rainwater for watering plants.  Thank you for your contribution to cleaner water in Franklin County.

Now

  • The 2011 GreenSpot Rain Barrel Program is closed, but
  • We think you would enjoy becoming a member of the GreenSpot community, so sign up!
  • If you have a rain barrel, disconnect it before freezing temperatures, empty it and store it where it will not collect rain or snow and where it will not blow away in strong winds.
  • Plan your garden and landscaping for next year.
  • Sign up to receive The Franklin Soil and Water newsletter, Frankly Speaking, to receive information about the spring sale of native trees, shrubs and perennial flowering plants. Go to the Contact Us button at the top of the page.

          In 2012

  • We will be up and running in time for spring planting next year
  • We hope to expand the program to other communities in 2012, so tell your elected officials that you want to join the GreenSpot Rain Barrel Program!

About the 2011 Columbus GreenSpot Rain Barrel Program

The City of Columbus Backyard Conservation Program, administered by Mayor Michael B. Coleman’s environmental steward, reached out to residents about the impacts of storm water runoff.  Impacts include flooding, polluted rivers and streams and eroded stream banks with accompanying property damage.  Rain barrels also protect local water resources by reducing use of potable water for landscape watering, conserving both the water supplies and the energy used in making the water clean enough to drink.  To encourage residents to take that first step in protecting our water resources, the Backyard Conservation Program made it easy to install a rain barrel on their property.

The RainStation, available through Columbus rain barrel program

The RainStation, available through Columbus rain barrel program

Residents of the City of Columbus who signed up as Green Spot members were invited to buy a discounted rain barrel for only $45.00.   This was not just a rain barrel sale; it involved the participation of residents in learning about storm water issues and then taking action to make a difference.  This rain barrel offer was open only to Columbus residents in 2011 and had a limit of one rain barrel per household.

How the program worked:

  1. Columbus homeowners first became a GreenSpot member at www.ColumbusGreenSpot.org
  2. They could then decide to register and pay $45 for a neighborhood workshop where they would learn about storm water impacts on water quality; rain barrel installation, use, and maintenance; and take home their rain barrel; or they could
  3. Watch the rain barrel installation video and the storm water slide-show on this Web site.
  4. They then took and passed with 70% an online quiz,
  5. Which enabled a PayPal page to open for the purchase of one rain barrel for $45.

Here is a printable rain barrel fact sheet and a printable frequently asked questions handout.

Here is a list of local retailers who carry rain barrels.

Important Reminder:

Rain barrels are not meant to be long-term storage.  Empty your rain barrel every week, for two important reasons.

  1. To obtain all of the water quality benefits from keeping the rain water out of the storm sewer system and letting it soak into the ground.  You can empty the water onto your lawn if you think your garden has had enough rainwater.  You are not keeping any water out of the storm water system when the barrel is full.
  2. To prevent mosquitoes from breeding in your barrel.   There are two possible entryways for mosquitoes: 1) roof gutters with debris cause enough pooling of water for mosquitoes to lay eggs, which are then washed down into the barrel, and 2) the half-inch space by the lid handles, left when you turn the lid to lock it in place.  Open the lid and look to see if you have mosquito eggs, larvae or pupae in your barrel.  If you do, you can   add a portion of a mosquito dunk, which is available at hardware stores.  The dunks use the active ingredient Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) that kills mosquito larvae but will not effect plants, people or wildlife.  Bt is commonly used in integrated pest management.  Read the directions on the packaging to determine how much to use in your rain barrel.