Installing a Rain Garden
Install a rain garden in your community – Possible ROAs for a Groundwater Guardian Project
Spring is just around the corner, and a great time to think about installing a rain garden. A rain garden is a garden of native shrubs, perennials, and flowers planted in a small depression, which is generally formed on a natural slope. It is designed to temporarily hold and soak in rain water runoff. Rain gardens help filter out pollutants such as fertilizers, chemicals, bacteria, and others contained in runoff. They also incorporate native vegetation, reducing the need for fertilizers and after the first year, maintenance is usually minimal.
Rain gardens are effective in:
- removing up to 90% of nutrients and chemicals
- removing up to 80% of sediments from rainwater runoff
- allowing for 30% more water to soak into the ground than a conventional lawn
Consider installing a rain garden as one of your team’s 2016 Result-Oriented Activities. Remember, you can add an ROA at any time during the year. Involve the public and make it an educational event! Read more about how rain gardens benefit a community and how to get started.
Stormwater Management for Homeowners
Some examples of water features – Dallas, PA
Make Your Home Green
The word “Green” has taken on a new life. This word has been used to suggest a better approach for the planet and environment. That is great – but really “Going Green” can save you money by reducing waste and efficiency. So rather than “Going Green” – How about we suggest some ways to keep the green in your pocket. This post is about making your bank account turn “Green” and investing in yourself. To live the lifestyle – We Recommend the book “Living a Less Toxic Life”.
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Tip 1 – Cut and Reduce the Waste (Energy and Water)
The first action is get an energy audit done on your home. A professional can evaluate where you are wasting energy on heating and/or cooling your home, the appliances you are using, and how you are heating your water. These inefficiency may be associated with other environmental problems, such as mold, termites, and water damage. One book we like is the Homeowner Guide to Energy Efficiency. A really nice kit to reduce your water usage – Save Water Kit. If you are a DIY – this is a great home course on conducting an energy audit. Some general tips:
a. Install a programmable thermostat. Set in winter to 68 degrees (Yes this means socks, slips, and maybe a robe) . Remember the King and Queen of the Castle wore a Robe – nothing wrong! In the summer, set at 78 degrees (Honestly this does not work for me either- so add a ceiling fan).
b. Inspect your windows – caulk and seal air leaks around windows, tape the heating ducts, replace or install weather stripping, and maybe upgrade the windows. If you can not update the windows at least add a window insulator.
c. Recycle household materials.
d. Get Rid of the Energy Vampires ! With any luck you have gotten rid of the emotional vampires – now it is time for the energy vampires. This means putting TVs, DVRs, Cable boxes, and other similar appliances on power strips and turning off the power strips when you are not using the devices. For the cell phone and small electronic devices – this means taking the charge out of the wall socket when the device is charged. In PA – Host a Cell Phone Recycling Program at Work or an Event.
e. Switch to compact fluorescent light bulbs or other more efficient lighting.
Tip 2 – More on Water
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1. Fix leaks in faucets – If you are going to consider water treatment – Consider a non-sodium based water softener.
2. Do not run the water will you are brushing your teeth or shaving.
3. If you like cold water – maybe put a pitcher of water in the refrigerator to cool (No more than 2 days old please) and use a glass vessel.
4. Run full loads and maybe switch to a front load washer. 5. On the water side – do not flush medications, do not flush wipes, and the toilet is not for kitchen waste.
5. Install low-flow shower head and maybe a low-flow toilet or a toilet bladder.
6. Rain Barrels and Water Gardens – Save the Rain and Re-Use (Rain Water Harvesting)- Also – do we really need English Lawns?
7. Companies – Dallas, PA – Recommend Huntsville Nursery and Landscaping and Rain Water Harvesting.
Tip 3 – Cleaners – Maybe not so Harsh
1. Take a look at your chemical cleaners and switch to phosphate free and “detergent free” cleaners.
2. If you have red or black stains, try cleaning with a citric acid based cleaner rather and chlorine. This is a great guide to non-toxic cleaners.
Change starts with taking just one step. That is how we learned to walk. If you are concerned about unknown hazards in your community. Consider reviewing the Keystone Clean Water Team healthy community program. We are working with a national environmental database search company to offer a report to help you understand your home’s or your future homes environmental health status within a community. The program, Neighborhood Environmental Report™, offers a search of over 1,400 databases and millions of records of potential land and groundwater contamination within 1 mile radius of the entered address. To learn more.
Everything we do began with an idea.
We have offered “Free” Assistance to this effort, but if you are a private well owner that needs assistance we are happy to help.
We realize your time is precious and the world is hectic. CCGG’s volunteers do only what they’re comfortable with. It can be a little or a lot. Get YOUR WATER Tested – Discounted Screening Tests !
For more information, please go to CCGG’s About Page or contact us. Follow us on Twitter
Keystone Clean Water Team is a 501(c)(3) IRS approved nonprofit, volunteer organization and your donation is tax deductible to the extent allowed by law. Unsolicited donations are appreciated (Helps us complete our mission), but we also do local educational workshops and local cellphone/small electronic recycling programs. If you would like to set up a program to help recycle cellphones at an event, business, or other organization. Through our program we can recycle cell phones, iPods, game systems, and small digital cameras. If your interested, please contact us. Our new PSAs.
Help the Organization and Get Your Water Tested or Order the Private Well Owner Guide (proceeds benefit This Organization). Water Science Basics!