Free Rain Barrels Workshop in Birch Bay

Al Krause has lived in his community for nine years where he and his wife, Ruth Higgins, write birchbayblog.blogspot.com.

In Birch Bay homeowners are being encouraged to install rain barrels to save money as well as water. The program is sponsored by two organizations with matching objectives. The Birch Bay Water and Sewer District, with the lowest rates in the county, wants to keep water consumption as low as possible. The Birch Bay Watershed and Aquatic Resources Management District (BBWARM), seeks to limit pollution – the more water is stored, the less runoff into the bay. In addition to training, workshop participants take home a barrel free of charge. Related accessories cost less than $30 at Pacific Building Supply.

Doralee Booth attended a workshop at the Water and Sewer District last spring. She and her husband, Bill, who live on Birch Bay Drive, have a problem with water that flows down the hill behind their property. In addition to watering the plants around their home, they are creating a rain garden at the bottom of the hill. During the winter when the garden was dry they drew water from their barrel.

Barrels given out at the workshop originally contained soaps and disinfectants and come through the Sumas Public Works Department. They are donated by a dairy farmer.

In 2011 three workshops were held with 55 participants; 49 took home barrels. An earlier workshop took place this year on April 22. The second is on Tuesday, May 22 from 6–8 p.m. The location is the Birch Bay Water and Sewer District headquarters at 7096 Pt. Whitehorn Road. This is off Birch Bay Drive near the southern edge of the state park. All Birch Bay homeowners are eligible. As an incentive, in addition to free barrels, this year participants will be offered a second barrel with a connector. In the accompanying photo Ingrid Enschede, of BBWARM, is seen showing a participant how to drill a hole in a barrel.

Research found that a typical family of four in Birch Bay normally uses approximately 126 gallons of water per day; 235 gallons per day in the summer.

“The primary objective of this program,” explains Emily Resch of the Birch Bay Water and Sewer District, “is to raise awareness in the community about water conservation and stormwater management — when people see how quickly a 55-gallon barrel fills up during a rain storm they will recognize how impervious surfaces such as roof tops and paved driveways increase runoffs.”

For additional information contact Ms. Enschede at 715-7450 or Ms. Resch at 371-7100.