The Montgomery County, MD Rainscapes website at http://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/Content/DEP/Rainscapes/barrels.htm has information about rain barrels – how to construct your own as well as several commercial sources.
Occasionally there are free “make and take” rain barrel workshops. You can sign up for the notices on the Rainscapes rain barrel webpage listed above.
There is also a rebate program through Montgomery County for installing rain barrels at your home, the
Rainscapes Rewards Program. You can get $50 per commercial rain barrel BUT they must be at least 55 gallons. A lot of the new rain barrels are less than 55 gallons because of the flat-back design.
Aquabarrel
A company based in Gaithersburg, Maryland that manufactures and sells a variety of rain barrels online at
http://www.aquabarrel.com
(878 Muddy Branch Road, PMB25, Gaithersburg, MD 20878.
Phone: 443-235-3131). Amicus Green Building Center in Kensington, MD, carries Aquabarrel rain barrels and is online at
http://www.amicusgreen.com/
Arlington Echo
Arlington Echo: The county's outdoor education center in Millersville has been on the forefront of the local rain barrel movement. "Echo barrels" are made from recycled plastic 55-gallon barrels, usually white. A barrel costs $80, adding a spigot is an extra $10. Proceeds from sales help pay for restoration projects involving students. Many local groups that give away or sell rain barrels get them from Arlington Echo.
For more information, call 410-222-5318 or visit:
www.arlingtonecho.net/Restoration-Projects/Rain-Barrels.html
K & B True Value
K&B True Value: The K&B True Value store at 912 Forest Drive in Annapolis sells 54-gallon, dark green plastic rain barrels for $129. By spring 2009, the store expects to have 34-gallon collapsible rain barrels for $99. For more information, call 410-268-3939.
Clement Hardware
Clement Hardware: Clement Hardware at 500 Ritchie Highway in Severna Park started carrying rain barrels during the summer of 2008 but only keeps a few in stock. The 54-gallon barrels are made from dark green plastic. The cost is $110. For more information, call 410-647-4611.
Sam's Club
Some local sites of the wholesale club sold oak rain barrels from a company called TerraCycle as a seasonal item during the spring of 2008. A corporate spokesman said the company will consider selling them again, so keep your eyes peeled. Sam's Club is at 2100 Generals Highway in Annapolis, 424 George Clauss Blvd. in Severn and 3535 Russett Green East in Laurel. For more information, visit www.samsclub.com.
Sun-Mar
Sun-Mar Maryland, a Baltimore-based company, sells rectangular, 75-gallon rain "boxes" and more traditional rain barrels online. The boxes are $180 plus shipping and the barrels are $120 plus shipping. For more information, call 410-979-2713 or visit:
www.sustainablegreenhomesolutions.com
www.kentuckybarrels.com
Kentucky Barrels: sells rain barrels crafted from old whiskey and wine barrels. Residents in the historic district of Annapolis have won approval to use this style at their homes. Prices are $160 to $170, plus shipping. For more information, call 606-346-0887 or visit web site above.
http://www.gardeners.com
Gardener's Supply Company in Vermont has several types of rainwater urns and barrels made from plastic and wood with capacities from 40 gallons to 110 gallons. Prices range from $129 to $249, plus shipping. For more information, call 888-833-1412 or visit web site above.
This underground chamber with stone surrounding the Chamber collects roof water
and driveway water and percolates storm water back into the ground. This system
has Montgomery County, MD approval. One chamber equals 8 rain barrels and with stone
backfill provided is the equivalent of 16 rain barrels of storage (1 or 2 inches of runoff).
About 200 single family homes in DC, Montgomery and Prince George's Counties have been installed
over the last 7 years with no failures of the systems. It meets MDE criteria for dry wells and ESD and LID.
It has also been used on small commercial sites and small parking lots. See
pdf for more information.
Each chamber has 450 gallons. With stone storage under chamber, it holds 950 gallons; that's greater than 1.5 inches of runoff from a 1,000 square foot roof. Recharge Chamber requires significant excavation for installation. Good option for new construction of new home or addition.
Dimensions: 8.5' long; 52 " wide; 30.5" high
100% void under open bottom chamber.
Chamber provides place for leaves to degrade and keeps stone dust away from soil boundary, also
Chambers can be connected end to end or side to side to provide larger systems.
Source:
Vincent Berg, PE
Urban Environmental Products
7610 Moccasin Lane
Rockville, MD 20855
office-301-977-2920
fax 301-977-2129
cell-301-257-8362 bergvh@erols.com
Kit Gage kgage@verizon.net
Site Evaluation; Rain Garden Design; help with identifying contractors/ volunteers; and with arranging for DEP-provided soil and plants.
Beth Ginter beth.ginter@comcast.net
The Honeybee Group, LLC; candidate for Masters in Sustainable Landscapes, GWU, May 2009;
site assessment and consultation, design for rain gardens, green roofs, and other stormwater measures
Fran McClure flmcclure@earthlink.net
Rain Garden Design; connections with other landscaping experts and contracting firms.
Holly Olson hjo1629@hotmail.com
Site Evaluation; Rain Garden Design; arranging for soil and plants; student at GWU in Landscape Design Master’s program.
Jenny Reed jenny010@earthlink.net
Rain Garden Design through her firm, naturalresourcesdesign.com. Jenny and her partner,
Lauren Wheeler, work with homeowners, the City of Takoma Park, and the District Department
of the Environment designing and implementing LID practices such as pervious paving, raingardens, bio-swales and cisterns.
Pamela Rowe pamela.rowe@montgomerycountymd.gov
Rainscapes Coordinator
Montgomery County Department of Environmental Protection
Information on Rainscapes Rebate Applications, help with obtaining soil and plants.
(Mostly from a list of professional providers compiled by Diane Cameron, Coordinator, Montgomery County Stormwater Partners, 12/08)
For more information, contact stormwaters@gmail.com
