Transportation and Public Works

Stop 2. Transportation and Public Works

Our journey continues in search of buildings, businesses, and organizations that demonstrate water conservation methods in Athens-Clarke County.  The next stop is the Transportation and Public Works building at the corner of West Dougherty Street and Lumpkin Street.  The water conservation method highlighted here is a rain chain.  The  side of the building (facing Lumpkin Street) has a rain chain attached to a rain barrel. 

 

What are rain chains? Rain chains are alternatives to downspouts.  They visibly guide rain water from the roof down chains to the ground, a drain, or storage container like a rain barrel (remember the ones at Sandy Creek Nature Center, our Stop #1?).  The collected rain water can be used to water flowers and gardens.  The Transportation and Public Works rain chain supplies water for a rain garden. Some organizations suggest rain chains should replace downspouts, claiming they fulfill the same purposes of downspouts, but also break the flow of water as it hits the ground, mitigating its impact. 

History of rain chains.  The Japanese have used rain chains for hundreds of years.  Today the chains are used to direct the rain water from their roof to storage units for later use in household chores.  The Japanese are also known for incorporating large decorative rain chains into their temple design.  

The style. The styles of rain chains vary from traditional chains to cups to decorative flowers.  Link, cup, and flower chain styles are far more attractive than traditional downspouts and often add to the decor of a building rather than detract from it.  Many people make their own rain chain from recycled materials such as clay pottery, pebbles, and even pine cones.  Look at this website for inspiration and installation tips. 

For more information on rain chains visit here.

Check in next month as we visit another place in ACC!

Sandy Creek Nature Center

Are you ready for a road trip???  

If so, join the Water Conservation Office as we travel around Athens-Clarke County in search of buildings, businesses, and organizations that demonstrate cool water conservation methods!  Every month we will visit a new place and learn about how they conserve water.  We will share with you what we have learned and give tips on how to conserve water in your own home or business!  So buckle up and let the journey begin...

Stop 1. Sandy Creek Nature Center

Sandy Creek Nature Center (SCNC) is known for being home to over 4 miles of trails that go through the woodlands and wetlands of Georgia’s Piedmont.  Live reptiles, amphibians, marine and freshwater fishes also call SCNC home.  SCNC has recently expanded and includes various interactive exhibits on everything from composting to water conservation (our favorite part).  Now you might know all of that, but there is one thing that you might not know about Sandy Creek Nature Center...

Sandy Creek Nature Center is the proud home of two 500 gallon rain barrels!  A rain barrel collects and stores rainwater from a downspout.  This collected rainwater can be used on lawns, gardens, and even for washing cars and windows.

The first rain barrel is located in the front of the nature center as you walk in. 

The sign in front of the rain barrel informs readers that this is a rain water capture system that collects rain water runoff from the exhibit hall roof.  SCNC conserves water by using the collected rainwater to water plants instead of using tap water.  This system also reduces erosion and flooding by slowing down runoff from the roof and slowly releasing it to the ground.  

The second rain barrel is located behind the nature center near the trail heads.  This rain barrel collects rainwater from the roof and condensate from the air conditioning system. SCNC uses this water for gardens around their property.

Some of the benefits of using rain barrels include:

~Providing an alternative to using tap water for outdoor watering,

~Reducing stormwater runoff that can cause floods,
~Slowing stormwater runoff so that it can replenish groundwater and soil moisture,

~Saving money on your water bill, and                             

~Rainwater is often softer than tap water, which is better for plants.

Most rain barrels around homes are 55 gallons.  You can find rain barrels at local garden centers or you can build your own.  Here is some more information on rain barrels from the Environmental Protection Agency and you can see how local artists have turned rain barrels into works of art at www.rolloutthebarrels.org.

Finally, visit Sandy Creek Nature Center and check out their awesome rain barrels and gardens! 

Check in next month as we continue our journey around Athens-Clarke County!

It Starts and Ends With the River

It starts and ends with the river.  This refers to the lovely film created by Russell Oliver that was shown during the Downtown Development Plan Town Hall Meeting on November 27.  It started with beautiful footage of the North Oconee River then proceeded through a virtual tour of the downtown planning area.  It concluded with more footage of the North Oconee River, framing the downtown discussion.  It was brilliant!

Athens is creating a Downtown Master Plan that will define and direct the type of development for the area.  All of the ideas presented at the Town Hall Meeting include more greenspace.  I agree that downtown would benefit from more trees and open spaces for people to gather, but how will that affect our water resources?  As the frequency and duration of drought increases, and most climate scientists say it will, we need to protect our limited water supply.  Fortunately, additional greenspace does not have to dramatically increase the stress on our water supply.  If planned properly it can even protect our water.

Cisterns can be incorporated into the infrastructure of downtown to collect rainwater and condensate from HVAC systems.   The water collected in the cisterns could be used for irrigation, reducing the amount of potable water needed to maintain the additional greenspace.  Hotel Indigo, Athens-Clarke County, UGA, and others in Athens already use captured rainwater or condensate to irrigate landscapes.  All new developments in downtown should do the same.  Other communities even incorporate underground cisterns into their street infrastructure.

New Jersey's Canal Park includes a linear rain garden, low impact design tree pits, and approximately 80,000 gallons of underground cistern capacity.  Almost all of the stormwater generated by the park will be used to satisfy 95% of the park's needs for irrigation, fountains, toilet flushing, and an ice rink.

Other communities have extensive plans for green infrastructure.  Philadelphia protects and enhances its water resources by using innovative green stormwater infrastructure.  Nashville's Green Infrastructure Master Plan includes the use of underground cisterns for irrigation.

Some large developments, such as the Dallas Omni Hotel, have underground cisterns that capture recycled condensate water that is used to irrigate the landscape instead of using city drinking water.  I am not proposing that a hotel of this scale is appropriate in Athens, but if this place can protect water we can too.

-Marilyn Hall
Athens-Clarke County Water Conservation Coordinator