Rainwater Harvesting & Water Quality Education

Introduction:

The staff at Prairie Rain Harvester, Inc. is committed to reawakening the public's awareness of rain harvesting throughout Central Illinois. For centuries, people captured and stored rainwater to use for drinking and irrigation. In just the last 200 years, "recycled" wooden rain barrels were a common sight around most people's homes. Some of our older customers have reflected fondly on the days when they use to wash their hair in the soft rain water collected in their rain barrels.

Sadly, with the convenience of indoor plumbing, most of America has forgotten how simple, beneficial, and inexpensive rainwater harvesting can be. Case in point: when explaining how the Prairie Rain Harvester Recycled Rain Barrel works, many of our customers exclaim "It would take me months to fill that!" In reality, over 600 gallons of rainwater falls on the average home during a 1" rainfall.

Not only do rain barrels provide storage of naturally soft, untreated, nutrient rich rainwater which can be used for watering plants, rain barrels also help control stormwater run-off. By capturing, slowing, and redirecting excess stormwater, our rivers, lakes, streams, and ponds are kept cleaner.

In this section of our website, we have compiled a host of information that will help you understand the benefits of owning a Prairie Rain Harvester Recycled Rain Barrel. These benefits go way beyond your own backyard to benefit the entire Prairie State!

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Help Support Illinois' Only Statewide River Conservation Organization:

Protecting Clean Water - By working to prevent water pollution, Prairie Rivers Network improves the quality of water flowing in Illinois’ rivers and streams for people, fish, and wildlife.

Healthy Stream Flow & Habitat Protection - Prairie Rivers Network strives to protect natural flow levels in streams and to protect and restore natural areas along waterways; these protections support healthy fish and wildlife communities, reduce flooding problems, and protect our water supply.

River Stewardship & Awareness - Prairie Rivers Network links Illinois residents to the rivers around them,
helping them become better aware of river health and encouraging them to take action to protect local waterways.

Public participation is a critical component in river conservation and clean water advocacy. Prairie Rivers Network would like to add your voice to the growing network of people who value rivers and clean water. Visit www.PrairieRivers.org and become a member today - you will be helping to conserve and preserve the rivers and streams in Illinois for generations to come.

Membership is a great way to become active and knowledgeable in river conservation. You will receive the Prairie Rivers Network quarterly newsletter and action alerts, keeping you up-to-date on current issues and volunteer opportunities.

Prairie Rivers Network
1902 Fox Drive, Suite G, Champaign, Illinois 61820
217-344-2371 www.PrairieRivers.org

Every Prairie Rain Harvester Recycled Rain Barrel includes a flyer promoting Prairie Rivers Network! Prairie Rain Harvester, Inc., has also donated rain barrels to Prairie Rivers Network and we look forward to supporting them in the future!

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Recommended Rainwater Harvesting Books:

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American Rainwater Catchment Systems Association (ARCSA)

ARCSA’s core objectives are:

- To provide a forum for discussion of new methods, techniques, and materials pertaining to rainwater catchment systems,
- To develop informal publications to assist in the design and use of rainwater catchment systems, and
- To establish acceptable treatment methods for harvested rainwater.
- To promote rainwater catchment systems through meetings and seminars,
- To provide networking between people with experience in rainwater catchment systems and those who might need technical or professional assistance in developing or building such systems,

Check out the ARCSA website for lots of great information on rainwater harvesting!