Prichard Rain Barrel Program

The Mobile Bay National Estuary Program is currently implementing a Low Impact Development (LID) stormwater management project with the installation of low-cost rainwater harvest systems in the Toulmins Spring Branch Watershed (TSB), a sub-watershed in the greater Three Mile Creek Watershed (TMC). This subwatershed is highly urbanized and was first placed on the State’s impaired waters list for pathogens in 2004, with the primary source of impairment identified as stormwater runoff and failing sanitary sewer infrastructure. The TMC Watershed Management Plan (2014) recommended implementation of LID practices to reduce stormwater impacts in the TSB area. The 2016 Prichard Drainage Study was commissioned to investigate issues related to urban flooding and nonpoint source pollution. The study identified and mapped areas with recurring urban flooding and sanitary sewer overflows. Identified hot spots became target areas for this Prichard Rain Barrel Program. The purpose of this project is to improve the quality of receiving waters in TSB. Goals include reducing volumes and velocities of stormwater runoff carrying nonpointsource pollution and causing sanitary sewer overflows, and providing a free, alternate source of water to an underserved community paying significantly higher rates for water than surrounding communities. Objectives include installing as many rainwater harvest systems in the headwaters of an urban community draining to the impaired waterway as possible, and educating community members about impacts of polluted stormwater runoff. The program, initially implemented by Coastal Alabama Conservation Corps members in 2017, was reestablished in January 2019 with private sector partners. Sixty rainwater harvest systems have been installed for low-to-moderate-income homeowners, with 18 installed in 2017 and 42 installed since reestablishing the program in 2019. Each installation includes two 55-gallon barrels (donated by Greif Inc.) and is capable of a 110-gallon reduction in stormwaterRunoff per rain event per residence.