Rainwater Catchment 101: Harvesting Rainwater for Outdoor Irrigation, April 24

ASHLAND, Mass. - April 18, 2013 - PRLog -- Transition Ashland, in collaboration with the Ashland Sustainability Committee, will sponsor the event Rainwater Catchment 101 at the Ashland Public Library Community Room, 66 Front Street, Ashland, MA, 7:00 pm, Wednesday April 24. The public is invited to attend.

The event will feature a presentation on rainwater catchment systems for residential use by Kenneth Dews, an accredited member of the American Rainwater Catchment Systems Association, followed by a question and answer session. The session will cover basic rainwater catchment via rain barrels, as well as more advanced systems, which use an in-ground cistern, filtration and pumps.

"The benefits of rainwater catchment and re-use are numerous," Sustainability Committee Chair Matthew Marshquist said. "These types of systems decrease demand on our limited town water supply, reduce the amount of energy used by the town to treat, and transport water and reduce storm-water runoff. With proper storage and the correct pump, a rainwater catchment system provides a cost-effective alternative to using town water for in-ground irrigation systems."

Carol Bartley, of Transition Ashland, encourages more residents to consider rainwater catchment. "For every rain barrel or cistern that we attach to our rain gutters, we increase our town's resilience to drought and gain more control over our access to this precious resource," says Bartley.

Kenneth Dews holds a Master’s degree in Environmental Management and is an accredited member of the American Rainwater Catchment Systems Association and a registered Home Improvement Contractor and Licensed Hoisting Engineer in the state of Massachusetts.

For more information, contact info@TransitionAshland.org or sustainability@AshlandMass.com.

Transition Ashland is a grassroots organization of neighbors helping neighbors build a community that thrives in the face of the challenges of our time, offering sustainable solutions that empower all residents with the spirit of collaboration.  http://www.transitionashland.org; info@TransitionAshland.org

The Ashland Sustainability Committee works in partnership with town employees, residents and other stakeholders to promote sustainable practices at the municipal, residential, commercial and institutional levels. sustainability@AshlandMass.com