Lexington, KY -Many of our city streets turn into rivers during a moderately heavy rainfall. Where does all that water come from, what happens to it, and who is this Lily?
First things first. What is causing our streets to look like waterways during a storm? And why is resolving this at the top of the city's To Do List? Think of your own home, then add to it all of the pavement and buildings in our city. An average single-family dwelling has 2,500 sq. ft. of impervious surfaces - rooftops, sidewalks, driveways and patios. As inches of rain fall, gallons of clean rainwater become stormwater runoff, taking oil and grease, fertilizers, pesticides and pet waste right along with it. What was clean water becomes wastewater.
Many streams are fed by groundwater, and impervious surfaces block rain water from contributing to the ground water supply. This can result in lower stream flows during the dry season. A heavy rain results in a sudden rush of contaminated stormwater runoff that causes flooding. Stream banks erode, and sedimentation makes channels shallower. This results in a loss of wildlife habitat; as impervious surfaces increase, the number and diversity of aquatic life decreases.
Several of our key watersheds are recognized by the Kentucky Division of Water as being "impaired," meaning they are unable to support aquatic habitat and are not suitable for human contact with the water.
There are many ways to approach this stormwater management problem, some of which will involve government regulation and substantial expense. There are ways for homeowners to make a difference - and Lily is here to show us how.
Who is this Lily?
Lily is a rain barrel. Not just any rain barrel. Lily has special features that resolve some common rain barrel design issues, is a locally-made product, and was designed and promoted by two Lexington professional women who saw a problem and decided to contribute to the solution.
The way Mitzi Bender tells it, Lily kept following her around, "tapping her on the shoulder." It all started with stormwater issues at the family home in the Cooper Drive area, where her sister, Betty, now lives. Betty would be in her basement in the middle of the night, with her wet vac, trying to keep ahead of the water during a storm.
Mitzi also saw the stormwater issues in her Andover neighborhood, where the lots are relatively small, and rain coming off the roof of one house can cause problems for the home next door. Tap, tap, tap. Lily started whispering in her ear.
Then Mitzi was sitting in Third Street Stuff having lunch while her car was being repaired nearby. She was minding her own business when along came Jim Embry, well known for his work in many civic arenas, including community gardens. What did Jim talk about? Rain gardens and rain barrels. Tap, tap, tap. Lily was getting insistent now.
On Jim's advice, Mitzi attended a Rain Garden Alliance meeting at UK's Good Barn and learned a lot about stormwater issues. Lily was about to be born.
Mitzi talked with her friend and neighbor Karen Bell, about her desire to create a better rain barrel. Karen is a successful Lexington realtor and businesswoman. They put their heads together on the design and formed Four Water, LLC to manufacture their trademarked, patent-pending product.
Karen and Mitzi presented a proposal to the city and the LFUCG "Lily" rain barrel project was born. Cheryl Taylor, LFUCG's commissioner of Environmental Quality, said the Lily project was tried as an experiment to help with stormwater management. The program was launched this past August and all 500 Lilies sold out in 24 hours.
The city is doing a pre- and post-Lily survey which you must agree to complete in order to take part in the Lily project. The survey seeks to determine how helpful Lily has been with stormwater issues on the homeowner's property, and whether Lily has helped the home owner conserve water (is their water bill lower?).
More Lily rain barrels will be offered this spring. There will be a press release and information will be on the city's Web site, www.lexingtonky.gov. Residents can call LexCall at 311 for more information about this project.