This is an example of the work I do as a consultant for a green infrastructure project. The black rectangular object on the side of the house is a rain container. It's a creation of Stormworks, and it's called "The Hydra". Rain barrels and cisterns are becoming very popular among conservation-minded property owners. They are loved by gardeners & residents trying to reduce flooding in their yard or basement, and anyone who is committed to doing their part to make their community better. It gets connected to your downspout, and when it rains, this container captures up to 116 gallons of water. Think of 88 2-gallon jugs of milk! A rain barrel is a system that collects and stores rainwater from your roof that would otherwise be lost to runoff into storm drains and streams. With the right rain barrel properly sited, sized, and installed, the water can slowly soak through the ground and into the water table, being cleansed by soils & plants along the way. It has multiple spigot and overflow openings, a removable mosquito-proof filter basket, making it one of the most user-friendly and aesthetically-appealing rain harvesting containers on the market. This container is actually located in Pittsburgh's worst neighborhood, however, projects like this is slowly chipping away at the negative reputation. The project is called The Rosedale Runoff Reduction Project, located in the Homewood neighborhood of Pittsburgh. You can find more information about the project at www.rosedalerain.com. Also, for additional info on the Hydra, go to www.stormworkspgh.com. Finally, check out www.project15206.org regarding the history of Green Infrastructure installation in the Pittsburgh area. #stormwater #mitigation #greeninfrastructure #StormworksPGH #9MileRunWatershedAssociation #Homewood #Rosedale #PGH #BlackManGreenPlan (at Bethany Baptist Church)