Akron church to use $5,000 grant to expand rainwater collection system

The First Congregational Church of Akron recently won a $5,000 Ohio Environmental Education Fund (OEEF) grant that will allow the church to expand its rainwater collection system and educate community members on the system’s integration with the church’s produce garden.

The church is promoting environmental stewardship in Akron by demonstrating how rainwater collection can divert water from the city’s storm sewer system while improving sustainability. The church will use the funds to add 3,000 gallons of storage to its existing system, allowing the church to divert up to 10,000 gallons of water from the sewer system during large rain events or snow melt. The funding will also allow the church to post signage and conduct workshops so that local community members can learn the benefits of such systems.

The OEEF is administered by the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency, which awarded a total $27,030 to seven organizations in its latest round of grants. Organizations including environmental, professional and governmental groups, as well as public and private schools and universities, can apply for OEEF grants.