Cornell Cooperative Extension Orange County: Mount Hope 4-H Park Rainwater Harvesting System
A Rainwater Harvest at Mount Hope 4-H
The Cornell Cooperative Extension Orange County was granted $216,500 through the New York State Environmental Facilities Corporation (NYS EFC) Green Innovation Grant Program (GIGP). As part of a stormwater initiative, green infrastructure practices were designed and installed at the Mount Hope 4-H Park in the Town of Mount Hope, New York.
LaBella provided professional engineering services in support of the installation of a rainwater harvesting system. Services included preparation of a stormwater analysis and engineer’s report, an opinion of probable construction cost, construction documents for bidding and installation, as well as necessary inspections and documentation of construction required by the NYS EFC.
Completed in 2023, the rainwater harvesting collection and distribution system collects rainfall from several barn roofs. The runoff is piped into a 70,000-gallon underground cistern, where bio blocks naturally help keep the water clean. Water is pumped from the cistern through a filtration and ultraviolet treatment system, and is then used to flush toilets, wash livestock, provide dust control for the horse arena, and support irrigation. Rainwater harvesting system demonstrations are provided to local youth as part of the 4-H Park’s educational program.
