North Carolina Aquarium No Longer Sending Gutter Water To The Fish

North Carolina Aquarium Saves Drops and Dollars.

The North Carolina Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores has gone “green” when it comes to water.

Don’t worry; the exhibits aren’t changing hues. But six new cisterns and rain gardens are helping the Aquarium put rainwater to good use, while cutting down on runoff.

Each cistern holds 3,000 gallons, and the system is expected to supply 80,000 gallons of water in the next year for greenhouse plants, outside landscaping, some exhibit vegetation and other needs.

A federal Environmental Protection Agency grant, offered through the North Carolina Dept. of Environment and Natural Resources, Division of Water Quality, funded the project. The grant aims at reducing the amount of non-point source pollution, such as runoff.

The cisterns and rain gardens are positioned in public view of the marsh boardwalk so they can contribute to the Aquarium’s mission of conservation education. Informational displays will be added soon.

“Our goal is to install money-saving and eco-friendly conservation measures in and around the Aquarium,” said Pat McNeese, Aquarium Conservation and Research Coordinator. “We want to show people a working system, and how they can use similar structures in their own homes or workplaces.”

The cisterns collected an estimated 2,800 gallons of water from just one inch of rainfall immediately after installation.

Seemingly small and undistinguished, rain gardens surround the cisterns and serve an equally important role in conservation. Rain gardens help manage the stormwater overflow with plants and soils that filter and slow down runoff.

"Rain gardens are an inexpensive and attractive solution to dealing with ponding-water problems in almost any landscape," said McNeese.

The cistern project was designed by North Carolina State University’s Stormwater Engineering Group, and built with help from Aquarium staff and volunteers.

The Aquarium also uses an ultra-filtration membrane system to treat wastewater. The result is clean water, used for landscaping and in the toilets.

Details on the cisterns and rain gardens are included in the “Close Encounters” behind-the-scenes tour, offered twice a week during the summer.

The Aquarium is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. Admission is $8 for adults, $7 for ages 62 and over and $6 for ages 6-17. Children 5 and under and North Carolina Aquarium Society members are admitted free. For more information, visit www.ncaquariums.com or call 252-247-4003.

PHOTO: New cisterns at the North Carolina Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores have already collected thousands of gallons of rain for reuse.