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Water stewardship award goes to local businessman
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- By Kate Cole
- Friday, April 06, 2012
- Hits: 451
The Flint River Watershed Coalition (FRWC) presented their Joe Leonardi Leadership Award for outstanding leadership in water stewardship to Michael Herriman, longtime Flint businessman and community activist. The FRWC is a membership organization that promotes citizen stewardship of natural resources. The group provides members with knowledge and opportunities to protect local water quality and watershed habitat.
Herriman, owner of Vern's Collision and Glass, has been affiliated with FRWC for just a few years. But in that time, according to Rebecca Fedewa, executive director, he has developed a passion and enthusiasm for the coalition's mission.
Herriman credits Sara McDonnell, program coordinator of UM-Flint university outreach, for getting him interested in water reclamation.
"I met Mike and his wife, Trudy, when I was working on a clean-up project for Gilkey Creek that was funded by a Ruth Mott Foundation grant," McDonnell said. They were part of a community group working to improve the image of the creek in 2009. Trudy ended up becoming the community liaison for the project and Mike was right beside her," McDonnell added.
When the Herrimans learned about the watershed effects on the environment, Herriman asked what he could do on this spot to have a positive impact.
To answer that question the Herrimans invited McDonnell to their home to see what they could do to improve their storm water runoff into Gilkey Creek.
"I pointed out their gutters were running through a downspout to a low area in the yard and suggested a rain barrel. Next thing I know Mike is building rain barrels for his home and others," McDonnell said.
Herriman volunteers for many of the FRWC programs and promotes water quality protection using an informational display at his shop in Flint.
He also practices environmentalism in his business.
Herriman captures rainwater at his auto repair facility using rain barrels then uses the rainwater to wash cars with phosphate free soap before he works on them. Herriman's system reduces the amount of storm water run-off that flushes dirt, debris and motor oil into storm drains that flow directly into the Flint River.
In 2011 Herriman became an ecological emissary for the collision repair industry.
"We are concerned about protecting the environment and it's important to set an example and lead. I chose to use the right products, waterborne paint, in my shop," Herriman said.
According to Herriman, paints release low-level toxic emissions into the air for years after application. The source of these toxins is a variety of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that, until recently, were essential to the performance of the paint.
California law mandates the use of waterborne paint technology. However, there is no such law in Michigan. Herriman chose to switch to waterborne paint because it contains less VOCs and is less harmful to the environment.
"This product is top-of-the-line," Herriman said. "It's used by all major car manufacturers."
He also practices environmentalism at home with four rain barrels to catch downspout water.
"That's about 3,000 gallons of runoff water each year that is captured and reused as opposed to going into the storm drains. I release the water during dry periods so it soaks into the ground," Herriman explained.
According to Casey Foote, development director for FRWC, runoffs into storm drains can be detrimental to the environment.
"Stormwater runoff into storm drains is the number one pollutant for the Flint River," Foote explained. "Stormwater isn't treated, so fertilizers from lawns and motor oils from driveways run directly into the storm drains and then into the river."
Herriman's water catch system reduces both the pollution in the Flint River and his water bill. He promotes rainwater for flowerbeds and lawns. Irrigation of lawns and gardens accounts for about 40 percent of the city's water use in the summertime. Mike's vision is for all households and businesses to use rain barrels to help conserve costly treated water, and protect rivers and creeks from pollutants.
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