Last month, a Warwick company helped give an entire neighborhood a “green” makeover in efforts to preserve natural resources one community at a time.

Something Fishy, Inc. participated in the “Extreme Green Community Makeover.” The event was held during Aquascape’s 10th anniversary of Pondemonium, the water garden industry’s premiere business and networking event.

Aquascape, Inc. is a manufacturing company whose mission is to help customers succeed at building, selling and retailing water features while supplying innovative products and solutions that capture, clean and reuse our planet’s most vital resource – water.

The Lakes of Bliss Woods neighborhood in Sugar Grove, IL received the eco-friendly spruce when contractors incorporated rainwater harvesting solutions, native plantings, pervious patios, LED landscape lighting and more into the community.

Kurt Harrington, Brad Clegg and Joseph Mihalek of Something Fishy worked with other contractors from across the country to install more than 20 sustainable landscape projects including ecosystem ponds, rain gardens and rain barrels. Native plantings and a large aeration system for the neighborhood’s retention pond were also added.

While participating in the makeover, Something Fishy obtained rainwater harvesting certification offered by Aquascape. They began offering the development program so contractors would be certified when representing the manufacturer. Something Fishy is already implementing its certification to build picturesque outdoor water features. CEO and president Harrington said it is one of the first companies nationally to become certified.

The local aquarium and waterscape design company also received valuable hands-on training for sustainable landscape projects using the RainXchange System by Aquascape. The system pairs a sub-surface rainwater harvesting storage system with a decorative fountain, Pondless Waterfall or permeable patio. Now, they can help Rhode Island, Connecticut and Massachusetts “go green” with rainwater harvesting.

Harrington said harvesting is crucial to the environment because it allows them to capture rainwater and reuse it for household functions rather than contaminating natural resources.

He said, “This year we’ve had lots of rain … It’s very important to keep the rainwater that falls on your property, on your property.”

Harrington further explained that when rainwater isn’t preserved, it overflows sewer systems, develops toxins and ends up in our oceans, bays, ponds and streams. At that point, it starts interfering with natural resources and contributes to pollen count, allergies, plant growth and pollution. Harvesting preserves rainwater by reusing it to flush toilets and operate sprinkler systems. It also reduces water bills and alleviates demand on municipal systems while beautifying landscape with nutrient enriched rainwater.

Harrington said installing a simple rain barrel to harvest water would start at $500. Installing a more intensive harvesting solution would cost $3,000 and holds up to 500 gallons of water. This would involve a hole, lining it and putting in matrix blocks, which hold the water. After that, decorative stones are used to hide the system and customers can opt to install patios or waterfalls. Last, they run home downspouts into the water fixture to capture rainwater. Something Fishy has an exhibit on display at Mystic Aquarium demonstrating how harvesting helps people and the environment.

Harrington said many materials they use in installations are green certified, which means they’ve been tested and evaluated for efficiency and conservation efforts. He added that his company often looks to buy materials from local distributors to reduce shipping and transportation efforts.

Something Fishy creates and maintains luxury aquarium exhibits, koi ponds and waterscapes in addition to offering consultations, designs and installation services for indoor and outdoor water features. The company has been a Certified Aquascape Contractor for five years. They were recently awarded a 12-month extension on their contract with Foxwood’s Resort Casino for the 11th consecutive year. Their other clients include Pfizer Pharmaceutical, Westerly Hospital, Shark Restaurant, Mystic Pizza, Paul Mitchell Skin School, Red Lobster, Women & Infants Hospital and Hurd Chevrolet.

For more information about Something Fishy and its products and services, log onto www.SomethingFishyInc.com or visit their Rain Conservation exhibit at the Mystic Aquarium & Institute for Exploration.