Discounted Rain Barrels Available Again to City of Valparaiso Residents

Valpo-Rain-Barrel-2015A single inch of rain falling on 1,000 square feet of roof can yield nearly 600 gallons of water. To make use of this valuable resource, the City of Valparaiso is again offering residents the opportunity to purchase rain barrels at a reduced rate. The 55-gallon rain barrels are available to the first 300 participants who live within Valparaiso city limits (and pay Valparaiso stormwater fees) at $20 each. The cost is $54 for additional barrels.

To order your rain barrel, you may visit www.UpCycle-Products.com and click on the Valparaiso link at the lower right corner; call UpCycle Products at 815-735-9583; or mail the order form to the company. Mail-in orders must be received by April 24, and online orders must be placed by April 27. Pick up is scheduled on May 2 at the ChicaGo Dash Station just west of Franklin House, 58 S. Campbell, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Visit valpo.us/MS4 for further program details.

“Harvesting and using rain water has many benefits for residents and the environment. Not only does it conserve water and provide free water for irrigating the lawn and garden, but it also helps to reduce stormwater runoff and any resulting pollution. Rain water is free of minerals, chloride, fluoride and other chemicals so it’s great for plants,” said Mingyan Zhou, of the city’s Engineering Department. Zhou serves as the city’s Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) Coordinator.

According to EPA, lawn and garden watering make up nearly 40% of total household water use during the summer months. Rain barrels can help residents in meeting this seasonal need.