DEP Offers Free Rain Barrels to New Yorkers

New York’s Environmental Protection Commissioner Cas Holloway launched the Rain Barrel Giveaway Program, an initiative to help alleviate pressure on the city's sewer system during storms by helping New Yorkers to capture and reuse rainwater. Rain barrels can individually capture thousands of gallons of water each year to be used by homeowners for irrigation and gardening purposes, rather than letting it run into catch basins where it can contribute to a combined sewer overflow. During heavy storms, the sewer system often reaches capacity and must discharge a mix of storm water and wastewater – called a combined sewer overflow, or CSO – into New York Harbor.

DEP will distribute a total of 1,000 free rain barrels in the Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens and Staten Island to single- and two-family homeowners. Each rain barrel has the capacity to collect up to 55 gal, assisting single- and two-family homeowners who, on average, devote up to 40% of their total water usage to watering gardens and lawns during the summer. Rain barrels can also help reduce localized street flooding and the demand on the city's drinking water system during drought conditions.

"Distributing free rain barrels is a great way to help protect our harbor waters, and help homeowners prevent potential flooding and save money," said Holloway said. "These rain barrels will capture thousands of gallons of water that would have otherwise flowed into the streets, leading to flooding and increasing the likelihood and intensity of combined sewer overflows. This is exactly the kind of smart, local investment envisioned in the NYC Green Infrastructure Plan that Mayor Bloomberg launched last September. By investing in green alternatives to capture storm water, we can reduce the city's long-term sewer management costs by $2.4 billion over the next 20 years, helping to dramatically improve water quality, and hold down future water bills."

The rain barrel program saves customers money for watering lawns and gardens that would otherwise come from their taps. The installation of rain barrels requires minimum work and little maintenance. Rain barrels connect directly to the existing downspout to collect water for irrigation needs; homeowners then connect a hose in the spigot of the rain barrel for irrigation purposes such as watering lawns and gardens. DEP will provide residents with an easy-to-use installation kit. The rain barrels need to be disconnected from the downspout to avoid freezing during the winter. The Rain Barrel Giveaway Program initially began as a pilot program in 2008 with 250 rain barrels given to Queens homeowners and was expanded because of the public's overwhelmingly positive response. In 2009, the program offered 750 barrels to homeowners who applied for it.

Barrels will be given away on a first-come, first-served basis, one per household. Eligible residents must live in a single-family or attached two-family home to be eligible for this program. Interested homeowners can call 311 for more information, or they can visit DEP's website at www.nyc.gov/dep.

Source: DEP